Critical Thinking Figurative/Literal Languange
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Literal language maintains a consistent meaning of words that do not deviate from their defined context. Figurative language refers to words that exaggerate the usual meanings of the words (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007). Both play an important role in communication and interpretation of language. Literal language is used more often to create a clear meaning and understanding of what is being communicated. Figurative language is also referred to as figures of speech that require interpretation of the meaning and comes in many forms. (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007).
Idiom, the language peculiar to people or to a district, community, or class (Merriam-Webster, 2013). An example of an idiom would be by saying, “as sick as a dog” and the function of an idiom when someone is trying to express how someone feels about something in a nonliteral way. The appropriate time to use “as sick as a dog” is when you want to imply you are feeling very ill. The misunderstanding of idioms occurs due to the lack of understanding the figure of speech. For example, since “sick as a dog” implies that someone is very ill the misunderstanding usually occurs when someone or some other culture group, that is not native to speaking English, are unable to point out the expression that is being made.
Analogy, the resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike (Merriam-Webster, 2013). An example of an analogy would be by saying, “green is to go as red is to stop” and the function of an analogy is when someone is trying to express an exact meaning by comparing things for an idea clearer to the listener (Definitions.net, 2013). The appropriate time to use “green is to go as red is to stop” is when you are trying to have an exact implication between two objects that display certainty in your words. The misunderstanding usually occurs when someone has not properly linked things that aren’t similar enough to be linked and tries to create
Literal language maintains a consistent meaning of words that do not deviate from their defined context. Figurative language refers to words that exaggerate the usual meanings of the words (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007). Both play an important role in communication and interpretation of language. Literal language is used more often to create a clear meaning and understanding of what is being communicated. Figurative language is also referred to as figures of speech that require interpretation of the meaning and comes in many forms. (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007).
Idiom, the language peculiar to people or to a district, community, or class (Merriam-Webster, 2013). An example of an idiom would be by saying, “as sick as a dog” and the function of an idiom when someone is trying to express how someone feels about something in a nonliteral way. The appropriate time to use “as sick as a dog” is when you want to imply you are feeling very ill. The misunderstanding of idioms occurs due to the lack of understanding the figure of speech. For example, since “sick as a dog” implies that someone is very ill the misunderstanding usually occurs when someone or some other culture group, that is not native to speaking English, are unable to point out the expression that is being made.
Analogy, the resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike (Merriam-Webster, 2013). An example of an analogy would be by saying, “green is to go as red is to stop” and the function of an analogy is when someone is trying to express an exact meaning by comparing things for an idea clearer to the listener (Definitions.net, 2013). The appropriate time to use “green is to go as red is to stop” is when you are trying to have an exact implication between two objects that display certainty in your words. The misunderstanding usually occurs when someone has not properly linked things that aren’t similar enough to be linked and tries to create
References: Definitions.net. (2013). Retrieved July 12, 2013 from http://www.definitions.net/definition/ Kirby, G. & Goodpaster, J. (2007). Thinking. Fourth edition. Edition for strayer university Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Merriam-Webster. (2013). An Encyclopedia Britannica Company. Retrieved July12, 2013 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/