Figurative Language
PHI210—Critical Thinking October 28, 2012
Figurate Language versus Literal Language In today’s society, the English language is the most widely spoken language, but can also be one of the most difficult to learn and speak. The many different ways that people speak figuratively with the English language may be why it is difficult for many to understand there many different meanings. The different cultures and backgrounds can also affect the understanding of the English language and how people convey the types of figurative language. In this paper, there will be definitions, meaning, and function of figurative language versus literal language.
Idiom. An idiom is the language or expressions used by a specific …show more content…
A flame word is used to make a person that is angry get even angrier. It can also be where a person will say something that is hurtful to make things worse, where the situation is distressing. A person may call another person retarded, meaning they cannot be smart and have a disability. This term is hurtful if a person is calling another person retarded. Although this is not meaning that person is not smart, the word has a hurtful meaning when putting the statement on another human being. This language is misused frequently when people are angry and blurting out flame words that are hurtful to …show more content…
A euphemism is a polite, vague word or phrase that is used in place of a word or phrase that might be considered offensive, harsh, unpleasant or inappropriate to say (Your Dictionary, n.d.). An example of euphemism would be a statement such as, “on the streets, instead of homeless” (Your Dictionary, n.d.). It is a nicer way of saying a person is homeless by stating they live on the streets. Another example would be if a person stated they were “using the restroom instead of going to the bathroom.” Instead of stating that a person farted or passed gas, it is more polite to say they broke wind. Euphemism is a polite way of stating something to a person without being offensive or
Figurate Language versus Literal Language In today’s society, the English language is the most widely spoken language, but can also be one of the most difficult to learn and speak. The many different ways that people speak figuratively with the English language may be why it is difficult for many to understand there many different meanings. The different cultures and backgrounds can also affect the understanding of the English language and how people convey the types of figurative language. In this paper, there will be definitions, meaning, and function of figurative language versus literal language.
Idiom. An idiom is the language or expressions used by a specific …show more content…
A flame word is used to make a person that is angry get even angrier. It can also be where a person will say something that is hurtful to make things worse, where the situation is distressing. A person may call another person retarded, meaning they cannot be smart and have a disability. This term is hurtful if a person is calling another person retarded. Although this is not meaning that person is not smart, the word has a hurtful meaning when putting the statement on another human being. This language is misused frequently when people are angry and blurting out flame words that are hurtful to …show more content…
A euphemism is a polite, vague word or phrase that is used in place of a word or phrase that might be considered offensive, harsh, unpleasant or inappropriate to say (Your Dictionary, n.d.). An example of euphemism would be a statement such as, “on the streets, instead of homeless” (Your Dictionary, n.d.). It is a nicer way of saying a person is homeless by stating they live on the streets. Another example would be if a person stated they were “using the restroom instead of going to the bathroom.” Instead of stating that a person farted or passed gas, it is more polite to say they broke wind. Euphemism is a polite way of stating something to a person without being offensive or