Week 3: Assignment 2
Nicholas Anderson
Professor Noah Horwitz
PHI-210

Our ability to communicate is based around language. Every word we speak or write has a meaning and that meaning is interpreted by those we communicate with. Some words and phrases are more direct than others. Some have multiple meanings and some have meanings that are purely figurative as opposed to literal. When communicating with each other it is important to understand how those words are phrases may be interpreted and how it is received. To get a better idea of what figurative language is and how to use it, we will discuss 10 examples.
Idiom:
An idiom is a phrase or saying that has multiple meanings; a literal and a figurative. We use idioms everyday without consideration for their literal meanings because the figurative definition has become standard in out lexicon. An example of an idiom would be the saying someone "kicked the bucket". Most of us understand the meaning of this saying to be that someone has passed away or died. However, there is a literal meaning as well that some physically kicked a bucket. When this phrase is used it is understood to mean someone died, but the combination of words themselves taken at face value would mean that someone swung their foot and connected with a bucket.
Analogy:
An analogy is defined as a similarity between the like features of two things on which a comparison may be made. Analogies are a big part of our language in how we attempt to define or explain things to others. An analogy helps us relate something unknown to something know, thus giving us a connection that allows us to understand. "Listening to my daughter whine is like fingernails on a chalkboard". Most people would understand how unpleasant it is to hear the sound of scratching on a chalkboard. For someone who does not have a concept of what it is like for my daughter to whine, the analogy here would provide some insight.
Metaphor:
A metaphor is actually a type of analogy. Typically a metaphor is used as a comparison of one subject as a similarity to another unrelated subject. "Philadelphia in the summer is a furnace", "Joe is a dog" and "time is a thief" are all common examples of metaphors. In each case the subject is being compared to something else by being labeled as such. Philadelphia is not an actual furnace in the summer, but it can be so hot that the comparison is warranted.
Simile:
A simile is a direct comparison between two things, often by the use of the word like. It is similar to a metaphor with the exception "like". The best example for a simile comes from a famous movie Forrest Gump, "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get". In this case life itself is the box of chocolates and the unexpected randomness that life can bring is similar to that of reaching into a box of chocolates and biting into a choice without knowing what flavor you have chosen.
Cliché:
Clichés are one of our favorite forms of figurative language. It is a phrase that has been used and overused to the point that it's intended meaning is now diminished. One could create an endless list of clichés we use regularly. "Over the hill", "lasted an eternity", "all is fair in love and war", "time waits for no man", "the early bird gets the worm" are just some examples. Each one can be described as a simile, metaphor or an analogy but their common overuse has caused them to become cliché.
Amphiboly:
An amphiboly is a sentence of phrase that is structured in a way that makes it's intended meaning ambiguous. An example would be "No friends are better than my friends". One could take that to mean that the subject has the greatest friends and none could be better. It could also mean that having no friends would be better than having the ones the subject does. The ambiguity of the meaning is caused by the structure of the phrase as opposed to the words used in it.
Flame word:
A flame word is a word that is used to insult or garner a definitive reaction. They are generally used in electronic communication and are meant to stand out among the correspondence. Words such as "idiot, moron, stupid, lazy and jerk" could all be used as flame words.
Hyperbole:
A hyperbole is an exaggeration or form of rhetoric that is used to convey strong feelings or opinions about something. We use hyperbole very often without consideration for the exaggerated way we describe things. One example used by everyone nearly all the time is "it weighs a ton". This could be said by a student when carrying a book bag. Obviously the book bag does not weigh an actual 2,000 pounds, but it is heavy and the hyperbole is used to declare as much.
Euphemism:
A euphemism is a word or phrase that is used to replace a more offensive one. We use these when discussing or mentioning taboo subjects or words. In order to avoid blasphemy one may say "gosh darn it". Instead of saying god in vain, it is replaced with gosh, thus creating a euphemism. There are several examples of euphemism we use every day. We sometimes mispronounce, shorten or abbreviate certain words in order to avoid profanity or unacceptable language. Some say " shut the front door" to avoid using certain words or phrases.
Colloquialism:
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that we may use in conversation but never in a formal writing or professional discussion. Words like "y'all", "yup" or "gonna" all convey obvious meanings that most of us understand but they are not suitable ways to express ideas in a professional or formal setting. Over the years colloquialisms have become more widely used because of text messaging. English is a difficult language to learn if it is not your first language. One of the reason is because our words have so many meanings and way to be used. The mere phrasing of a sentence can change the entire way it is interpreted. All of these figures of speech are detailed idiosyncrasies of our language that many of us are used to hearing, even if we cannot define one from the other.