Figurative

LanguageWhat the hell is that?!

OSimileOMetaphorOSymbolismOPersonificationOAlliterationOOnomatopoeiaOOxymoronOHyperboleOClichésOIdiomsOProverbs

SimileTwo fundamentally unlike things are explicitly compared, usually in a phrase introduced by like or as.To make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.

Shrek: Ogres are like onions.Donkey: They stink?Shrek: Yes. No!Donkey: They make you cry?Shrek: No!Donkey: You leave them out in the sun, they get

all brown, start sprouting little white hairs.

Shrek: No! Layers! Onions have layers!(Shrek, 2001)

Common pattern of simile: something [is] AS adjective AS something

His skin was as cold as ice.It felt as hard as rock.She looked as gentle as a lamb.

something [is] LIKE somethingMy love is like a red, red rose.These cookies taste like garbage.He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.

something [does] LIKE somethingHe eats like a pig.He smokes like a chimney.They fought like cats and dogs.

MetaphorAll the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players.They have their exits and their entrances.

William Shakespeare

A figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing (Function) Allowed us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.

The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."

• Her home was a prison.Characteristics of a prison could not leave, trapped. ♖Reason unknown, but we understand a lot

about her environment, how she felt and how she behaved.

• Harry is a sheep.Characteristic They follow each other ♖ Harry is a follower, not a leader.

Difference between Simile & Metaphor

A simile compares two things using the word like or as.i.e. My father grumbles like a bear in the mornings.

A metaphor also compares two things, but it does not use the word like or as.i.e. My father is a bear in the mornings.(English Language Arts Skills & Strategies: Level 8, Saddleback, 2005)

Symbolism Symbolism occurs when a noun which has

meaning in itself is used to represent something entirely different. i.e. Flags to show patriotism

Statue of Liberty to show freedom Hercules to show strength etc.

PersonificationAn inanimate object or abstraction is given

human qualities or abilities.i.e. "Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie.“

(slogan on a package of Oreo cookies)

"Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. There was no one there."(quoted by Christopher Moltisanti, The Sopranos)

Alliteration† The repetition of an initial consonant sound.

i.e. "Guinness is good for you.“(advertising slogan)

i.e. The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

i.e. I scream, you scream, we all scream for icecream!

Onomatopoeia"Onomatopoeia every time I see yaMy senses tell me hubbaAnd I just can't disagree.I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . . .

It's sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whineSputter, splat, squirt, scrapeClink, clank, clunk, clatter

Crash, bang, beep, buzzRing, rip, roar, retchTwang, toot, tinkle, thudPop, plop, plunk, powSnort, snuck, sniff, smackScreech, splash, squish, squeakJingle, rattle, squeal, boingHonk, hoot, hack, belch."

(Todd Rundgren, "Onomatopoeia")

Imitation of sound associated with certain action we referred to.

Mooo~

Roar~ Awuu~Howl~~

Oxymoron§ An oxymoron is a combination of

contradictory words.§ It has also been called "the show-off" figure,

one that gives voice to life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.

It was an open secret that the company had used a paid volunteer to test the plastic glasses. Although they were made using liquid gas technology and were an original copy that looked almost exactly like a more expensive brand, the volunteer thought that they were pretty ugly and that it would be simply impossible for the general public to accept them. On hearing this feedback, the company board was clearly confused and there was a deafening silence. This was a minor crisis and the only choice was to drop the product line.(Much Ado About English. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2006)

Hyperbole• Exaggeration is used for emphasis or

effect; an extravagant statement.• Hyperbole is frequently used for humor.

i.e. She's got tons of money.I have told you a million times not to lie!I will die if she asks me to dance.

Clichés A trite expression. Effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and

excessive familiarity.i.e. The writing on the wall: something that is about to happen, something that is obviousExample: Can't you see the writing on the wall! You need to get out of that business.

i.e. Don't do as I do, do as I say: Used when someone points out that you are being hypocritical (doing one thing while insisting that others that thing differently)Example: Stop talking back! Don't do as I do, do as I say!

Idioms

Idiomatic Creativity: A Cognitive-Linguistic Model of Idiom-Representation and Idiom-variation in English By Andreas Langlotz, 2006, John Benjamin B.V.

In other way of definition…

Idioms are phrases which people use in everyday language which do not make sense literally but we understand what they mean. For example: It’s raining cats and dogs. Its LITERAL meaning suggests that cats and dogs are falling from the sky. We interpret it to mean that it is raining hard.

• Other examples:§ Young people today tend to go Dutch when

they go out together.:: share together, i.e. meals.

§ So Siti and Muhammad are an item, aren’t they?:: Romantically involved.

§ Our neighbours were caught interfering with their electricity metre – caught with their pants down!:: Get caught doing something bad or forbidden.

Difference Between an Idiom and a Cliche

• An idiom is a phrase that means something else than the literal words.

to get under someone's skin (to bother someone) - She's getting under my skin these days!

no spring chicken (not young) - Tom's no spring chicken. He's almost 70!

• A cliche is a phase which is considered overused (used too often) which can be literal or figurative in meaning. Here are some examples:

the good old days (literal = in the past when things were better) - I remember my years at college. Yes, those were the good old days.

tip of the iceberg (figurative = only the beginning, or just a small percentage) - The problems we are seeing are just tip of the iceberg.

Kill 2 birds with one stone::   Succeed in doing two things at the

same time. ::

Birds of a feather:: 2 people who are very similar in many

ways ::

Curiosity killed the cat:: Inquisitiveness can lead one into

dangerous situations ::

ProverbsWikipedia: A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. If a proverb is distinguished by particularly good phrasing, it may be known as an aphorism.** maxin= motivational** aphorism= original thought, spoken or written in a memorable form

A proverb is a short well-known expression that states a general truth or gives advice.

• Example:Laughter is the best medicine.

Don't rush into doing something until you know how to do it.

Look before you leap. Consider possible consequences before

taking action.Procrastination is the thief of time.

Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.

No news is good news. If the news was bad, we would hear of it.

Since we have heard nothing, we can assume that all is well.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

:: A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems ::

Experience is the father of wisdom

:: Experience and knowledge result in better judgment ::

All work and no play makes jack a dull boy

:: Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation.  It is not good to work all  the

time ::

References• Wikipedia• http://languagearts.mrdonn.org/

figurative.html• http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/i/

idiom.asp• http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/

figures-simile.htm• http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/

simileterm.htm

• http://grammar.about.com/od/rhetoricstyle/a/100-Awfully-Good-Examples-Of-Oxymorons.htm

• http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyreference/a/v_cliche.htm

We are almost at the end of this presentation, here I would like to thank to Wikipedia and whoever he is which have

had invented copy-paste and print screen, that allowed me to “borrow” notes from

websites mentioned above.

Thank you for have borrowed me your ears.