Have you ever heard something so funny
that you literally died laughing?
No, you have not.
As a figure of speech, probably, but you did not "literally" die.
I'm talking about the difference between
literal and figurative language.
Stick around and let's talk about figures of speech...
[FIGURES OF SPEECH] [♫]
[snap]
[♪]
Hi. Welcome to Snap Language.
My name is Marc Franco.
Before we can talk about figures of speech,
we need to understand the difference between
literal and figurative language.
Take this situation:
"John's sitting on the fence."
Well. Here's a fence, here's John,
and he's actually sitting on the fence...
This is the literal meaning of this sentence.
Now, say you ask John if he's in favor of
or against something.
He's undecided...
He says he's in favor in some situations
but against in other situations.
He can't seem to choose sides.
You'd say: "John's sitting on the fence."
There is no actual fence;
this is the figurative meaning of this sentence.
You see? When you read something that has literal meaning,
the words mean what they really say.
But very often you read something that has
figurative meaning, so you need to interpret it.
Writers use figurative language very often
because it allows them to express themselves well
and use small distinctions in meaning or nuance.
In fact, we use figures of speech in everyday language
all the time.
Mmm... "all the time."
That's a hyperbole or exaggeration.
It's a figure of speech.
[snap]
As with all things worth knowing,
different types of figures of speech have their own names.
A simile is a comparison between two ideas
or concepts using "as" or "like."
With similes, you express that
one idea or concept shares similarities with another.
"I slept like a baby."
Of course, you did not literally sleep the way babies do,
but babies sleep very peacefully...
so, figuratively, that's how you want to say you slept.
"Her skin is as smooth as silk."
Of course, skin and silk feel very differently,
but you're just focusing on the quality
of smoothness;
silk is very smooth, so you're saying
her skin is very smooth, too.
Sometimes the meaning of a figure of speech is
a bit obscure.
Look at these examples:
"He's thick as a brick," means "stupid" or
"unable to see reason."
"He ran out of the office like a bat out of hell,"
means he left "fast and kind of crazy."
I'm sure there's some history behind these similes.
Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words and expressions.
Did you know that "thick" meaning stupid was first recorded
in the 1590s?
Usually, we just understand the meaning and
move on with our lives.
But hey, if you're interested in that kind of stuff,
go to the Online Etymology Dictionary, and go nuts!
[snap]
Metaphors are like similes without using "as" or "like."
Metaphors imply that the concepts being compared share some
quality or trait.
"We received a tidal wave of complaints."
"This is a recipe for disaster."
"He's a couch potato."
"This gray weather is giving me the blues."
The blues, "meaning 'depression, low spirits,' goes back to 1741,
from adjectival blue 'low-spirited,' late 14c."
Hyperboles are exaggerations.
"I have a million things to do today."
"My book bag weighs a ton!"
"I died laughing."
(Not literally...)
Personification is when you give an inanimate object or an animal
a quality or trait that persons have.
You know... "persons" ... "personification."
"The trees were dancing in the breeze."
Trees don't "dance." Humans do, but here "dancing" means
moving back and forth... like dancing...
"The angry waves crashed against the rocks."
People get angry, not waves.
You can imagine how strong and turbulent
"angry waves" are...
Sometimes you can use multiple figures of speech
in the same sentence.
"Drugs and alcohol dragged him to a very dark place."
There are many other types of figures of speech.
What's important here is
you should pay attention to when people are using
literal language or a figure of speech.
Then you know how to interpret what they're saying.
So, if you read in an article that
someone's "starving for attention," you know it doesn't have the
literal meaning of "dying from lack of food."
At the same time, because the writer chose to use
this hyperbole here,
you can interpret the writer's intent as
negative criticism or ridicule.
To be "starving for attention" is not very flattering for anyone,
so you know the writer's being very critical
to the point of being mean.
That's sarcasm.
If you remember the video on "irony," we talked about sarcasm, too.
Sarcasm is a figure of speech.
You must interpret its meaning.
If someone tastes your food and says, "Ugh! Delicious,"
they're being sarcastic. Don't take it as a compliment.
So, now that you know the difference between
literal and figurative meaning, I hope you
never say, "It was so funny I literally died laughing"
because, if you literally died laughing,
well... you wouldn't be able to like and share this video.
What are some of your favorite figures of speech?
Leave one in the comments.
And, until the next time, thanks for stopping by
and watching this video.
I mean this literally. Thank you...
No, literally. Thank you. I'm grateful.
Bye.
[FIGURES OF SPEECH [♪♫♪]
[♪]