The Purpose and Meaning of Language and Imagery

In most accounts, the primary purpose of language is to facilitate communication, in

the sense of transmission of information from one person to another. Language is a vital part
of human connection. Although all species have their ways of communicating, humans are the
only ones that have mastered cognitive language communication. Language allows us to share
our ideas, thoughts, and feelings with others. It has the power to build societies, but also tear
them down (University of People, n.d.)

a) Language Is Important To Culture And Society. Language helps us express our

feelings and thoughts — this is unique to our species because it is a way to express
unique ideas and customs within different cultures and societies. By learning a foreign
language, you can understand ideas and thoughts that may be different from your own
culture. You can learn customs and how people interact in a given society. Language
helps preserve cultures, but it also allows us to learn about others and spread ideas
quickly.
b) Language Is Important To Business. The importance of language in business is
unmatched. Without language here, we can’t share ideas and grow them into something
more. Whether this means learning a foreign language so you can share ideas with
people who come from a different country, or simply learning how to use language to
master an interview, demand presence in a room, or network with others, language is
vital.
c) Language Is Important For Individuals And Development. Humans all learn to talk
at slightly different times, and observing when a child starts to use language can be
indicative of how well they are developing. But this does not just apply to babies. It also
applies to young children learning a second language in school that’s different than the
language they speak at home, adults learning a second language, or even those who may
have lost language due to some type of accident, and are working on regaining it.
d) Language Is Important For Personal Communication. Though much of human
communication is non-verbal (we can demonstrate our thoughts, feelings and ideas by
our gestures, expressions, tones, and emotions) language is important for personal
communication. Whether it’s being able to talk to your friends, your partner, or your
family, having a shared language is necessary for these types of interactions.

Imagery is a literary device used in poetry, novels, and other writing that uses vivid
description that appeals to a readers’ senses to create an image or idea in their head. Through
language, imagery does not only paint a picture, but aims to portray the sensational and
emotional experience within text. The Purpose of Imagery is to improve a reader’s
experience of the text by immersing them more deeply by appealing to their senses. Imagery
in writing can aim at a reader’s sense of taste, smell, touch, hearing, or sight through vivid
descriptions. Imagery can be created using other literary devices like similes, metaphors, or
onomatopoeia. 

What is imagery used for?

1. Establishing a world or setting
2. Creating empathy for a character’s experience
3. Immersing a character into a situation

Types of Imagery That Are Most Commonly Used in Literature. 

1) Visual Imagery. Visual imagery is most likely what people think of when they hear
the term imagery. It uses qualities of how something looks visually to best create an
image in the reader’s head. These visual qualities can be shapes, color, light,
shadow, or even patterns. It is one of the most common types of imagery as it allows
 readers to better describe the world and characters of a novel or poem. Visual
imagery is often used in screenplays when first introducing characters.
2) Auditory Imagery. This type of imagery appeals to a reader’s sense of hearing.
Creating an auditory experience through text can be difficult. But it can also be
necessary for a story or plot. For example, the sound of war can be necessary to
immerse the reader into a war novel. This may be used to describe gunfire,
explosions, screams, and helicopters. 
3) Gustatory Imagery. Gustatory imagery is a type of imagery that aims at a reader’s
sense of taste. This would most commonly be used to describe food as a character
eats it. Describing food as sweet, salty, or even spicy can immerse a reader further
into a character’s simple action of eating. Gustatory imagery can be incredibly
effective when describing unpleasant tastes as well. 
4) Olfactory Imagery. Olfactory imagery is used when writers’ want to appeal to a
reader’s sense of smell. Olfactory imagery is a great way to better describe both
what a character is experiencing as well as the world of the novel, poem, or other
writing. The smell of fresh rain, smoke from a fire, or gasoline can be described
through olfactory imagery. Olfactory imagery can also be used in a screenplay as a
plot point and to suggest to actor’s what they are smelling and how they are
reacting.
5) Tactile Imagery. To create the sensory experience of touch through text, writers
utilize tactile imagery. This type of imagery can be used to describe how something
feels such as texture, temperature, wetness, dryness, etc. This can be tremendously
effective when characters are undergoing some type of turmoil. Tactile imagery
appeals to a reader’s sense of touch and allows them to better empathize with a
character. 
6) Kinesthetic Imagery. Kinesthetic imagery is used to describe the sensory
experience of motion. Speed, slowness, falling, or even fighting can be written with
kinesthetic imagery. Kinesthetic imagery is also great when writing about topics like
sports, driving, and other intense action. 
7) Organic Imagery. Organic imagery appeals to the most primitive sensations in the
human experience such as hunger, fatigue, fear and even emotion. It can be quite
difficult to describe the emotions of a sorrowful character or desperate character.
But organic imagery aims to do just that. When done effectively, organic imagery
can be the best tool to move a reader to tears of either joy or sadness. 

Reference:

University of People. (n.d.) Why Is Language Important? Your Guide To The Spoken Word.
Retrieved: https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/why-is-language-important/

De Guzman, K. (2021). What is Imagery — Definition & Examples in Literature & Poetry.
Retrieved: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-imagery-definition-examples/
 The Purpose and Meaning of Language and Imagery

Ang primary nga purpose sa language kay mag facilitate sa communication, in the
sense nga magamit siya sa pag transmit ug information gikan sa isa ka tao padulong sa uban.
Bisan pa naay nagka lahi-lahi nga pamaagi sa pag communicate ang tanan species, ang
humans lang ang naka master ug cognitive language communication. Tungod sa language,
maka share ta sa atong ideas, thoughts, ug feelings sa uban. Naa kini power maka build ug
society, pero naa sab power makasira. Ang sumusunod kay mga importansya sa language sa
nagka lain-laing konteksto:

a. Language Is Important To Culture And Society. Makatabang ang language sa ato

para maka express ta sa atong mga feelings ug thoughts — unique ni siya sa ato nga mga
tao kay pamaagi ni siya para maka express ta sa atong mga unique ideas ug mga
practices sa sulod sa nagka lain-laing kultura ug komunidad. Sa pagtuon sa usa ka
foreign language, makasabot ta sa mga idea ug thoughts nga gikan sa lain kultura.
Makatuon ta sa practices ug gina-unsa sa mga tao makig-interact sa sulod sa isa ka
komunidad. Makatabang ang language para mapreserve ang kultura, pero isa sab ni ka
pamaagi para makalearn ta about sa uban ug para paspas maka-spread ug ideas.
b. Language Is Important To Business. Dili matumbasan ang importansya sa language sa
negosyo or business. Kung wala ang language, dili ta maka share ug ideas ug mapa-grow
ni nga mga ideas into something more. Bisan sa pagtuon ug usa ka foreign language para
maka-share ug ideas sa uban tao na gikan sa lain nasud, or para magtuon unsaon
paggamit sa language para mag-master sa usa ka interview, para mapakita ang presensya
sa isa ka room, or makig-konekta sa uban tao, importante ang language para mabuhat
kini tanan.
c. Language Is Important For Individuals And Development. Ang tanan tao makatuon
ug pagistorya sa nagkalain-laing panahon or time, and ang pag-observe kung ang bata
mag-start na ug gamit ug language kay makatabang sa pag timailhan kung unsa ka
maayo ang pag-develop sa bata. Pero dili ni siya ma-apply sa mga babies. Ma-apply ni
siya sa mga bata nga nagatuon ug second language nga lahi sa language nga ilang
ginagamit at home, pati na ang mga adults nga nagatuon ug second language, or bisan
kinsa nga nawalaan ug language tungod sa mga aksidente ug gusto bawion ang language
nga nawala.
d. Language Is Important For Personal Communication. Bisan kadaghanan sa human
communication kay non-verbal (maka-demonstrate ta sa atong thoughts, feelings, ug
ideas gamit atong mga lihok, ekspresyon, tono, ug emosyon), ang langauge importante
para sa personal communication. Bisan sa pakig-istorya sa atong mga friends, sa atong
partner, or sa atong family, ang paggamit sa shared language kay kinahanglan para ani
nga mga interaksyon.

Ang Imagery kay isa ka literary device nga ginagamit sa poetry, novel, ug uban pang
writing nga nagagamit ug tin’aw nga deskripsyon nga makapadani sa senses sa usa ka reader
para maka-create ug imahe or idea sa ilang ulo. Tungod sa language, dili lang makapaint ug
picture ang imagery, pero makaportray sad ni ug sensational ug emotional nga experience sa
sulod sa isa ka text. Ang Purpose sa Imagery kay para ma-improve ang experience sa reader
sa pamaagi sa paglunod sa mga readers sa story gamit ang ilang mga senses. Ang pakay sa
imagery kay ang sense sa reader sa panlasa, pang-amoy, panggunit, pandungog, or ang panan-
aw pinaagi sa vivid descriptions. Mahimo ang imagery gamit ang uban literary devices like
similes, metaphors, ug onomatopoeia.

What is imagery used for?

1. Pagtatag sa setting
2. Paghimo ug empathy para sa experience sa character.
 3. Pag-immerse sa character sa isa ka sitwasyon

Types of Imagery That Are Most Commonly Used in Literature. 

1) Visual Imagery. Ang visual imagery ang mismong mahuna-hunaan sa mga tao if
makadungog sila sa term nga imagery. Nagagamit ni ug mga qualities kung unsaon
ang isa ka butang makita visually arun makabuhat ug imahe sa hunahuna sa reader.
Kini nga mga visual qualities kay pwede shape, color, light, shadow, ug patterns.
Mao ni ang pinaka common nga type sa imagery kay gina-allow ani ang readers nga
ma-picture out nila ang kalibutan ug characters isa ka novel o tula. Ginagamit
mostly ang visual imagery sa screenplay kung kanus’a gina introduce ang mga
characters.
2) Auditory Imagery. This may be used to describe gunfire, explosions, screams, and
helicopters. Kani nga type sa imagery kay mu-apela sa sense sa pandungog sa
reader. Lisod ang pagbuhat sa auditory experience gamit ang text. Pero kinahanglan
kini para sa story or plot. For example, ang tingog sa giyera kinahanglan para ma-
picture out sa reader ang isa ka war novel.
3) Gustatory Imagery. Ang Gustatory imagery kay isa ka type sa imagery nga naga-
aim sa sense of taste sa reader. Common ni siya magamit sa pagdescribe ug pagkaon
while nagkaon ang character. Ang pagdescribe sa pagkaon as sweet, salty, or bisan
spicy kay makatabang para maka-experience ang reader sa action of eating sa
mismong character sa story. Effective pud ang Gustatory imagery sa pagdescribe sa
mga dili maayo nga lasa sa pagkaon.
4) Olfactory Imagery. Ang Olfactory imagery kay ginagamit kung gusto sa writer
makadani sa sense of smell sa reader. Nindot nga pamaagi ang paggamit sa
olfactory imagery kung mag describe sa unsa’y na-experience sa character ug unsa
ang setting sa novel, poem, ug uban pang writing. Ang humot sa fresh nga ulan, ang
usok gikan sa apoy, or ang humot sa gasolina kay ma-describe gamit ang olfactory
imagery. Magamit sad ang olfactory imagery sa screenplay especially sa plot point
ug para mag-suggest sa kung unsa’y masim’ot sa actor ug gi-unsa nila pag-react sa
nasim’ot.
5) Tactile Imagery. Para makabuhat ug sensory experience sa paggunit gamit ang text,
nagagamit ang mga writers ug tactile imagery. Kini nga type sa imagery kay pwede
magamit sa pag-describe kung unsa ang isa ka butang ma feel kung gunitan labina
sa texture, temperature, wetness, dryness, ug uban pa. Effective ni siya kung ang
characters kay naga-experience ug gubot. Ang Tactile imagery kay naga-appeal sa
sense of touch sa reader ug naga-allow sa ila nga ma-emphasize ang character sa
story na ilang gibasa.
6) Kinesthetic Imagery. Ang Kinesthetic imagery kay magamit para mag-describe sa
sensory experience sa paglihok. Ang kapaspason, kahinayon, ang pagkahulog, ug
even ang pag-away, kini tanan ma-describe gamit ang kinesthetic imagery. Nindot
sad ang kinesthetic imagery kung magsulat ug topics like sports, driving, ug uban pa
nga mga intense nga aksyon.
7) Organic Imagery. Ang Organic imagery kay naga-appeal sa pinaka karaan nga
sensation sa human experience parehas sa kagutom, fatigue, kahadlok, ug even ang
emosyon. Actually, lisod ang pag-describe sa emotions sa usa ka sorrowful nga
character or usa ka desperado nga character. Pero ang aim sa organic imagery kay
ang buhaton na. Kung magamit ni ug tama, ang oraganic imagery ang the best nga
tool para ma-push ang reader sa paghilak sa kalipay or sa kalungkutan.