Language Types

We’re going to look at two types of language:

figurative language
and literal language
Joyet 2004 1
 Figurative vs. Literal
To understand

figurative language
one has to understand the
difference between
figurative and literal
Joyet 2004 2
 More on Literal
To be literal is to mean what
you say. For example:
If I tell you to sit down,
I mean it literally: “sit down,”
as in: “sit in your seat now,
please.”
My meaning is exactly what I say.
Joyet 2004 3
 and more on Literal
Here’s another example.
I’m tired and going home.
This means “I’m tired and I’m going
home” there is no other meaning
other than what is said.
I mean exactly what I say.
Joyet 2004 4
 2 nd
Figurative
To be figurative is to not mean
what you say but imply
something else. For example:
If, I tell you: “let’s go chill!”
I’m not suggesting we get into
the freezer.
Joyet 2004 5
 Figurative continued
“let’s go chill” …

…means let’s relax together

and do something fun.
It has nothing
to do with temperature.
Joyet 2004 6
 Figurative vs. Literal
Confused?
Think of it this way:
Literal as exactly what you mean.
Figurative as meaning something
else.
Joyet 2004 7
Why Figurative Language?

Also known as descriptive

language, or poetic language,
figurative language helps the
writer paint a picture in the
reader’s mind.
Joyet 2004 8
Again: Figurative Language

Figurative Language does

not always mean what is
being said or read, but
serves to make it more
interesting.
Joyet 2004 9
 Six Techniques of
Figurative Language

There are six techniques that

we’re going to look at, and
yes, you’ll need to learn all
six.

Joyet 2004 10
 Six Techniques of
Figurative Language

You will need to:

understand them
identify them
use them in your writing
Joyet 2004 11
 Types of Figurative
Language
 Simile
 Metaphor
 Alliteration
 Personification
 Hyperbole
 Onomatopoeia

S.M.A.P.H.O.
 Simile
A figure of speech that compares two
unlike things, using the words like or
as.
Example: The muscles on his
brawny arms are as strong as iron
bands.
 Simile

More examples of similes:

She is like a rainy day.
He is as busy as a bee.
They are like two peas in a pod.
The metal twisted like a ribbon.

Joyet 2004 14
 Important!
Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a
simile.
A comparison must be made.

Not a Simile: I like pizza.

Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

 Metaphor
A figure of speech that compares two
unlike things without using like or as. You
simply state one thing is another thing.
Example: The road was a ribbon
wrapped through the dessert.
 Metaphor
More examples of metaphors:
She is a graceful swan.
He is a golden god.
They are honey from the
honeycomb.

Joyet 2004 17
Brian was a wall, bouncing every
tennis ball back over the net.
This metaphor compares Brian to a wall
because __________.
a. He was very strong.
b. He was very tall.
c. He kept returning the balls.
d. His body was made of cells.

Joyet 2004 18
We would have had more pizza to eat if
Tammy hadn’t been such a hog.
Tammy was being compared to a hog
because she __________.
a. looked like a hog
b. ate like a hog
c. smelled like a hog
d. was as smart as a hog

Joyet 2004 19
Cindy was such a mule. We couldn’t
get her to change her mind.
The metaphor compares Cindy to a mule
because she was __________.
a. always eating oats
b. able to do hard work
c. raised on a farm
d. very stubborn

Joyet 2004 20
 The poor rat didn’t have a chance.
Our old cat, a bolt of lightning,
caught his prey.
The cat was compared to a bolt of
lightning because he was _______.
a. very fast b. very bright
c. not fond of fleas d. very old

Joyet 2004 21
Even a child could carry my dog,
Dogface, around for hours. He’s
such a feather.
This metaphor implies that Dogface:
a. is not cute b. looks like a bird
c. is not heavy d. can fly

Joyet 2004 22
 Alliteration
 Repeated consonant sounds occurring at
the beginning of words or within words.
Example: She was wide-eyed and
wondering while she waited for Walter to
waken.
 Alliteration
More examples of alliteration:
   Sally Sells Seashells By The Sea
Shore
   Rolling, Racing, Roaring,
Rapids            

Joyet 2004 24
 Alliteration
  Tongue twisters are generally
alliterations.
For example:  Busy batters bat
baseballs by bases.

"PeterPiper picked a peck of pickled

peppers."
25
 Personification

A figure of speech which gives the qualities

of a human to non-human things (an
animal, an object, or an idea).
Example: “The wind yells while blowing."
The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing
can yell.
 Personification

More examples of personification:

The heat ripped the breath from

her lungs.

The leaves danced in the wind

Joyet 2004 27
 Personification
 Hunger sat shivering on the
road.
 The streets are calling me.
 Flowers danced about the lawn.
 The water on the lake shivered.

Joyet 2004 28
 Personification
The sleeping water reflected the
evening sky.
Humidity breathed in the girl's
face and ran its greasy fingers
through her hair.
The tree arrested the oncoming
car.
Joyet 2004 29
 Hyperbole
 An exaggerated statement used to impress
or stress something. It is not used to mislead
the reader, but to emphasize a point.
Example: She’s said so on several million
occasions.
 Hyperbole

Take for example:

“He never speaks to her.”
Never? That is a very long time.
Hyperbole means to exaggerate.
Joyet 2004 31
 Hyperbole
Hyperbole example:
• We have a ton of work.

A ton is a lot of work. A ton is

also two thousand pounds.
Joyet 2004 32
 Hyperbole
Hyperbole example:
• I ate two thousand pounds of pasta.
Two thousand pounds is also known
as a ton, this person must be really
obese.
Joyet 2004 33
 Hyperbole
Hyperbole example:
• I told you a million times.

I don’t mind repeating myself, but

a million times? That’s a lot.

Joyet 2004 34
 Onomatopoeia
 Theuse of words that mimic sounds.
Example: The firecracker made a
loud ka-boom!
 Onomatopoeia
The formation or use of
words such as buzz, murmur
or boo that imitate the
sounds associated with the
objects or actions they refer
to.
Joyet 2004 36
 Onomatopoeia
Examples of the onomatopoeia:
Bang, went the gun!

Swoosh went the basketball

through the hoop.
Joyet 2004 37
 Onomatopoeia in practice
Onomatopoeia is the use of words
whose sounds make you think of
their meanings. 
For example; buzz, thump, pop.

Many comic strips use

onomatopoeia. Joyet 2004 38
 Onomatopoeia

Joyet 2004 39
 We’ve looked at
Literal vs. Figurative
Remember:

Real vs. Imaginary

Joyet 2004 40
 Figurative Language Resources
 Eye on Idioms (Online PPT)
 Paint by Idioms (Game)
 Alliteration or Simile? (Quiz)
 Similes and Metaphors (PPT)
 The Search for Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms (PPT)
 Alliteration (PPT)
 Onomatopoeia (PPT)
 Personification (PPT)
 Hyperbole  (PPT)
 Idioms (PPT)
 Simile (PPT)
Teaching Similes and Metaphors
 Alliteration Lesson Plan and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/1allitera.htm
 Hyperbole- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/10lesson.htm
 Idiom Lesson Plan
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/6lesson.htm
 Imagery- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/imagery2.htm
 Lesson Plan for Puns
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/5lesson.htm
 Onomatopoeia- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/9lesson.htm
 Personification Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/7lesson.htm
 Proverbs- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/proverbs2.htm