Transcript Document

Language Types
We’re going to look at
two types of language:
figurative language
and literal language
Objective: Use figurative language in writing.
1
Figurative vs. Literal
To understand what
figurative language is,one
needs to understand the
difference between
figurative and literal
2
LET’S START WITH
LITERAL
To be literal is to state what you mean or mean
what you say.
For example:
If I tell you to, “Stop whining!”
I mean it literally, “Stop whining.” as in “Stop whining and
put a smile on your face, please.”
I am directly stating what I mean.
3
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 stated.
4
FIGURATIVE
To be figurative is to not mean what
you say but to imply something else.
For example: If I tell you, “Let’s go chill,”
I’m not suggesting we get into the freezer.
5
“let’s go chill”
… means let’s relax together and do
something fun.
It has nothing to do with temperature.
6
Literal vs. Figurative
Confused?
Think of it this way:
Literal is stated directly
Figurative is imaginary
7
Why Use Figurative Language?
Also known as
descriptive
language, or
poetic language,
figurative
language helps
the writer paint a
picture in the
reader’s mind.
8
Figurative Language makes reading more interesting.
9
Seven Techniques of
Figurative Language
•
•
onomatopoeia
• alliteration
• simile
• metaphor
personification
• idiom
• hyperbole
10
Onomatopoeia
Words that make the sound they are
representing.
Examples of onomatopoeia:
 Bang! The gun went off!
 The basketball swooshed
through the hoop.
11
Onomatopoeia
12
Alliteration


Repeating the same initial consonant
sound in neighboring words. Examples
of Alliteration:
Sally Sells Seashells By The Sea
Shore
Rolling, Racing, Roaring,
Rapids
13
Simile
A simile is a figurative language
technique where a comparison
is made using like or as.
Example of similes:
 She dances like a graceful swan.
14
Complete your custom simile:




The cat was as scary as a ____.
The night is like a ____.
The moon is like a ____
The scarecrow was as scary as a ____.
15
Metaphor


A comparison that does not use the
words like or as.
Examples of metaphors:
He is a golden god.
16
LET’S PRACTICE!
Brian was a wall, bouncing every
tennis ball back over the net.
This metaphor compares Brian to a wall
because __________.
a. He was a strong tennis player.
b. He was very tall.
c. He kept missing the balls.
d. His body was made of cells.
17
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
18
Cindy was such a mule. We couldn’t
get her to change her mind.
The metaphor “Cindy was such a
mule” 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
19
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
20
Personification
Personification is a figurative
language technique in which
human characteristics are given
to non-human things.
21
Example of personification:
The heat ripped the breath from his lungs.
Heat is the “thing” that is performing the human
characteristic “ripped.” Does heat really rip? No! It
means, of course, that the heat made it difficult for
him to breathe.
22
The leaves danced in the wind.



Do leaves really dance? Of course not!
Close your eyes and picture leaves
“dancing in the wind.” What do you see?
Why do you think an author would
choose to use “dancing” to show what
the leaves were doing?
23
Paint a picture in your head of the following
“things” performing human characteristics:
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.
TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOU SEE IN
YOUR MIND AND THEN SHARE OUT!
24
Idiom
An idiom is an expression that
means something different than
what the words actually say.
Huh? Then why
say it?
25
Idioms (like other types of figurative
language) make reading more interesting!
Remember what literal means? To mean what
you say.
An idiom is the opposite.
An idiom is a “figure of speech.” It is figurative
language. Imaginary.
Remember, “Let’s chill” does not mean to walk
into a freezer together!
26
There are tons of idioms. I’m sure you use
several all the time, without thinking about it.
27
Listen up, dudes and dudettes!
It’s difficult to understand an idiom all by itself. It needs to be in
context to make sense.
Take, for example, “whacked” and “tangle.”
All by itself, what does “whacked” mean?
What does “tangle” mean?
IN CONTEXT:
You are whacked if you want to tangle with him.
Meaning. Man, you are crazy for wanting to fight with him.
See how it changes?
28
Hyperbole
• Is when one exaggerates.
• We use hyperbole all the time when
we want to impress or stress.
29
Hyperbole
For example:
“He never listens to his mom.”
Never? That is a very long time. His
mom might want to have his hearing
checked. Never is an exaggeration.
30
Example:
• We have a ton of homework.
Oh really? A ton is a thousand pounds. You
would need to have big muscles and a HUGE
backpack!
31
LET’S REVIEW
Literal vs. Figurative
Remember:
Real vs. Imaginary
32