FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

A. Figurative Language (Non-Literal Meanings)

A.1 Definition of Figurative Language (Non-Literal Meanings)

Based on Abrams (1999:96), tells that figurative languages was a conspicuous

departure from what users of language apprehend as the standard meaning of words,
or else the standard order of words, in order to achieve some special meaning or
effect. In other way, Figurative language refers to the color we use to amplify our
writing. Figurative language is a way to engage the readers, ushering them through
our writing with a more creative tone. It is mean that we need to analyze the context
to know the meaning of the words, phrases or sentences.
Figurative (or non-literal) language uses words in a way that deviates from
their conventionally accepted definitions in order to convey a more complicated
meaning or heightened effect. Figurative language is often created by presenting
words in such a way that they are equated, compared, or associated with normally
unrelated meanings.

A.2 Function of Figurative Language

The primary function of figurative language is to force readers to imagine

what a writer wants to express. Figurative language is not meant to convey literal
meanings, and often it compares one concept with another in order to make the first
concept easier to understand. However, it links the two ideas or concepts with the goal
of influencing the audience to understand the link, even if it does not exist. Poets and
prose writers use this technique to bring out emotions and help their readers form
images in their minds. Thus, figurative language is a useful way of conveying an idea
that readers cannot understand otherwise, due to its complex and abstract nature. In
addition, it helps in analyzing a literary text.
Figurative language allows people to express abstract thought. It create tone
and communicates emotional, content, often through humor. Figurative language also
helps reinforce group identity may help sell product by bringing certain image or

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 cultural ideas to mind. Figurative language also can use everyone in their daily life,
for example : a mother to praise her daughter because her daughter get new dress
from her father, and the daughter use the dress and show in front of her mom, “ you
look pretty”, it is means that the mother use figurative language to praise her
daughter.

A.3 Types of Figurative Language (Non-Literal Meanings)

There are many types of figurative language (Non-Literal Meanings) that we

can use in our writing, but it is often debated how many “types” of figurative language
there are, it is safe to say there are at least five distinct categories, they are : hyperbole,
metaphor, personification, similes, symbolism. There are the big five in figurative
language, but there are many types figurative including: metonym ,synecdoche,
assonance, oxymoron , pun, euphemism, alliteration, onomatopoeia.
This part will explain about the types of figurative language(non-literal meaning).
a. Hyperbola
Hyperbole is figurative language which express about something with
exaggerated, so it does not correspond to the actual reality.
For example
- Her voice was shrill so solve our ear.
This statement is overstatement. Statement said that voice of a woman is shrill so
people’s ear will solve.

-You snore louder than a freight train.

This statement is overstatement. This sentence explains that sound of someone’s
snore is louder than a freight train. In fact sound a freight train is very loud.

b. Metaphor
Metaphor is a word or expression that in literal usage denotes one kind of
thing is applied to a distinctly different kind of thing, without asserting a
comparison (Abrams, 1999:97). Metaphor Interpretation requires a triggering
condition (i.e., a rule violation). Metaphorical meanings difficult to understand;
they should involve a sequential process. As a result, they should require more and

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 different contextual support for their derivation. In contrast, traditional theories
(Searle 1979).
   For Example
- He has a heart of stone
In the example above, there is a comparison between he as a human with has
a heart of stone.

- You are my sunshine

Example above, explain comparison between two things, “you are as someone
and my sunshine as own of someon
Based on the examples obove, methaphor is talking about the sentence which
compare two things but do not use “like” and as.

c. Personification
Abrams (1999:99) says that personification, or in the
Greekterm, prosopopeia, in which either an inanimate object or an abstract
concept spoken of as though it were endowed with life or with human attributes or
feelings (compare pathetic fallacy). Based on the statemen above,we concluded
that personification is kind of figurative language that function to describe an
inanimate object as if it has properties or capabilities as humans.
For Example:
- The moon smiles at us.
  In the sentence includes the word "moon" which is smiling. Smiling is an action
performed by an object or a human life, but inthe quote, performed by inanimate
objects.
- The wind touched my skin.
From example above there is a word “the wind” which is inanimate, that can
touch where word “touch” is human action.
- The sun played hide and seek with the clouds
 In this sentence, there is word “the sun “which is inanimate do act like human is
played hide and seek.

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d. Simile
Abrams (1999:97) states that “simile is a comparison between two distinctly
different things is explicitly indicated by the word "like" or "as".
For Example
- “Her lips are chapped like pomegranate”.
  

This sentence compare between two manners. Consist of her lips are chapped and
pomegranate, and this sentences using “like”.
- John’s style as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
This sentence said that compare between John’s styles with barrel of monkey.
This sentence also used “as …as”, which is simile characteristic

- They fought like cats and dogs.

This example explain comparison between their fought with cat and dog. This
example also using “like” which is simile characteristics.
Based on the explanation above,we can state that simile was comparison that
explicit, between two things using conjunctive. It were like, as than, similar,
resemble or seems.

e. Symbolism
Symbolism occurs when a word has its own meaning but is used to represent
something entirely different.
Examples in everyday life include:
 Using the image of the Indonesian flag to represent patriotism and a love for
one's country.
 Incorporating a red rose in your writing to symbolize love.
 Using an apple pie to represent a traditional American lifestyle.
 Using a chalkboard to represent education.
 Incorporating the color black in your writing as a symbol for evil or death.
 Using an owl to represent wisdom.

f. Euphemism
A euphemism is the use of agreeable or inoffensive words to replace rude or
offensive one.

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 Examples :
1. He is a special child ( disability or learning challenged).
2. Rudi was sent to correctional facility. ( A correctional facility is nicer
sounding phrase than jail or prison).

g. Idiom:
An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or
society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the
words. An idiom is commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to
the literal meaning of its words. Idioms are classified as figurative language,
which is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.
Examples:
1. He’s been pushing up the daisies for a year.
(He’s been dead for a year)
2. Let’s paint the town red.
(Let’s have a good time in town)

h. Metonymy:
A metonymy is a word used in place of a closely related word. Metonyms
closely resemble metaphors but the thing being represented by metonym will be a
close match.
Examples:
1. After college, he took to the bottle.
(The bottle is a metonym for alcohol.)
2. Downing Street supports the proposal.
(Downing Street is a metonym for the prime Minister.)

i. Synecdoche:
In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole. It is common
to refer to a thing by the name of its parts.
Example:
1. The captain commands one hundred sails.
(The sentence above is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships. Ships
being the thing of which a sail is a part.)

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 2. Check out my new wheels.
(“wheels” is used to refer to a car or motorcycle.)

j. Assonance:
The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the "ee" sound:
"the squeaky wheel gets the grease." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated
sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another. Assonance is
used for emphasis or to make a sentence more pleasing to the ear.
Examples:
1. Hear, not fear, the wisdom of wizards.
2. Cats bath at bat

k. Oxymoron:
An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex
meanings. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are
joined to create an effect.
Examples :
1. The program was not liked by the people, for a lot of unpopular celebrities
were invited.
2. All the political agreed to disagree.

l. Pun
Pun is a play on words that produces a humorous effect by using a words that
suggest two or more meanings, or by exploiting similar sounding words that have
different meanings.
Examples :
 A horse is a very stable kind of animal.
 What is the difference between a conductor and a teacher ?
The conductor minds the trainand, and a teacher trains the mind.

h. Some Fun Sounds

So, that covers "the big five." But, we'd be remiss if we didn't briefly touch upon
some literary sound devices that can hang with the best similes and metaphors.

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- Alliteration
According to Abrams (1999:8) says that alliteration is the repetition of a speech
sound in a sequence of nearby words. The term is usually applied only to
consonants, and only when the recurrent sound begins a word or a stressed
syllable within a word.

For Example:
 Wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken
Sentence above are words that have the same consonants in pronounce
repeatedly. First word in this sentence begins with alphabet of “W”, and next
words also using it.

 Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought better butter to
make the bitter butter better.
Sentence above are words that have the same consonants in pronounce
repeatedly. First word in this sentence begins with alphabet of “B”, and next
words also using it.
Alliteration is a sound device. It is the repetition of the first consonant sounds
in several words. From example above, it can be concluded that alliteration is
repetition of speech sound in same words and also figurative languages that
repeating the first word that is repeated again on the next word

- Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is also a sound device where the words sound like their
meaning, or mimic sounds. They add a level of fun and reality to writing.
Here are some examples:
 The burning wood hissed and crackled.
 Sounds of nature are all around us. Listen for the croak, caw, buzz, whirr,
swish, hum, quack, meow, oink, and tweet.

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B. Literal Meanings

B.1 Definition of Literal Meanings

Literal Meaning denotes that all words are in strict accordance with their original
meanings. In other words, to apply the literal meanings is to take the words in their most
basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration. In other word literal meaning is the
meanings of a sentence determine the truth conditions of that sentence. (Sarle, 1980).

B.2 Examples of Literal Meanings

- The comedian died on stage.
( In the literal meanings, the comedian actually died. This contrasts with the figurative
sense, which would mean that the comedian struggled to make the audience laugh).

- I have thrown the proposal out.

( in literal meaning, the proposal has actually been thrown out as opposed to just
dismissed).

- John managed to escape the wolves.

( in the literal meaning, John actually succeeded in getting away from some genuine
wolves as opposed to, say avoiding a verbal bashing at a meeting from aggressive
colleagues).

- Can you wait outside?

( in literal meanings, this could be construed as : Do you have ability to wait outside?).

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Conclusion

Based on Abrams (1999:96), tells that figurative languages was a conspicuous

departure from what users of language apprehend as the standard meaning of words, or
else the standard order of words, in order to achieve some special meaning or effect. In
other way, Figurative language refers to the color we use to amplify our writing.
Figurative language is a way to engage the readers, ushering them through our writing
with a more creative tone. It is mean that we need to analyze the context to know the
meaning of the words, phrases or sentences.
The function of figurative language is to force readers to imagine what a
writer wants to express. Figurative language is not meant to convey literal meanings,
and often it compares one concept with another in order to make the first concept
easier to understand. Figurative language allows people to express abstract thought. It
create tone and communicates emotional, content, often through humor. Figurative
language also helps reinforce group identity may help sell product by bringing certain
image or cultural ideas to mind. Figurative language also can use everyone in their
daily life.
There are many types of figurative language (Non-Literal Meanings) that we
can use in our writing, but it is often debated how many “types” of figurative language
there are, it is safe to say there are at least five distinct categories, they are : hyperbole,
metaphor, personification, similes, symbolism. There are the big five in figurative
language, but there are many types figurative including: metonym ,synecdoche,
assonance, oxymoron , pun, euphemism, alliteration, onomatopoeia.

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REFERENCES

 Abrams, M, H. 1999. Glossary of Literature Term. New York: Holt, Rinehart and
Winson, Inc.

 Searle, J. (1980). The background of meaning. In J. Searle, F. Keifer, & M.

 Bierwisch (Eds.),Speech act theory and pragmatics. Boston: D. Reidel.

 Stern, J.: 2000, Metaphor in Context., MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

 Bianchi, C. (ed.): 2004, The Semantics/Pragmatics Distinction., CSLI Publications.

 T. Turner, eds., Figurative language and thought, 158–192. New York: Oxford
University Press.

 Giora, Rachel, 1997. Understanding figurative and literal language: The graded
salience hypothesis. Cognitive Linguistics 7: 183–206.

 Giora, R.: 2002, Literal vs. figurative language: Different or equal?, Journal of
Pragmatics 34, 487–506.

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 QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

1. Why is figurative language important in literature ? ( Aminah Nurhasanah)

Answer : Figurative language important in literature because figurative language used by the
writers to help the readers to understand the idea in the story that are difficult to
explain with literal language and to help the readers to imagine and bring
emotional the readers in the story.

2. Why we use idiom in figurative language ? ( Maria )

Answer : We use idiom in figurative language because idiom include in figurative language
and idiom allows us to express our felling and emotions in creative way. Idioms are
more colorful than simple literal language, and idiom also give power in your
writing, help us to find our sense of humor, helps us to “think outside the box”.
Writers use idioms to indicate something beyond what the words actually mean.

3. How the writers use this technique to bring out emotions and help their readers form images
in their minds? (Devi Artini )
Answer : Writers use this technique to bring out emotions and help the readers form images
in their minds is the writers use the technique with poems, poetry, novels, dramas.

4. Why the writers use it this technique to bring out emotions and help their reader form images
in their minds? (Hani Ayu R)
Answer : Writers use it this technique to bring out emotions and help their reader form
images in their minds because it compares one concept with another in order to
make the first concept easier to understand.

5. How do we use figurative language in our daily conversation ? (Lisda Enny)

Answer : We can use figurative language in our daily conversation, for example to praise
some one like “ Woow you look very beautiful”, because that figurative language
is for. It is for clarifying and describing in more detail. As it is known, people have
many different words in different level to say woman is beautiful. It could be
gorgeous, stunning, charming, perfect, admirable, pretty, cute and many more.
With no doubt, figurative is very useful in giving accurate descriptions.

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6. How do we use of figurative language able to increase our English writing skill? (Dhia)
Answer : The ability to use figurative language successfully is one of the most effective tools
in writer’s skill set. Figurative language can improve our vocabulary because
figurative language is vivid and descriptive, it can create an image in our mind, it
creates emotional tone more effectively. Use figurative language can help us to
express our felling in writing, can tell other people to imagine about our writing.

7. Why do people think that figurative language is hard to understand? (Meggie Ullyah)
Answer : People think that figurative language is harder to understand because figurative
language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is
different from the literal interpretation (actual words used), often to describe
something else or to create mental pictures with words. for example to praise some
one like “ Woow you look very beautiful”, because that figurative language is for.
It is for clarifying and describing in more detail. As it is known, people have many
different words in different level to say woman is beautiful. It could be gorgeous,
stunning, charming, perfect, admirable, pretty, cute and many more. With no
doubt, figurative is very useful in giving accurate descriptions. However, used it
incorrectly can make the readers/speakers confused or downright silly.

8. Why figurative language often used in literature ? (RM.Cipta Aria)

Answer : Figurative language often used in literature because figurative language can help
the readers to imagine the story, feel beyond the story. Figurative language usually
requires the readers or listener to understand some extra nuances, context,
allusions, etc. In order to understand the second meaning and also to explain things
in a new and fresh way that might help readers compare what they already know to
the new concept, to create a way of defining things that is very alien to the way
humans actually think.

9. How does nonliterary meaning have literal meaning ? (Ahmad Badaruddin))

Answer : Nonliteral meaning have literal meaning it is mean that nonliteral meaning is not
the real meaning of the words, one sentence have more than one meaning, so that it
is opposite by literary meaning. So when we are writing to express our felt
sometimes we use nonliteral language it is means that in our written sometimes
have two meaning in and they have correlation. For example : …….

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10. How do you use figurative language in learning teaching for students seventh grade ?
(Ngudisih Sayekti).
Answer : We can use figurative language in learning teaching for students seventh grade, as a
teacher we can help students to express their felling used figurative language, in
teaching learning for example : teacher read poem or short story first in front of the
students, students listen carefully what the teacher say after that, after that teacher
explain the point in the in the short story or poem after that teacher ask students to
repeat and practice what teacher read before with expression.

11. Why the author use figurative language in their writing (poems, novels, etc)? (Dianawati)
Answer : the author use figurative language in the their writing because figurative language
can help author to make unfamiliar objects, settings and situations more relatable,
figurative also can make help author to give affect mood of a short story, the term
mood refers to the atmosphere that envelopes the reader and evokes certain
feelings. Figurative language also can develops characterization, advanced the plot.
Writers of prose and poetry use figurative language to elicit emotions, help readers
form mental images and draw readers into the work.

12. How you can interpret figurative language? (Suprapto)

Answer : We can interpret figurative language in writing skill of English language by doing
writing ( make poetry, poem, short story).

13. How we can know the sentence include in figurative language ? (Dahlia)
Answer : We can know the sentence include in figurative language when the sentence have
abstract meaning and the sentence beyond the actual meaning of our words.

14. Why figurative language have related with literal meaning ? (Ratmini)
Answer : Figurative language have related with literal meaning because literal meaning uses
words exactly according to their conventionally accepted meanings, and figurative
language is often created by presenting words such a way that they are equated,
compared, or association with normally unrelated meaning. Between figurative
language and literal meaning have correlation when we use figurative language to
express or explain about something or our feelings in writing but if figurative

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 language can not to explain more about our writing we use literal meaning or
opposite.

15. Why we use figurative language in poetry? (Isna Fitria)

Answer : We use figurative language in poetry because figurative language can help us as
writer to express our feelings in poetry and bring the readers to imagine about the
beyond in the poetry. Figurative language also help us as writer to make unfamiliar
objects, settings and situations more relatable, figurative also can make help us to
give affect mood of a short story, the term mood refers to the atmosphere that
envelopes the reader and evokes certain feelings. Figurative language also can
develops characterization, advanced the plot. Writers of prose and poetry use
figurative language to elicit emotions, help readers form mental images and draw
readers into the work.

16. How to increase our vocabulary skill trough figurative language ? (Nur’Asiyah)
Answer : We can increase our vocabulary skill trough figurative language with writing, make
simple written to express our feeling , the written about our journey, family,
holiday. For example : my dad is my hero, my mom is the best in the world, etc.

17. Why figurative language could not teach for the primary school? (Widya Sartika)
Answer : Figurative language could not teach for the primary school for the first and fourth
level because figurative language is often use in literature and usually abstract
language, but figurative language we can use to the fifth and sixth level to
introduce figurative language.

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