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Metaphors we live by explained
Essays analysing the use of metaphors
Essay on language and metaphor usage
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Works by those in the field of applied linguistics argue that language creativity is not only a property ‘traditionally associated with poetry’ and other forms of literary texts, but are characteristic of everyday conversational practise (Maybin and Swann, 2006, p.1). Rather than defining literary language as being ‘distinct’ from ordinary conversation, recent language studies suggest that textual artistry is an indicative form of creative expression that is widespread amongst all cultures and societies (Maybin and Swann, 2006). Examples of this position reason that the connection between ‘textual artistry’ and everyday discourse is not simply a matter of language users reproducing literary language for ‘aesthetic effect,’ but serves to communicate …show more content…
For example, scholarly articles by authors Lakoff and Turner, describe metaphors as ‘poetic mechanisms found in different cultural contexts’ that expand our everyday language and cognitive thought in new and creative ways (Lakoff and Turner, 1989, p.67, cited in Maybin and Swann, 2006, p.18). Carter reasons that everyday figures of speech such as idioms, puns and metaphor are ‘pervasively poetic’ features of language creativity that are not only found in children’s discourse,’ but in adult’s everyday conversational practise (Carter, R, 2006, p.34). With reference to Cook’s earlier definition of children’s language play, he also examines the function of ‘adult language play in private’ (Cook, G, 2006, p.39). Cook asserts that adults may believe they conduct themselves more maturely than children. However, language play remains prevalent and extends into adulthood. For instance, although adults are less likely to indulge in ‘risqué or infantile language’ in public, they may privately express playful terms of endearment to communicate tenderness and depth of emotion to their lovers (Cook, G, 2006, …show more content…
Within its contextual form this use of language creativity links largely to Carter’s ‘sociocultural model’ Maybin and Swann, 2006, p.8). However, Cook argues that verbal duelling is not specific to class or race and is widespread across all societies including the ‘major political rhetoric’ within The House of Commons (Cook, G, 2006, p.42). In conclusion, creativity in everyday language can be identified as an ‘essential human faculty’ that has been shared across generations and communities. Through play and indeed everyday language play, we express emotions, bond relationships, form identities and in an effort to keep up with an ever changing and developing world, create new identities and creative forms of language (Cook, G, 2006,
While preparing for one of his college lectures, Dennis Baron, a professor and linguistics at the University of Illinois, began playing with the idea of how writing has changed the world we lived in and materials and tools we use in everyday life. This lecture slowly transitioned into “Should Everybody Write?” An article that has made many wonder if technology has made writing too easy for anyone to use or strengthens a writer's ability to learn and communicate their ideas. Baron uses rhetorical strategies in his article to portray to his audience his positive tone, the contrast and comparison of context and his logical purpose.
The two essays, Splintered Literacies and Writing in Sacred Spaces, both revolve around the inherent “why” of storytelling. Each addresses a different facet, with the former delving into how the types and varieties of writing we experience affect our identities. Meanwhile, the latter explores the idea of thought concretization. Humanity developed writing as a tool to capture the otherwise intangible. Whether belief or abstract concept, the act of putting something in writing creates a concreteness, trapping the thought in a jar like a firefly. The thoughts and ideas we manifest onto the page or into the air give life to our knowledge, perpetuating its’ existence.
... A metaphor, used as a communication skill, is best described in a political way. Think of Reagan’s Voodoo economics, or Bill Clinton building a bridge to the 21st century. Politicians can easily scam an ignorant voter, should one not understand a metaphor. For example: Clinton refers to building a bridge, but does not tell us with which tools he intends to build it with. This particular concept is valid alone for the above reason. Whether you are talking to a teacher or watching television, metaphors need to understand.
Lowe, Peter J. Texas Studies in Literature & Language; Spring2007, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p21-44, 24p Academic Search Complete Ebesco. Web. 23 July 2011
Language is like a blooming flower in adversity – they are the most rare and beautiful of them all as it struggles to express itself. It blooms and flourishes in strength, awe, and passion as the riches of thought is imbibed from the seed and into a finished beauty. For others, a non-native person speaking in a language that they are not familiar with sprouts out like a weed – the way its thorns can puncture sympathy and comprehensibility. Amy Tan, however, addresses the nature of talk as being unique under its own conditions. In Tan's “Mother Tongue”, she discusses how her mother's incoherent language is “broken” and “limited” as compared to other native English speakers. When focusing on Amy Tan, she grows noticeably embarrassed with her mother's lack of acuteness in the language, which then influences Tan to “prove her mastery over the English language.” However, she soon learns from herself and -- most importantly -- her mother that a language's purpose is to capture a person's “intent, passion, imagery, and rhythm of speech and nature of thought.” With such an enticing elegance...
In "The Intentional Structure of the Romantic Image," one encounters a piece of the twentieth-century discussion of the philosophical considerations of language. One can say that Paul de Man really takes the view of Romanticism akin to that of Martin Heidegger's view of poetry in general. Heidegger states that poetry must be a kind of "speaking being" or the creation of something "new" through language.(Note 1) Language itself stands upon itself in poetry according to Heidegger. De Man picks up the broad discussion of what language is with his discussion of the Romantic image. The main thesis of this essay lies in the difference between the everyday consciousness that one has of the concrete world and the consciousness which one achieves through the Romantic image. De Man says that these two functions of the consciousness differ and that the objects one finds in concrete nature are essentially different from those found in Romantic imagery.
Children's development is supported by different types of play and “From age’s three to five, children learn through play by pretending with materials and practicing language.” As children are practicing their language
Any craftsman knows that you need the right tools to complete a project successfully. Similarly, people need the right language and usage to communicate in a positive way. How people write is often a problem because they don’t have the right tools, but a bigger problem occurs when a writer “is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything at all” (592). If a writer carries this mentality, why try to communicate in the first place? People need...
Our literal understandings of a word are twins in constant opposition with one another, twins in constant competition to receive the most love from their mother and father. Let us pretend the parents are the literary community that demonstrates love frequently by showing a preference for one of their twins. Donald Davidson's theory expressed in What Metaphors Mean is a tragic, intellectual miscarriage; it is a theory of language that brings forth a stillborn child, a dead metaphor.
Isenberg, J. P., & Jalongo, M. R. (2010, July 20). Why Is Play Important? Cognitive Development, Language Development, Literacy Development | Education.com. Retrieved March 3, 2014, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/importantance-play-cognitive-language/
The study of the ways in which people affect, and are affected by others, is known as social psychology; a primary means by which people affect one another is through the medium of Communication (Kruglanski and Higgins, 2007). At the heart of communication is the idea of shared meanings between one, or more people, however, communication is not simply a case of exchanging words; through the process of communication we create meanings and an understanding of what words and behaviours represent or imply (Ramaraju, 2012). Language acquisition forms a critical basis for a child’s development, it is an essential tool for communicating, building relationships with others, and learning (Brock and Rankin, 2008). This assignment probes early language acquisition in infants and children; starting with typical child language
O'Barr, William M., and Bowman K. Atkins. ""Women's Language" or "Powerless Language"?" Making Sense of Language: Readings in Culture and Communication. Comp. Susan D. Blum. New York, NY [etc.: Oxford UP, 2013. 401-06.
Updike argues that the role of writers is to serve as instruments of expression within society, providing a means of communicating between writers and their audience. Updike, like many writers, dotes not on the context of the words in a language, but on their “potential...of becoming reality, of engendering out of imitation another reality, infinitely lesser but thoroughly possessed, thoroughly human.” (Updike “Why Write?”) The figurative language Updike uses illustrates the idea of words coming alive, and personifies language as possessing the ability to become a tangible representation of the individual.The power that language holds allows for the voice of an individual to be projected, and for society to articulate the voices of all individuals uniformly without censoring the voices of
Today the issue of the difference between men’s and women’s use of language raises hot debates among sociolinguists, psychologists and other scholars. They create various theories that complicate the issue because of the fact that they observe gender differences from various perspectives. One theory is known as “genderlect”, which according to The Free Dictionary is a variety of speech, writing, or conversational style used by a particular gender. An analysis of the writings of both genders reveals one main difference between them: men focus more on status in their writings while women focus more on a connection with the reader (Lyons).
Ravitch, Diane. "Stop the Madness." Language of Composition. Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 257-260. Print.