FIGURE OF SPEECH

  Figure of Speech is not only used to embellish the language, but also cause a moment of excitement when reading. It is used equally in writing as well as in speech. It, in fact, provides emphasis, clarity or freshness to expression. Clarity, however, may sometimes suffer because a figure of speech introduces double meanings such as connotative and denotative meanings. It also strengthens the creative expression and description along with making the language more graphic, pointed and vivid. When using figures of speech the words will diverge from their literal meanings, to give a more stylized and specialized meaning to these words.

   Importance of Figure of Speech Figures of speech plays an important role to the person who wanted to be learn. Learning figures of speech, like similes, metaphors or personification in English, helps the learners to improve their understanding of the figurative aspect of the language while also exposing them to the use and understanding of clichés and slangs. It is also believed that they help sow the seeds of imagination and stimulate the learners’ creativity in the language. Figures of speech are widely used, across all forms of language expression. Be it in written or spoken form, in formal or informal structures or in standard speech or in slang, the use of the various figures of speech is pervasive. The importance of learning and using them is thus very obvious for an individual to be able to fit in the world where English is the language of communication.


 Types of Figure of Speech:

1] Simile        

A simile is a figure of speech that uses comparison. In a simile, we use two specific words “like” and “as” to compare two unlikely things, that actually have nothing in common. This is done to bring out the dramatic nature of the prose and invoke vivid images and comparisons. It is one of the most common forms of a figure of speech and is used in everything from day-to-day talk to poem.

Examples: 

• They wore jeans, which made me stand out like a sore thumb.
• My love for you is as deep as the ocean.
• I am so thirsty that my throat is as dry as a bone

2] Metaphor

A metaphor and a simile are quite similar actually. A metaphor also uses compares to things that are in no way similar. It does so to bring out the symbolism. A metaphor is a word or phrase used to show its similarity to another thing. It helps to explain an idea, but if you take a metaphor at its literal meaning it will sound absurd.

Examples: 

• "He is the apple of my eye."
  There is, of course, no apple in someone's eye. The apple is someone held dear.

• "She has such a bubbly personality."
  No one's personality can bubble up like a glass of champagne. This metaphor is used to signify someone who's especially cheerful.

• "I'm feeling blue."
  Until we become like the little girl in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, none of us are likely to turn as blue as a blueberry. This metaphor means someone is sad.

3] Personification

Another very interesting figure of speech is personification. In this, we personify or represent a non-human entity as human. We give an inanimate object or an intangible idea of some human qualities such as emotions, or gestures or even speech. this is done to portray the object as alive and help the listener or reader paint a vivid picture.

Examples: 
*The tree branch scratched and clawed at my windowsill, trying to break into the house.

*During the night, the blanket crept up until it was snuggled under my chin and my feet were bare.

*The mother duck scolded her young, encouraging them to walk in a line.

4] Hyperbole

Hyperbole in the Greek language translates to ‘excess’. And that is what it does, it exaggerates. We use hyperboles to emphasize the importance or the overstate something. This exaggerates claims and statements are never meant to be taken at their literal meaning. They are used to create a strong and lasting impression.

Examples: 

• I've told you to clean your room a million times!
• It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing hats and jack.
• She's so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.

5] Onomatopoeia 

This is a figure of speech where words or phrases indicate sounds. Often to bring about more imagery and better describe a setting, authors use words to involve all five of our senses. Onomatopoeia refers to those words that imitate the sounds of an object or person.

Examples: 

1)    On my first morning on the farm, I was awoken suddenly by the cock-a-doodle-do of the resident rooster.

2)    Ticktock, ticktock… the sound of the clock was all that could be heard in the hospital waiting room.

3)    I ordered online proofreading services with the click of a mouse.

VIDEO LINK:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erT5bXhx25Q&t=193s