Figures Of Speech (Figurative Language)
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00:00Hi friends! Today we will learn about figurative language. So let's start.
00:09Once a student sitting in a classroom said,
00:14I am as hungry as a polar bear.
00:17Does this mean that the student is actually going to eat as much as a polar bear?
00:23No, he overstated the situation to express that he was too hungry.
00:30And such language, which doesn't have a literal meaning, is called figurative language.
00:37People don't actually mean what they say sometimes.
00:42Usually, when we read long texts, it becomes boring for us if it is written in simple and plain language.
00:52Figurative language then comes to the rescue of the readers and makes everyday language special.
01:00So, figurative language is used for
01:04adding beauty to everyday language,
01:08giving a dramatic effect on the reader or the listener,
01:13making boring texts interesting.
01:17It also helps in making things clear to the reader as it helps in visualizing.
01:25Let's have an example and understand the difference between plain language and figurative language.
01:35We have two sentences on two sides.
01:39They are written differently, though they mean the same.
01:43The boy is very clever.
01:46The boy is as clever as a fox.
01:49The girl is very busy.
01:51The girl is as busy as a bee.
01:54It is very hot today.
01:57The sun is raining fire today.
02:01So, what you see, the text written on the left side is stating facts in a plain language,
02:09which makes it non-too interesting.
02:13The text written on the right side seems interesting to read and we can also visualize the situations better.
02:22So, figurative language makes boring texts interesting and makes the meaning of things more clear.
02:30For this reason, figurative language is very often used in poetry and novels,
02:37which make them interesting to read.
02:41Now we will learn some figures of speech which consist of figurative language.
02:47And these are simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, hyperbole, automatopoeia, oxymoron.
03:00Now, let's learn each figure of speech one by one.
03:06First one is simile.
03:09We say a simile is used when two similar things are compared by using connecting words such as like or as.
03:21Example, he is as clever as a fox.
03:26Here, a boy is compared to a fox.
03:30The old man was as wise as an owl.
03:35Here, an old man is being compared to an owl.
03:41The commander roared like a lion.
03:45Here, the sound made by the commander is being compared by the sound made by a lion to express that he is shouting very loudly.
03:58So, the comparison where we compare two similar things using the words as, like is known as a simile.
04:10Now let's learn next figure of speech and it is metaphor.
04:16We say that a metaphor has been used when a similarity is shown between two not so similar things without using like or as.
04:29For example, her voice was music to his ears.
04:35Here, it is being suggested that her voice made him happy.
04:41Today's homework was a piece of cake.
04:45Here, the homework is being compared to a very easy and enjoyable task.
04:52So, metaphor is a type of comparison between two not so similar things without using like or as.
05:04Let's have a look at more examples.
05:09Time is money.
05:12My life is a roller coaster.
05:15The world is a stage.
05:18He is a shining star.
05:21She is a dancing peacock.
05:24So, in all these examples, two things are being compared which are not so similar without using as or like.
05:35Now let's learn next figure of speech which is personification.
05:41Personification is a way of writing where you describe non-human things with human characteristics.
05:49That is, we talk about non-living things like we are talking about living things.
05:56For example, the flowers danced in the wind.
06:01The flowers are non-human things but dancing is a human quality.
06:07So, we are using the word dancing with a non-living thing, flowers.
06:13So, this is a personification.
06:17Here, we have another example.
06:20The fire swallowed the entire forest.
06:24Swallowing is a human quality as humans swallow their food but it is being related with fire, a non-human thing.
06:35So, this is a personification.
06:39Let's have a look at some more examples.
06:43Traffic was not running but crawling.
06:47She is so gorgeous that camera loves her.
06:52Times fly and waits for no one.
06:57So, in all these things, we have personified non-living things.
07:04Now, let's learn about next figure of speech and it is idiom.
07:11Idiom is an expression in which a meaning is expressed in very different words from the actual meaning.
07:19Now, let's have a look at some idioms with their usage.
07:25Acid test is an idiom.
07:28It means a test that proves effectiveness of something.
07:34He is performing good in his own country but his match in Germany would be his real acid test.
07:42In this sentence, the idiom acid test is used which means his real test that will prove his ability.
07:52Now, let's have another example.
07:56Deliver the goods.
07:58This is an idiom which means do what is expected or promised.
08:04I have given her the job of cleaning my home.
08:07I hope she delivers the goods.
08:10I hope she delivers the goods.
08:13Here, the idiom deliver the goods is used in the sentence and it means hope she will do what is expected out of her.
08:24Here we have next example.
08:28Get ducks in a row.
08:30This is an idiom which means getting your things well organized.
08:36Now, here we have example sentences.
08:41In order to ensure the success of completion of the project, you must get your ducks in a row.
08:48Here, the idiom get ducks in a row is used which means make all your things well organized.
08:57There are just whole lot of idioms in the English language.
09:01For example, mean business.
09:06It means be serious about what you announce.
09:10Think on your feet.
09:12It means adjusting quickly to changes and making fast decisions.
09:18Sail through something.
09:21It means being successful in doing something without any difficulty.
09:27Tricks of the trade.
09:29Clever or expert way of doing something.
09:33Work like a charm.
09:35Means work very well or has a desired effect.
09:40So, there are whole lot of idioms in the English language.
09:45Now, let's learn next figure of speech and it is hyperbole.
09:51A hyperbole is used to express a strong feeling with the help of overstated and exaggerated language.
10:01Let's have a look at examples.
10:05The bag weighed a ton, she cried.
10:09The bag's weight could not have been a ton but the girl said so to exaggerate the situation.
10:16So, this is a case of a hyperbole.
10:21I've read this book a thousand times.
10:25No one can possibly read one book a thousand times.
10:29So, the situation here is exaggerated.
10:33So, we would say that a hyperbole has been used.
10:38Let's have a look at more examples of hyperbole.
10:44She was as thin as a toothpick.
10:48Here, the situation is exaggerated.
10:51So, it is a hyperbole.
10:55He is running with the speed of light.
10:59Here again, the situation is exaggerated.
11:03So, no one can run with the speed of light.
11:08I am so hungry, I could eat a horse.
11:11Here again, the situation is exaggerated.
11:16Friends, whenever you see the exaggeration, you can easily say that the hyperbole has been used.
11:24Now, let's learn another figure of speech and it is automatopoeia.
11:30These are the words whose pronunciation is same as the sounds to which they refer.
11:37For example, the building collapsed with a boom.
11:43Here, the word boom is an automatopoeia as its pronunciation is same as the sound to which it refers.
11:53His phone keeps buzzing all day.
11:56Here, the word buzzing is an automatopoeia as its pronunciation is same as the sound to which it refers.
12:07Cats mew and horses neigh.
12:10Here, the word mew and neigh are automatopoeias as pronunciation is same as the sounds to which they refer.
12:20The ducks quacked in the lake.
12:24Here, the word quacked is an automatopoeia as its pronunciation is same as the sound to which it refers.
12:34Going gargle with the mouthwash.
12:37Here, the word gargle is an automatopoeia.
12:41Two snakes hissed at me.
12:44Here, the word hiss is an automatopoeia.
12:48Most cats purr if you pet them behind the ears.
12:53Here, the word purr is an automatopoeia.
12:58So, we have learnt what is this? Automatopoeia.
13:03Remember, interjections are not automatopoeia.
13:07They are certain outbursts of feelings.
13:10For example, oh, hooray, wow.
13:16These are not automatopoeias.
13:19Now, we will learn next figure of speech and it is oxymoron.
13:25In this figure of speech, a pair of opposite words is placed together.
13:31For example, she had bittersweet feelings for Sandy.
13:38The phrase bittersweet has two words that are opposite to each other.
13:44And such a phrase is called oxymoron.
13:48Oxymoron makes a text interesting to read and sometimes confuses the reader.
13:55Let's have some examples of oxymoron.
13:59Pretty ugly.
14:01Pretty fierce.
14:03Clearly confused.
14:06Jungle shrimp.
14:08Definitely maybe living dead.
14:12Virtual reality.
14:14Happy sad.
14:16Run slowly.
14:18Open secret.
14:20Awfully pretty.
14:22Typically weird.
14:24Least favorite.
14:27Worthless goal.
14:29Liquid food.
14:31Short wait.
14:33Heavy diet.
14:35Wake up dead.
14:37So these are pairs of opposites that are used together to create a drama for reader.
14:44Let's see some example sentences.
14:48I guess he is the only honest thief.
14:52Here, honest thief is an oxymoron as honest and thief are two opposites that are placed together.
15:02His thinking is very old-fashioned.
15:06Here, old-fashioned is an oxymoron as old and fashion are opposite words.
15:15My grandma is deeply superficial person.
15:20Here, you can see deeply and superficial are two opposite words used together.
15:27So it's an oxymoron.
15:30You should never ever trust a stranger.
15:34Here, never ever containing two opposites.
15:38So it's an oxymoron.
15:41Friends, today we learned a lot about figures of speech.
15:46Now you may go ahead and take a quiz to learn more.
15:50Bye-bye.