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Literal and figurative language is a distinction within some fields of language analysis, in particular stylistics, rhetoric, and semantics. *Literal language uses words directly according to their ''proper'' meanings (signified). *Figurative (or non-literal) language uses words in ''figures of speech''. Literal usage gives words their ''proper'' meanings, in the sense of the meaning they have by themselves, outside any figure of speech. It maintains a consistent meaning regardless of the context, with ''the intended meaning corresponding exactly to the meaning'' of the individual words. Figurative use of language is the use of words or phrases that ''implies a non-literal meaning which does make sense or that could () be true''. Aristotle and later the Roman Quintilian were among the early analysts of rhetoric who expounded on the differences between literal and figurative language. In 1769, Frances Brooke's novel ''The History of Emily Montague'' was used in the earliest ''Oxford English Dictionary'' citation for the figurative sense of ''literally''; the sentence from the novel used was, "He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally ''to feed among the lilies''."〔()〕 This citation was also used in the OED's 2011 revision.〔()〕 Within literary analysis, such terms are still used; but within the fields of cognition and linguistics, the basis for identifying such a distinction is no longer used. ==Figurative language in literary analysis== Figurative language can take multiple forms, such as simile or metaphor. ''Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia Of Literature'' says that figurative language can be classified in five categories: resemblance or relationship, emphasis or understatement, figures of sound, verbal games, and errors. A simile〔Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: image, likeness, comparison, noun use of neuter of ''similis'' similar. (【引用サイトリンク】work=simile, n. )〕 is a comparison of two things, indicated by some connective, usually "like", "as", "than", or a verb such as "resembles" to show how they are similar.〔Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. An Introduction To Poetry. 13th ed. Longman Pub Group, 2007. Pg 594.〕 : Example: "His cheeks were ''like roses'', his nose ''like a cherry''.../And the beard on his chin was ''as white as the snow.''" (emph added)—Clement Clark Moore A metaphor〔Origin: 1525–35; < Latin ''metaphora'' < Greek ''metaphorá'' a transfer, akin to ''metaphérein'' to transfer. See meta-, -phore(【引用サイトリンク】work=metaphor, n. )〕 is a figure of speech in which two "essentially unlike things" are shown to have a type of resemblance or create a new image.〔 The similarities between the objects being compared may be implied rather than directly stated. : Example: "Fog comes on little cat feet"—Carl Sandburg An extended metaphor is metaphor that is continued over multiple sentences.〔(【引用サイトリンク】work=extended metaphor )〕 : Example: "The sky steps out of her daywear/Slips into her shot-silk evening dress./An entourage of bats whirr and swing at her hem, ...She's tried on every item in her wardrobe." Dilys Rose Onomatopoeia is a word designed to be an imitation of a sound.〔 Origin: 1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek ''onomatopoiía'' making of words = onomato- (combining form of ónoma name) + poi- (stem of poieîn to make; see poet) + -ia -ia(【引用サイトリンク】work=onomatopoeia, n. )〕 : Example: “Bark! Bark!” went the dog as he chased the car that vroomed past. Personification〔Origin: 1745–55; personi(fy) + -fication(【引用サイトリンク】work=personification, n. )〕 is the attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions,〔 especially as a rhetorical figure. : Example: "Because I could not stop for Death,/He kindly stopped for me;/The carriage held but just ourselves/And Immortality."—Emily Dickinson. Dickinson portrays death as a carriage driver. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which a pair of opposite or contradictory terms is used together for emphasis.〔 Origin: < post-classical Latin oxymoron, figure of speech in which a pair of opposed or markedly contradictory terms are placed in conjunction for emphasis (5th cent.; also ''oxymorum'') < ancient Greek ὀξυ-oxy- comb. form1+ μωρόςdull, stupid, foolish (see moron n.2).(【引用サイトリンク】work=oxymoron )〕 : Examples: Organized chaos, Same difference, Bittersweet. A paradox is a statement or proposition which is self-contradictory, unreasonable, or illogical.〔Origin: < Middle French, French ''paradoxe'' (1495 as noun; 1372–4 in plural ''paradoxesas'' the title of a work by Cicero; paradoxon (noun) philosophical paradox in post-classical Latin also a figure of speech < ancient Greek παράδοξον, especially in plural παράδοξαStoical paradoxes, use as noun of neuter singular of παράδοξος (adjective) contrary to received opinion or expectation < παρα-para- prefix1+ δόξαopinion (see doxology n.), after ancient Greek παρὰ δόξανcontrary to expectation(【引用サイトリンク】work=paradox, n. )〕 : Example: This statement is a lie. Hyperbole is a figure of speech which uses an extravagant or exaggerated statement to express strong feelings.〔Origin: < Greek ὑπερβολήexcess (compare hyperbola n.), exaggeration; the latter sense is first found in Isocrates and Aristotle. Compare French hyperbole(earlier yperbole).(【引用サイトリンク】work=hyperbol e, n. )〕 : Example: They had been walking so long that John thought he might drink the entire lake when they came upon it. Allusion is a reference to a famous character or event. : Example: A single step can take you through the looking glass if you're not careful. An idiom is an expression that has a figurative meaning unrelated to the literal meaning of the phrase. :Example: You should keep your eye out for him. :To keep an eye out for someone means to watch out for them. A pun is an expression intended for a humorous or rhetorical effect by exploiting different meanings of words. : Example: I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. : "Then it hit me." has two different meanings 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Literal and figurative language」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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