The Unexpected Journey: Discovering Metaphors in Everyday Language
Some time ago, I was asked to write a text including metaphors, similes, personification, etc. I had to include all those advanced grammar items that I cluelessly remembered. Needless to say, I had to review what exactly they were, since I had not used those terms for an eternity. Having done that, I considered myself to be in a tight corner for having to write a synopsis of a psychological thriller using such language devices. Would you not feel the same were you in my shoes?
Only when I read the articles inside JALT Magazine, did I realize that metaphors are ubiquitous. We not only use them daily, but they are also regarded as a mundane resource which eases the path from what is unknown to become known. To illustrate, in the expression “keep an eye on someone“. The literal meaning of each word is different from its figurative use. Moreover, the author of the first text advocates using metaphors, such as “Life is a journey“, to simplify and summarize complex philosophical concepts so that people are able to fathom and employ them.
Schemes and Tropes: The Two Categories That Shape Our Words
These figures of speech are divided into two categories – schemes and tropes, as shown in the second text. The former is any figure of speech that creates its effect by word order, syntax, letters, and sounds. For instance, alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound, as in “She sells seashells by the seashore“; antithesis, two opposed ideas presented together – “Speech is silver, but silence is gold“; and assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds – “great flakes“. These sonic devices make language more rhythmic and memorable through their careful arrangement of sounds and letters. Understanding how schemes function helps you recognize the patterns that make certain phrases stick in our minds.
On the other hand, tropes are any figure of speech which results in a change of meaning. Here are four salient examples: irony is a device we may use to express the opposite idea, such as sarcastically saying “He’s so talkative! He spoke just a word – Hi!“; personification is when you bring inanimate objects to life, such as “The alarm yelled at me this morning“; similes are expressions connected by ’as’, ’like’ and ’than’ – “The world is falling down, and yet he’s as cool as a cucumber“; and, idioms as the one I used in the question in the opening paragraph – be in someone’s shoes, carry meanings beyond their literal interpretation.
Each of these tropes demonstrates how language transcends simple word-by-word translation, requiring cultural and contextual understanding from both speakers and learners. Each of these literary devices demonstrates how language transcends simple word-by-word translation, requiring cultural and contextual understanding from both speakers and learners. Understanding these distinctions deepens our appreciation for how rhetorical devices function in authentic communication and why mastering them is essential for advanced English writing proficiency.
The purpose of this text is to show you, the reader, that these abstract ideas are part of our lives. They are not rocket science, as I’d initially thought. Undoubtedly, there are more figures of speech than the ones I cherry-picked for this text. Nevertheless, do not feel intimidated by technical terms and jargon. Behind every sophisticated linguistic term lies a practical concept that you have already been employing intuitively in your own communication. Recognizing these patterns in your daily speech is the first step toward mastery.The key is recognizing it, naming it, and using it intentionally to strengthen your writing and enhance your language proficiency.
Have you discovered unexpected metaphors in your own speech? I’d love to hear your examples. Share them in the comments below—tell me which figures of speech you use most frequently in your daily communication, and let’s explore how these techniques naturally shape the way we express ourselves. Your insights might inspire other readers on their language learning journey.
Reference: JALT – Mind, Brain and Education SIG – May 1, 2023
Texts: Metaphor as a fundamental process of the brain by Curtis Kelly;
X = Y by Mohammad Khari