Figures of Speech Part 1

What is figures of speech?

A word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. It is called figures of speech.

# We use figures of speech in “figurative language” to add colour, interest and to awaken the imagination.

# Figurative language is the opposite of literal language. Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language means something different what it says on the surface.

For example:

She ran fast. —- It is in literal language.

She ran like the wind. —- it is in figurative language

1. Simile: ಉಪಮಾಲಂಕಾರ

Simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike (different) things using as, like, or so. In the following examples we can see how as, like and so are used to compare.

  1. Shreya’s skin was as cold as ice.
  2. My love is like a red, red rose.
  3. My heart is like an open highway.
  4. He had a temper like volcano.
  5. My finger is as shorp as knife.

2. Metaphor: ರೂಪಕಾಲಂಕಾರ

Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using as, like and so. The word ‘metaphor’ comes from the Greek word ‘metapherin’. Here metapherin means ‘transfer.’ Observe the following examples how two unlike things are compared without as, like and so.

  1. Her home was a prison.
  2. The world is a stage.
  3. Lata’s voice was music to his ears.
  4. Love is battle field.
  5. The park was a lake after the rain.

3. Hyperbole: ಉತ್ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಿತ ಅಲಂಕಾರ

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to creat a strong emotional response. The word ‘hyperbole’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘excess.’ See the following examples how over exaggerated comparison is made.

  1. I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
  2. She had a ton of home work.
  3. I have told to clean your room a thousand times.
  4. I will die if they asked me to dance.
  5. I am dying of laughter.

4. Oxymoron: ವಿರೋಧಾಭಾಸ ಅಲಂಕಾರ

An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. It deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. See the examples.

  1. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. (In this example cruel and kind are contradictory ideas. Here ‘contradictory’ means opposite in sense.)
  2. The sounds of silence.
  3. You are clearly confused by the situation.
  4. I am on heavy diet.
  5. She came back to the future.

To know more about the figure of speech watch the following video. Click here to watch.

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