Figure Of Speech
FIGURE OF SPEECH
Types of Figure of Speech
There are countless figures of speech in every language, and they fall into hundreds of categories. Here, though, is a short list of some of the most common types of figure of speech:
A. Metaphor
Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisonsbetween unrelated things or ideas. The “peak of her career,” for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak, but the metaphor represents the idea of arriving at the highest point of one’s career.
B. Idiom
An idiom is a common phrase with a figurative meaning. Idioms are different from other figures of speech in that their figurative meanings are mostly known within a particular language, culture, or group of people. In fact, the English language alone has about 25,000 idioms. Some examples include “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it is raining hard, or “break a leg” when wishing someone good luck.
Example
This sentence uses an idiom to make it more interesting:
There’s a supermarket and a pharmacy in the mall, so if we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone.
The idiom is a common way of saying that two tasks can be completed in the same amount of time or same place.
C. Proverb
A proverb is a short, commonplace saying that is universally understood in today’s language and used to express general truths. “Don’t cry over spilt milk” is a popular example. Most proverbs employ metaphors (e.g. the proverb about milk isn’t literally about milk).
Example
This example uses a proverb to emphasize the situation:
I know you think you’re going to sell all of those cookies, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
Here, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means that you shouldn’t act like something has happened before it actually does.
D. Simile
A simile is a very common figure of speech that uses the words “like” and “as” to compare two things that are not related by definition. For example, “he is as tall as a mountain,” doesn’t mean he was actually 1,000 feet tall, it just means he was really tall.
Example
This example uses a simile for comparison:
The internet is like a window to the world—you can learn about everything online!
The common phrase “window to the world” refers to a hypothetical window that lets you see the whole world from it. So, saying the internet is like a window to the world implies that it lets you see anything and everything.
E. Oxymoron
An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings. Some common examples include small crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant, and so on.
F. Metonym
A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to represent something related to bigger meaning. For example, fleets are sometimes described as being “thirty sails strong,” meaning thirty (curiously, this metonym survives in some places, even when the ships in question are not sail-powered!) Similarly, the crew on board those ships may be described as “hands” rather than people.
G. Irony
Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms). For example, maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it was!
The Importance of Figures of Speech
In general, the purpose of a figure of speech is to lend texture and color to your writing. (This is itself a figure of speech, since figures of speech don’t actually change the colors or textures on the page!) For instance, metaphors allow you to add key details that make the writing more lively and relatable. Slang and verbal irony, on the other hand, make the writing seem much more informal and youthful (although they can have the opposite effect when misused!) Finally, other figures of speech, like idioms and proverbs, allows a writer to draw on a rich cultural tradition and express complex ideas in a short space.
Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature
Example 1
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)
This is one of the most famous metaphors ever crafted in the English language. Shakespeare uses his extended metaphor to persuade the audience of the similarities between the stage and real life. But rather than making his play seem more like life, he suggests that life is more like a play. His metaphor calls attention to the performative, creative, and fictional aspects of human life.
Example 2
“Our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.” (Khalil Gibran, Sand & Foam)
Gibran’s timeless metaphor succeeds for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is not a cliché – had Gibran said “words are just the tip of the iceberg,” he would have been making roughly the same point, but in a much more clichéd way. But the feast of the mind is a highly original metaphor. In addition, it’s a successful double metaphor. The crumbs and the feast are two parts of the same image, but they work together rather than being “mixed” (see How to Use Figures of Speech).
Example 3
“If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” (Russian Proverb)
Like many proverbs, this one draws on a simple metaphor of chasing rabbits. The rabbits can stand in for all sorts of objectives, from jobs to relationships, but the coded message is quite clear – focus your energy on a single objective, or you will likely fail. This literal statement, though, is quite dry and not terribly memorable, which shows the power of figures of speech.
Examples of Figures of Speech in Pop Culture
Example 1
The chorus to Sean Kingston’s Fire Burning contains a couple of figures of speech. First of all, there’s the word “shorty” used as a slang term (see Related Terms) for a young woman. She may or may not be literally short, but the figure of speech applies either way (though it could easily be taken as belittling and derogatory). Second, Kingston sings the metaphor: “she’s fire, burning on the dance floor.” Hopefully this is a figure of speech and not a literal statement; otherwise, Kingston and everyone else in the club are in mortal danger!
Example 2
“Oh, thanks! This is much better!” (Townspeople, South Park)
This is an example of irony. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, South Park satirized the government’s response to the disaster by writing about a similar disaster in South Park. In a bumbling effort to rescue people from the floods, the authorities accidentally spill oil on the flood waters and set it on fire, making the situation far more dangerous. In response, they ironically “thank” the people responsible—their meaning is obviously the opposite of their words!
Related Terms
Literal and Figurative Language
Language is generally divided into two categories: literal, and figurative. Literal language relies on the real definition of words and phrases, or their literal meanings. Figurative language, on the other hand, relies on implied meanings, which can be understood differently depending on the location or who is using it. For example, “the sky is blue” relies on the literal definition of the word “blue,” while “I am feeling blue” relies on the figurative definition. All figures of speech rely on the use of figurative language for their meaning.
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is mocking or bitter language that we use to express different meaning than what we say; often the exact opposite. When your intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning, that’s irony (another type of figure of speech), which includes common phrases like “Oh, great…” when you really mean something is bad.
Slang
Slang is language that uses atypical words and phrases to express specific meanings. It varies greatly by region, demographic, and language—for example, you would find different slang in the U.S. and in the U.K. even though they are both English speaking countries. Likewise, teenagers and the elderly will use different slang terms, as would Spanish and English. Many slang terms are figures of speech. For example, “bro” could be used to describe a friend rather than an actual brother; this would be using the word as a figure of speech.
In this material I will take the song "Count On Me" following the lyrics of the song.
“Count On Me”
Oh-oh
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you
We'll find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah
If you tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you, oh
We'll find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah
You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You know...
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
You can count on me 'cause I can count on you
Why I Chose This Song
I chose the song count on me because the song is very nice to hear. I love all the lyrics and it is one of my favorite songs because Bruno sings about friendship .In the song, we can live up to its contents. here too we can more easily get the figure of speech contained in the song.
An explanation of the song.
The song entitled "Count on Me" was created and popularized by Bruno Mars. The song, which was released on November 7, 2011, is the fifth single, from Doo-Wops And Hooligans, Bruno Mars' debut studio album. The song was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Leving of the producer group The Smeezingtons.
The Meaning Contained In The Song "Count On Me"
Humans are social creatures who cannot live life alone. Humans have the nature of needing other people, because every human being has advantages and disadvantages. With strengths and weaknesses, humans can complement each other.
During life, you will meet many people. You will find new friends. You and your friends can help each other in times of need. When the close interaction between you and him starts to get better and closer, you will call him a true friend.
The song "Count On Me" has the theme of true friendship. This song considers that a true friend is someone who is always there with you, always helping you in sad or happy situations. Friends are people who accept you as you are. People who are always willing to accept your complaints when there are problems and so on.
Verse 1: If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea I'll sail the world to find you If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see I'll be the light to guide you |
Verse 1 describes that in human life, sometimes people feel sad, have many problems, like being swayed in the ocean, feel their life is upset, etc. To get away from all of that, sometimes we must have friends who understand our feelings, be good listeners when we confide in our problems, and find solutions to our problems like light. |
Pre-chorus: Find out what we're made of When we are called to help our friends in need |
It's great to have friends when all is well. However, the true meaning of true friends is when they are there when we need it. Friends who only come when things are going well but don't come when we are in trouble are not called true friends. |
Chorus : You can count on me like 1, 2, 3 I'll be there And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4, 3, 2 And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends are supposed to do oh yeah ooooooh, oooohhh yeah yeah |
These lyrics in detail describe what friendship means. These lyrics seem to say that if we help our friends when they are difficult, one day we will definitely be helped by them when we are hard. That's what true friends really mean, they are always loyal, and work hand in hand to help each other. |
Verse 2: If you're tossin 'and you're turnin and you just can't fall asleep I'll sing a song beside you And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me Every day I will remind you |
In fact, friendship is created so that we embrace, complement, improve, remind or advise each other. Find a good friend to you, and make it all matter. |
Conclusion:
After we interpret and interpret the entire lyrics of the song, it can be concluded that the song " Count On Me " has the theme of true friendship. This song considers that a true friend is someone who is always there with you, always helping you in sad or happy situations. Friends are people who accept you as you are. People who are always willing to accept your complaints when there are problems and so on.
It is said in the lyrics, that in life we sometimes feel sad, have many problems, like being swayed in the ocean, feel that our life is uncomfortable, etc. To get away from all of that, sometimes we have to have friends who understand our feelings, be good listeners when we confide in our problems, and find solutions to our problems like light.
It's great to have friends when all is well. However, the true meaning of true friends is when they are there when we need it. Friends who only come when things are going well but don't come when we are in trouble are not called true friends. This song also seems to say that if we help our friends when they are difficult, one day we will definitely be helped by them when we are in trouble. That is what true friends really mean, they are always loyal, and work hand in hand to help each other, embrace, complement, improve, remind or advise.
Figure Of Speech in Song “Count On Me”
No | Figure Of Speech | Example
|
1. | Hyperbole | If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea. I’ll sail the world to find you. You’ll always have me shoulder when you cry I’ll never let go never say goodbye
|
2. | Symbol | If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see.
|
3. | Simile | You can count on me like 1,2,3 I’ll be there. I can count on you like 4,3,2 and you’ll be there
|
4. | Personification | I’ll be the light to guide you
|
5. | Alliteration | If you’re tossin and you’re turnin and you just can’t fall asleep. I’ll sing a song beside you |
That is the figure of speech in the song "Count On Me”
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