Rules of Thumb for Distinguishing Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies

• If one concept is substituted for another, such that the comparison is implied, but not directly stated , it is probably a metaphor
• If one concept is compared to another using the word " like " or " as ," such that the comparison is directly stated , it is probably a simile.
• If the relation between two old concepts is used to explain the relation between two new concepts , it is probably an analogy. An especially good tip-off is if it follows the form "A is to B, as C is to D."
  

Figurative Language

• Figurative language
  • Nonstandard
  • not meant to be taken literally, as fact, at least not exclusively.
    When we say it's raining cats and dogs , nobody is likely to interpret this literally! Rather, we are conveying information about the type of rain that is falling.
• Literal language
  • Based on primary definitions
  • Uses ordinary construction

Figurative and literal language develop concurrently through play and experimentation. (West, Farmer, and Wolff)

• Both are dynamically related where improvement in one informs and improves the other.

What are Metaphors?

• a metaphor as a kind of figurative language which uses a known concept or idea to convey or modify the meaning of a new concept. n Aristotle, “the application of one thing of the name belonging to another," (The Poetics), and believed they are "...in the highest degree instructive."
  
• Unless we have reason to believe otherwise, we assume at the outset that conversations or printed text are accurate and meant to be taken literally. n This is what linguists call the "Set for literality," which is the first stage in most models according to Pollio, Fabrizi, Sills, and Smith.
  
• Naturally, we know that in some cases this is not the case, not only when someone is intentionally deceiving us n (e.g., we are naturally skeptical about advertisements), but also when the author or speaker uses figurative language to make a point.

Metaphors: a topic & a vehicle

• topic -- the new concept or idea
• vehicle -- the known concept or idea

Example: John is a pig; you should see him root through the pig-sty he calls a desk. By substituting the word pig for John, the reader's understanding of John is modified.