All-sorts of Figures of Speech

The Australian culture is strongly linked to language, in particular figurative language. Figurative speech is prolific in the Australian culture, even more so than in the rest of the Western world.

People view the world through the lens of their culture; in this book it is the Australian culture. Figurative language provides a frame of reference that enables people to understand and interpret their world.

The most frequently used figures of speech are covered in the book: metaphor, metonomy, idiom, catch phrases, similes, puns and clich s. Definitions and many examples are given for each figure of speech.

The figurative expressions we use are not exclusive to one category. Many expressions belong to more than one figure of speech depending on the context or a small change in the language. The meaning of the expression is also affected by para-linguistics - the intonation, facial expression, tone of voice and demeanour of the speaker.

When you learn about the figures of speech and become familiar with examples it is easier to memorize and use the language.

I briefly examine the gendered differences in the use of figurative language. Figurative language enriches conversations in Australia, aids understanding and adds zest to social interactions.