Navigation
Understand literal language where words mean exactly what the dictionary says they mean.
If someone told you it was 'raining cats and dogs,' would you run outside with a pet carrier or an umbrella? Knowing the difference can change how you see the world!
Literal language is the most direct way to speak or write. When you use literal language, your words mean exactly what they say. There are no hidden meanings, no jokes, and no exaggerations. If you say, 'The floor is cold,' you are describing the actual temperature of the floor. In the world of literal language, a 'heart of gold' would mean a heart actually made out of the metal (gold), which would be very heavy!
Quick Check
If a sentence is literal, where can you find the exact meaning of the words used?
Answer
In the dictionary.
To decide if a sentence is literal, ask yourself: 'Could this happen exactly like this in real life?' Literal language describes things we can see, hear, touch, or prove. For example, 'The tree has green leaves' is literal because we can see the green color. However, 'The tree danced in the wind' is not literal because trees do not have legs to dance! We call the non-literal stuff 'figurative language,' but today we are sticking to the facts.
Let's look at two sentences: 1. 'The math test was a piece of cake.' 2. 'The math test had questions.'
Sentence 2 is literal because it describes the actual number of questions. Sentence 1 is not literal because a paper test cannot be made of flour and sugar!
Quick Check
Is the sentence 'The cat is sleeping on the sofa' literal or figurative?
Answer
Literal
Sometimes people use colorful phrases that can be confusing. To be a great communicator, you need to know how to turn those phrases back into literal ones. This means replacing the 'silly' part with a clear description of what is actually happening. Instead of saying 'I'm feeling blue,' a literal person would say, 'I am feeling sad.' This makes sure everyone understands exactly what you mean without any guessing.
Scenario: Your friend says, 'Time flies when you're having fun!'
To make this literal, follow these steps: 1. Identify the non-literal part: 'Time flies.' 2. Think about what it really means: Time feels like it is moving fast. 3. Rewrite: 'The hour passed quickly because I enjoyed the game.'
Scenario: A coach says, 'Break a leg out there!'
If we took this literally, we would go to the hospital! To rewrite this literally: 1. Understand the intent: The coach wants the player to do well. 2. Remove the 'break a leg' phrase. 3. Literal version: 'I hope you play your best during the game today.'
Which of these sentences is literal?
What is the literal way to say 'He is a chicken'?
The sentence 'The water in the pot is degrees Fahrenheit' is literal.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember: What is the main difference between a 'literal' sentence and a 'silly' figure of speech?
Practice Activity
Listen to people talking today. If you hear someone say something that isn't literal (like 'I'm starving!'), try to say the literal version in your head ('I am very hungry').