Semantics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Semantics - Research Paper Example The discussion ascertains that while metaphors refer to objects that are identical, similes refer to objects that are similar. Humans are social beings who interact at different levels during the execution of their duties. The roles that each of them play are distinctive and in some cases, these overlap. In most instances, they require the help of others in a bid to function optimally. Communication is an important medium through which they understand and appreciate the demands of each other. Language is particularly of great importance because it enables them to understand each other and exist in a harmonic manner. Through a common language, they are able to eliminate social conflicts that have detrimental effects on their very wellbeing. The language that a community adopts is in most instances derived from the environment that the respective community inhabits. It is widely agreed that figurative language is commonly used by communities for various purposes. Typical examples of figurative language include metaphors and similes. This paper provides an in depth analysis of the differences between metaphors and similes. In his research, Heidrich (2004) indicates that metaphors and similes play distinctive roles in communication. They are mostly employed for clarification purposes especially because they make references to things that the particular community is conversant with. In particular, they help in relating the respective information to the objects that they are being compared to. With this, the audience can be able to clearly understand the concepts being passed across. Roberts and Kreuz (1994) assert that this is important because it eases communication and prevents conflicts that are likely to strain social relations and undermine the holistic functioning of the society. Nonetheless, there are unique differences between these two figures of speech. It is widely agreed that most people get confused about