Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking C1 - Lesson 3: Understanding & Using Figurative Language (Metaphors)
Welcome back! To elevate your speech from merely fluent to truly articulate, you need to master figurative language1. This means using words not for their literal2 meaning, but to create powerful images and deeper understanding. Today, we will focus on one of the most powerful figurative tools: the metaphor3.
Understanding Conceptual Metaphors
Many metaphors in English are not random; they come from a shared, underlying way of thinking. Understanding these "conceptual metaphors" unlocks hundreds of expressions.
- 1. ARGUMENT IS WAR
- We often talk about arguments as if they are a physical fight. This is a very common metaphor in Western communication styles.
- Expressions: "He attacked every point I made." / "Her claims were indefensible." / "I won the argument." / "He shot down my idea."
- 2. IDEAS ARE FOOD
- We talk about ideas and information as if they are things we can consume and digest.
- Expressions: "That's a very interesting point, let me digest that for a moment." / "His new book contains a lot of raw data, but not much I can really sink my teeth into." / "It was a half-baked idea, not fully thought out."
- 3. TIME IS MONEY
- We often talk about time as a limited resource or a valuable commodity.
- Expressions: "Thank you for your time, I don't want to waste any more of it." / "This new system will save us hours every week." / "I need to invest more time in my personal development."
Scenario: A Business Negotiation
In this negotiation, notice how the speakers use the "ARGUMENT IS WAR" metaphor to frame their discussion. This language signals that it is a serious, high-stakes debate.
Ms. Soriya: "Thank you for meeting me. My position is that we need to increase the marketing budget by 20%."
Mr. Dara: "A 20% increase is completely **indefensible** in the current economic climate. I'm afraid I have to **shoot down** that proposal immediately."
Ms. Soriya: "I have strong data to **defend** my position. The marketing team has a clear **strategy** to capture a new market segment."
Mr. Dara: "Let's see your data. I'm not convinced your strategy can **overcome** the significant market challenges we're facing."
The Art of Creating Your Own Metaphors
At the C1 level, you can move beyond using existing expressions and start creating your own simple metaphors to explain complex ideas. The goal is to create clarity and a memorable image.
The Formula: [Abstract Concept] + IS + [Concrete Concept]
Example 1: "Education is not a bucket to be filled, but a fire to be lit."
- This powerful metaphor argues that the purpose of education is not just to pour facts into students' heads, but to ignite their curiosity and passion for learning.
Example 2: "A good team is like a professional kitchen."
- You can then extend the metaphor: "Everyone has a specific role, communication must be fast and clear, and everyone needs to trust each other, especially under pressure."
Practice Quiz: Identify the Metaphor
Read the sentence and choose the best explanation of the underlying metaphor.
1. "The CEO is the captain of the ship, and the employees are the crew. He has to steer us through this economic storm."
A) This metaphor compares a company to a sports team.
B) This metaphor compares a company to a journey or a voyage.
C) This metaphor compares a company to a building.
→ Answer: B. It uses the conceptual metaphor of A COMPANY IS A SHIP, with a CEO as captain, employees as crew, and economic problems as a storm.
2. "After the meeting, I had to spend a few hours digesting all the new information."
A) This implies the speaker was literally eating during the meeting.
B) This uses the metaphor IDEAS ARE FOOD, suggesting that information needs to be mentally processed and understood.
C) This uses the metaphor ARGUMENT IS WAR, showing the meeting was a fight.
→ Answer: B. This is a classic example of the IDEAS ARE FOOD metaphor.
Your Mission: The Metaphorical Explanation
Your mission is to practice using a metaphor to explain a complex idea clearly and creatively.
- Choose one abstract concept that is important to you (e.g., `love`, `success`, `knowledge`, `happiness`, `society`).
- Create a simple metaphor to describe it. What IS it like? (e.g., "Success is a ladder," or "Happiness is a garden.")
- Record yourself for 60 seconds. Start by stating your metaphor, and then spend the rest of the time explaining *why* it's a good comparison.
- Example: "For me, a healthy **society is like a strong tree.** The roots are its **culture** and **history**, which must be deep and respected. The trunk is its **economy** and **infrastructure**, providing a solid structure. The branches are its people, reaching out for new **opportunities**. If any one of these parts is sick, the whole tree will eventually suffer."
Vocabulary Glossary
- Figurative Language: (Noun Phrase) - ភាសាន័យធៀប - Language that uses words with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation to create a special effect. ↩
- Literal: (Adjective) - តាមន័យត្រង់ - The most basic or usual meaning of a word. ↩
- Metaphor: (Noun) - ពាក្យប្រៀបធៀប - A figure of speech that directly describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. ↩
- Conceptual Metaphor: (Noun Phrase) ការយល់ដឹងអំពីគោលគំនិតមួយក្នុងន័យមួយទៀត ដែលបង្កើតជាមូលដ្ឋានសម្រាប់ការបញ្ចេញមតិប្រៀបធៀបជាច្រើន - The understanding of one concept in terms of another, which forms the basis for many metaphorical expressions. ↩
- To imply: (Verb) - បញ្ជាក់ - To suggest something as a logical consequence from facts or evidence; to hint at something. ↩