Subject :- I. A. Richards : The Figurative Language.
Name: Himanshi Parmar
paper: 22402 Paper 109: Literary Theory & Criticism and Indian Aesthetics.
Roll no: 08
Enrollment no : 4069206420210025
Email id: himanshiparmar3004@gmail.com
Batch : 2021-2023(M.A sem 2)
submitted to: S. B. Gardi Department of English, maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji bhavnagar University
Introduction :-
Figurative Language is a way of writing by using surreal imaginations and does not use realistic meaning. Figurative language is also a common technique in narrative writing, where the author strives to make emotional connections with the reader. It is part of new criticism. So to understand figurative Language, it is very important to understand New criticism.
New criticism :-
I.A.Richards and T. S. Eliot is considered as a father of new criticism. John crowe Ransom wrote a book on I. A. Richards, in that he mentioned that, Discussion of the New criticism must start with mr. Richards.Ivor Armstrong Richards wrote three major essays named, 1] The Meaning of Meaning – 1923, 2] The Principles of Literary Criticism – 1924, 3] The Practical Criticism – 1929. In which he wrote about the new criticism, and the concept of figurative language.New Criticism was a formalist movement in literary theory that dominated American literary criticism in the middle decades of the 20th century.It was opposed to the critical practice of bringing historical or biographical data to bear on the interpretation of a work. Approach of New Criticism is the New Critical approach of close analytic reading of the text, a technique as old as Aristotle’s Poetics.English poet T.S. Eliot wrote about new criticism with his critical essays “Tradition and the Individual Talent” (1917) and “Hamlet and His Problems” (1919). All the New critics like Ivor Armstrong Richards, T. S. Eliot, John Crowe Ransom and William Empson are believed in a work of art. It means the structure and how it is created. This is seen in figurative language.
Figurative language.
Basically, figurative language is anytime you stretch the actual meaning of words for effect, whether to sound artistic, make a joke, or communicate more clearly and engagingly. Figurative language is a common technique in narrative writing, where the author strives to make emotional connections with the reader. figurative language helps make writing and speeches more engaging and amusing. The reader or listener has to think about the words a little more, as if deciphering a riddle, which means they’re actively participating.Another use of figurative language is to help simplify complex ideas. I. A. Richards in his essay 'Practical criticism, described for kinds of meanings in figurative language.
Four kinds of meanings :-
Language is a very important medium of communication. Writers use this language to communicate so study of Language is all important. But language is made up of words and so studying words is very important. According to I. A. Richardson, all the words carry four kinds of meaning,
1- Sense
2- feelings
3-Tone
4- Intention
Here is the detailed note on it.
1- sense :-
We speak to say something and when we listen we expect something to be said. We use words to direct our hearers’ attention upon some state of affairs, to present to them some items for consideration and to excite in them some thoughts about these items’. In short, what we speak to convey to our listeners for their consideration can be called ‘sense’. This is the most important thing in all scientific utterances where verification is possible.
2- feeling :-
The attitude towards what we convey is known as ‘feeling’. In other words, we have bias or accentuation of interest towards what we say. We use language to express these feelings. Similarly, we have these feelings even when we receive them. This happens even if the speaker is conscious of it or not. In exceptional cases, say in mathematics, no feeling enters. The speaker’s attitude to the subject is known as ‘feeling’.
3 - Tone :-
The speaker has an attitude to his listener. ‘He chooses or arranges his words differently as his audience varies, in automatic or deliberate recognition of his relation to them. The tone of his utterance reflects his awareness of this relation, his sense of how he stands towards those he is addressing. Thus ‘tone’ refers to the attitude to the listener.
4 - Intention :-
Finally, apart from what he says (sense), his attitude to what he is talking about (feeling), and his attitude to his listener (tone), there is the speaker’s intention, his aim (conscious or unconscious) - the effect he is endeavouring to promote. The speaker’s purpose modifies his speech. Frequently, the speaker’s intention operates through and satisfies itself in a combination of other functions. ‘It may govern the stress laid upon points in an argument. It controls the ‘plot’ in the larger sense of the word. It has special importance in dramatic and semi-dramatic literature. Thus the influence of his intention upon the language he uses is additional to the other three influences.
Two use of Languages :-
Richards discussed two kinds of Language in his essay on figurative language.the essay is titled as a Principles of literary criticism". In those two uses of language described in chapter number 34. The two types are this,
1- Scientific Language
2- Emotive language
1] Scientific Language :-
It is only in recent years that serious attention is given to the language as a science. In the scientific use of language, we are usually matter of fact. All the activities covered by this use require undistorted references and absence of fiction. When language is used for scientific purposes, it is matter of fact and requires undistorted references and absence of fiction.In the scientific use of language, the references should be correct and the relation of references should be logical. This kind of reading is all about practical reading and proofs and scientific tests. For example if someone says, you have a mood face. It is incorrect according to scientific reading. Because it is not scientifically correct, how someone's face should be like their mood! It will raise a question. But it will be correct if we do literary reading.
2- Emotive Language :-
In the emotive use of language, any truth or logical arrangement is not necessary; it may work as an obstacle. The attitudes due to references should have their emotional interconnection and this has often no connection with logical relations of the facts referred to. Only the emotions matter and decide whether this writing is appropriate or not. The same example we can take here is that you have a moon face. Scientifically it seems surreal but when one can read it literally or emotively, it is considered appropriate. Because the sense and the literary meaning of this sentence is "your face is beautiful like the moon". The difference is the writer not directly said that but indirectly mentioned that, to create poetic delight and literary essence.
Misunderstandings in Figurative Language.
Richards described four kinds of misunderstanding in figurative Language. Here it is,
1- misunderstanding the sense of poetry.
2- Over - literal reading.
3- Defective scholarship.
4- A difference in meaning of words in poetry and prose.
1- misunderstanding of sense of poetry :-
Sometimes figurative language creates misunderstanding of the sense of poetry. For example one word is use in different meaning in poetry, prose, stories, novels. And when one can read that one word and don't know about its difference in two different genres then it creates misunderstanding of sense. Each reader read the text according to their own understanding and ability to think. It is not necessary that the text convey the same message which writers wants to convey. So sometimes writers want to convey something else and readers take it as something else and at that time misunderstanding of sense takes place.
2 - Over literal reading :-
Over literal reading of any text also creates misunderstanding sometimes. It is similar to scientific reading of any book. When one can not understand the literary delight and only focus on structure, grammar, spelling and the possibility of what is written. Then it creates misunderstanding of over literal reading. For example Someone says, horses of my imagination flying on open sky. It is taken as that might be the horses really flying in the sky, but it is not possible. So it seems like inappropriate sentence. But if we understand the literal meaning then we find that it is about great imagination.
3- Defective Scholarship :-
This misunderstanding mostly happens because of grammatical problems and inappropriate metaphors and phrases. Mostly it is happened among readers while they are reading native writers of some another language which they are not used to with. Sometimes writers unknowingly use metaphors and phrases which do not really match with the lines or concept and that creates misunderstanding of defective scholarship.
4 - A difference in meaning of words in poetry and prose :-
Prose is more realistic and straightforward than poetry. Poetry is full of phrases, personifications, metaphors, historical and mythical references, which differentiate both poetry and prose. If readers are not aware about this difference then possibilities are there that one can interpret the text or poetry in the wrong way. That is also mentioned I. A. Richards as a misunderstanding in figurative language.
Conclusion :-
Thus to conclude, we can say that figurative language is the most important part of new criticism. It is very important for close reading of any literary text. And to understand the literary texts, I. A. Richards gave some points which indicate how to analyze text. The points are the meaning of language like sense, Intention, Feeling, Tone. Then two uses of language, Scientific and Emotive use. And four kinds of misunderstanding while we read any texts. Like misunderstanding the sense of poetry, Over - literal reading, Defective scholarship, A difference in meaning of words in poetry and prose. And by reading and understanding this we are able to get an idea about what is figurative language and how it works.
References :-
https://www.myexamsolution.com/2018/10/the-new-criticism-by-ia-richards.html?m=1
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/figurative-language/
https://www.britannica.com/art/New-Criticism
https://www.literatureworms.com/2020/07/four-kinds-of-meaning-by-i-richards.html?m=1#
https://literariness.org/2016/03/18/ia-richards-concept-of-the-two-uses-of-language/
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