Literal Versus Non-Literal Meaning

LITERAL VERSUS NON-LITERAL MEANING
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Introduction
The literal meaning is the exact and direct interpretation of words, while the non-literal meaning is the implied, figurative, or metaphorical interpretation of words. The former is based on the dictionary definition of words, while the latter is on the context in which words are used. For example, if someone says, "I'm thirsty," the literal meaning of this statement is that they are physically in need of water. Comparatively, the non-literal meaning could be that the person is metaphorically describing a feeling of needing something else, such as attention or affection.
Studying non-literal meanings helps people better understand language and communication's complexities. It reveals that meaning is not always straightforward and literal but is often layered and multi-faceted. It further shows that context and inferences are often more important than a literal interpretation of words. In addition, the concept suggests that meaning is malleable and can be interpreted differently by multiple people. Non-literal meaning is essential to understanding communication. The ability to interpret it is a crucial skill for effective information exchange. The reason is that the interpretation allows individuals to better understand the speaker's true intent and feelings.[Zhai, Y., Illouz, G., & Vilnat, A. (2020, December). Detecting non-literal translations by fine-tuning cross-lingual pre-trained language models. In Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Computational Linguistics (pp. 5944-5956).]
Metaphor
A non-literal metaphor is a figure of speech in which two or more unrelated things or concepts are compared without using the words "like" or "as." This type of metaphor is used to convey complex ideas and feelings that are not easily expressed through literal language. Non-literal metaphors allow people to describe abstract concepts, such as emotions, creatively and evocatively. They are often used in literature to provide vivid descriptions and to add depth and nuance to a story. For example, a character's loneliness may be described as "a cold, dark cavern," conveying the solitude in a passionate and evocative way. Non-literal metaphors can also be used to draw attention to themes and provide insight into a character's inner thoughts and feelings. In everyday conversation, such kind of metaphors can be employed to express complex ideas and feelings.[Reyna, Valerie F. "Meaning, memory, and the interpretation of metaphors." In Metaphor: Implications and applications, pp. 39-57. Psychology Press, 2018.] [Sundaray, Shamala, Theodoros Marinis, and Arpita Bose. "Comprehending non-literal language: effects of aging and bilingualism." Frontiers in psychology 9 (2018): 2230.]
For example, if someone is feeling overwhelmed, they may say, "I am drowning in work," to express their feelings of being overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do. Additionally, someone might describe a long and challenging trip as "a journey through a desert," creating a vivid image of a hot and barren landscape. This image conveys a feeling of hardship and perseverance, which is much more powerful than a literal description of...