The richness of the Russian language lies in the ambiguity of its words. In this article we will talk about the direct and figurative meaning of words, give examples for each of them. You will also learn in which cases words are used in a figurative sense, their features.

What is the direct and figurative meaning of nouns?

In Russian there is a special class of nouns - polysemantic nouns that have direct and figurative meanings. The use of nouns in direct and figurative meaning depends on the context in which the given word is used:

• direct meaning- the main lexical meaning of a noun, does not have emotionally expressive shades.
• Figurative meaning- secondary, non-primary meaning of the word, which functions in speech along with the main meaning; is formed by transferring meaning based on similarity, often has emotionally expressive semantic nuances.

Examples of nouns in the literal and figurative sense: wooden table(direct) - order table(portable) building wall(direct) - rain wall(portable) women's hat(direct) - nail head(portable).

The use of nouns in a figurative sense

Nouns in a figurative sense are used mainly in art style giving figurativeness to speech.

for instance: Magnificent carpets, shining in the sun, the snow lies (Pushkin)- noun "carpets" And the peaceful evening fire The wave of the sea swallowed(Tyutchev) – noun "fire" used in a figurative sense.

Often the distinctions between the direct and figurative sense of nouns are erased, and the figurative meaning becomes direct (for example: chair leg, cup handle, teapot spout).

With ambiguity, one of the meanings of the word is direct, and all the rest portable.

direct meaning of the word is its main lexical meaning. It is directly directed at the object (immediately causes an idea of ​​the object, phenomenon) and is least dependent on the context. Words denoting objects, actions, signs, quantity, most often appear in

direct meaning.

portable meaning of the word- this is its secondary meaning that arose on the basis of the direct one. For instance:

toy, -i, well. 1. A thing that serves for the game. Kids toys.

2. trans. One who blindly acts according to someone else's will, an obedient instrument of someone else's will (disapproved). To be a toy in someone's hands.

The essence of polysemy lies in the fact that some name of an object, phenomenon passes, is also transferred to another object, another phenomenon, and then one word is used as the name of several objects, phenomena at the same time. Depending on the basis of which sign the name is transferred, there are three main types of figurative meaning: 1) metaphor; 2) metonymy; 3) synecdoche.

Metaphor(from the Greek metaphora - transfer) is the transfer of a name by similarity, for example: ripe apple -eyeball(by form); human nose- bow of the ship(by location); chocolate bar- chocolate tan(by color); bird wing- aircraft wing(by function); the dog howled- the wind howled(according to the nature of the sound), etc. yes

Metonymy(then Greek metonymia - renaming) is the transfer of a name from one object to another based on their adjacency *, for example: water boils- perthe kettle boils; porcelain dish- tasty dish; native gold- Scythian gold etc. A kind of metonymy is synecdoche.

Synecdoche(from the Greek "synekdoche - connotation) is the transfer of the name of the whole to its part and vice versa, for example: thick currant- ripe currant; beautiful mouth- extra mouth(about an extra person in the family); bighead- smart person etc.

In the process of development of figurative names, the word can be enriched with new meanings as a result of narrowing or expanding the main meaning. Over time figurative meanings can become straight.

It is possible to determine in what meaning a word is used only in context. See, for example, the sentences: 1) Wesat on the corner bastion, so both sides couldsee everything (M. Lermontov). 2) In Tarakanovka, as in the most remote corner of a bear, there was no place for secrets (D. Mamin-Siberian)

* Adjacent - located directly next to, having about border.

In the first sentence, the word injection used in the literal sense: "a place where two sides of something converge, intersect." And in stable combinations “in a dead corner”, “bear corner”, the meaning of the word will be figurative: in a dark corner- in a remote area bearliving corner - dumb place.

In explanatory dictionaries direct meaning the words is given first, and the portable values ​​are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5. The value recently fixed as a portable value is marked "pen,", For example:

Wood, oh, oh. 1. made of wood 2. trans. Motionless, expressionless. Wooden expression. O wood oil- cheap olive oil.

Words, phrases, phrases and sentences - all this and much more is embedded in the concept of "language". How much is hidden in it, and how little we really know about the language! Every day and even every minute we spend next to him - whether we say our thoughts aloud or we read or listen to the radio ... Language, our speech is a real art, and it should be beautiful. And its beauty must be genuine. What helps in the search for true beauty

The direct and figurative meaning of words is what enriches our language, develops it and transforms it. How does this happen? Let's understand this endless process, when, as they say, words grow from words.

First of all, you should understand the figurative meaning of the word, and what main types they are divided into. Each word can have one or more meanings. Words with the same meaning are called monosemantic words. In Russian, there are much fewer of them than words with many different values. Examples are words such as computer, ash, satin, sleeve. A word that can be used in several meanings, including figuratively, - polysemantic word, examples: a house can be used in the meaning of a building, a place for people to live, a family way of life, etc .; the sky is the air space above the earth, as well as the location of the visible luminaries, or divine power, conduction.

With ambiguity, a direct and figurative meaning of a word is distinguished. The first meaning of the word, its basis - this is the direct meaning of the word. By the way, the word “direct” in this context is figurative, i.e. the main meaning of the word is “something even,

without bends” - is transferred to another object or phenomenon with the meaning “literal, unambiguously expressed”. So there is no need to go far - you just need to be more attentive and observant in what words we use, when and how.

From the above example, it already becomes clear that the figurative meaning is the secondary meaning of the word that arose when the literal meaning of the word was transferred to another object. Depending on what feature of the object was the reason for the transfer of meaning, there are such types of figurative meaning as metonymy, metaphor, synecdoche.

Direct and can overlap with each other based on similarity - this is a metaphor. For instance:

ice water - ice hands (by sign);

poisonous mushroom - poisonous character (by sign);

a star in the sky - a star in the hand (according to the location);

chocolate candy - chocolate tan (based on color).

Metonymy is the selection in a phenomenon or object of some property, which, by its nature, can replace the rest. For instance:

gold jewelry - she has gold in her ears;

porcelain dishes - there was porcelain on the shelves;

headache - my head is gone.

And, finally, synecdoche is a type of metonymy when one word is replaced by another on the basis of a constant, really existing ratio of part to whole and vice versa. For instance:

He is a real head (meaning very smart, the head is the part of the body that houses the brain).

The whole village sided with him - every resident, that is, the "village" as a whole, which replaces its part.

What can be said in conclusion? Only one thing: if you know the direct and figurative meaning of a word, you will not only be able to use certain words correctly, but also enrich your speech, and learn how to convey your thoughts and feelings beautifully, and maybe one day you will come up with your own metaphor or metonymy ... Who knows?

Direct and figurative meaning of the word

Each word has a basic lexical meaning.

For instance, desk- this is a school table, green- color of grass or foliage, there is- it means to eat.

The meaning of the word is called direct if the sound of a word accurately indicates an object, action or sign.

Sometimes the sound of one word is transferred to another object, action or feature based on similarity. The word has a new lexical meaning, which is called portable .

Consider examples of direct and figurative meanings of words. If a person says a word sea, he and his interlocutors have an image of a large body of water with salt water.

Rice. 1. Black Sea ()

This is the direct meaning of the word sea. And in combinations sea ​​of ​​lights, sea of ​​people, sea of ​​books we see the figurative meaning of the word sea, which means a lot of something or someone.

Rice. 2. City lights ()

Gold coins, earrings, goblet are items made of gold.

This is the direct meaning of the word gold. The phrases have a figurative meaning: goldenhair- hair with a brilliant yellow tint, skillful fingers- so they say about the ability to do something well, goldenheart- so they say about a person who does good.

Word heavy has a direct meaning - to have a significant mass. For instance, heavy load, box, briefcase.

Rice. 6. Heavy load ()

The following phrases have a figurative meaning: heavy task- complex, which is not easy to solve; tough day- a hard day that requires effort; hard look- gloomy, severe.

girl jumping and temperature fluctuates.

In the first case - direct value, in the second - figurative (rapid change in temperature).

boy running- direct meaning. Time is running out- portable.

Frost bound the river- figurative meaning - means that the water in the river is frozen.

Rice. 11. River in winter ()

House wall- direct meaning. Heavy rain is: rain wall. This is a portable meaning.

Read the poem:

What is that wonder?

The sun is shining, the rain is falling

By the river is big beautiful

The rainbow bridge rises.

If the sun shines bright

The rain is pouring mischievously,

So this rain, children,

called mushroom!

Mushroom rain- figurative meaning.

As we already know, words with multiple meanings are polysemantic.

A figurative meaning is one of the meanings of a polysemantic word.

It is possible to determine in what meaning a word is used only from the context, i.e. in a sentence. For instance:

Candles were burning on the table. direct meaning.

His eyes burned with happiness. Figurative meaning.

You can ask for help from explanatory dictionary. The first is always given the direct meaning of the word, and then the figurative.

Consider an example.

Cold -

1. having a low temperature. Wash the hands cold water. A cold wind was blowing from the north.

2. Translated. About clothes. Cold coat.

3. Translated. About color. Cold shades of the picture.

4. Translated. About emotions. Cold view. Cold meeting.

Consolidation of knowledge in practice

Let's determine which of the highlighted words are used in a direct and which in a figurative sense.

At the table, the mother said:

- Enough chatting.

And son carefully:

- A dangle your feet can?

Rice. 16. Mom and son ()

Let's check: babble- figurative meaning; dangle your feet- direct.

Flocks of birds fly away

Away, beyond the blue sea,

All the trees are shining

in multicolored attire.

Rice. 17. Birds in autumn ()

Let's check: blue ocean- direct meaning; multi-colored tree decoration- portable.

The breeze asked as it flew by:

- Why are you rye, golden?

And in response, the spikelets rustle:

- Golden US arms are growing.

Let's check: golden rye- figurative meaning; golden hands- figurative meaning.

Let's write down the phrases and determine whether they are used in a direct or figurative sense.

Clean hands, an iron nail, a heavy suitcase, a wolfish appetite, a heavy character, Olympian calmness, an iron hand, Golden ring, golden man, wolf skin.

Let's check: clean hands- direct, iron nail- direct, heavy bag- direct, wolfish appetite- portable, heavy character- portable, Olympian calm- portable, iron hand- portable, Golden ring- direct, Golden man- portable, wolf skin- direct.

Let's make phrases, write down phrases in a figurative sense.

Evil (frost, wolf), black (paints, thoughts), runs (athlete, stream), hat (mother's, snow), tail (foxes, trains), hit (frost, with a hammer), drumming (rain, musician).

Let's check: an evil frost, black thoughts, a stream runs, a cap of snow, a tail of a train, frost hit, rain drums.

In this lesson, we learned that words have a direct and figurative meaning. The figurative meaning makes our speech figurative, vivid. Therefore, writers and poets are very fond of using figurative meaning in their works.

In the next lesson, we will learn what part of the word is called the root, learn how to highlight it in the word, talk about the meaning and functions of this part of the word.

1. Klimanova L.F., Babushkina T.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Enlightenment, 2012 (http://www.twirpx.com/file/1153023/)
2. Buneev R.N., Buneeva E.V., Pronina O.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Balass.
3. Ramzaeva T.G. Russian language. 2. - M.: Bustard.

1. Openclass.ru ().
2. Festival of Pedagogical Ideas " Public lesson" ().
3. sch15-apatity.ucoz.ru ().

• Klimanova L.F., Babushkina T.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Enlightenment, 2012. Part 2. Do ex. 28 p. 21.
• Choose the correct answer to the following questions:

1. The vocabulary of the language is studied by science:

A) phonetics

B) syntax

C) lexicology

2. The word is used in a figurative sense in both phrases:

A) stone heart, build a bridge

B) the heat of the sun, stone edition

C) golden words, make plans

3. In which row are the words polysemantic:

A) star, artificial, stone

B) single, blinds, jockey

C) rocky, caftan, composer

• * Using the knowledge gained in the lesson, come up with 4-6 sentences with words field and give, where these words are used in direct and figurative meanings.

To explain in more accessible language, I'll start right away with an example.

Let's say you accidentally sat down on a needle - you are hurt, annoyed, you are annoyed. But you took a direct action - you sat down on this particular object.
But "sit on pins and needles", just, and is used in a figurative sense. After all, you do not sit on them for real, but experience these feelings - anger, insecurity, languor, excitement of the soul, irritation.

There are words and expressions that, in addition to their direct purpose (the name of a particular object, action, characteristic), also have a second lexical meaning, which refers to a completely different object, action. That is, the name, characteristics, properties, actions of one object p-e-r-e-n-o-s-i-t-s-i on another object and has a different, secondary meaning.

Examples:

The word "float": a boat can float, a person on the water, a ship, and also, we can say that clouds "float", the ruble "floats" on the stock exchange, thoughts "float" in my head.

• The word "sit": a person can sit on a chair, a dog on the ground, but both a hat on his head and a dress on a girl can "sit".

Basically, words in a figurative sense are descriptive and reflect the properties of objects, the characteristics of any action, feelings. And it appears on the basis of the similarity of objects - external, according to the function performed, physical characteristics, properties, etc.

The word "iron" (properties - hard, not bending) - strong as iron - iron character.

There are words that carry several figurative meanings and meanings at once.