Expanding Vocabulary by Using Figurative Language

Abstract

An often neglected area in the teaching of vocabulary is that of the figurative language. This article examines some definitions and suggests examples of types of figurative language to which students may usefully be exposed in the course of their learning. Arising from the suggested examples, some implications for the teaching of figurative language are discussed. These are followed by sample materials representing different strategies for helping students to understand and generate figurative language.