2022-03-23
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน - Set – F - figuratively & literally
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Dictionary.com:
ออกเสียงfiguratively = “FIG-yer-uh-tiv-lee”
ออกเสียง literally = “LIT-er-uh—lee”
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions:
figuratively & literally
Figuratively means “not literally,”
that is, “metaphorically” (by means of a likeness or figure of speech).
Literally means “really,” “actually.”
Literally means
“in a manner true to the exact meaning of the words it accompanies”;
figuratively means “in a manner of speaking’”:
“The heavy work literally drained his remaining energy.”
“This author writes figuratively about the terror of solitude.”
Dictionary.com:
“Figuratively” vs. “Literally”
Published April 9, 2020
Although similar and often incorrectly swapped for each other,
literally and figuratively have different meanings
that can’t really be interchanged.
So even if you feel like you literally can’t help confusing the two,
this exaggeration may help explain
why figuratively is actually the right word in many cases.
What does figuratively mean?
Figuratively is an adverb of the adjective figurative
that means “of the nature of or involving a figure of speech.”
It’s typically metaphorical and not literal,
which is a key difference in common usage between figuratively and literally.
Except for one little annoying part of figurative:
it can also mean “represented by a figure, drawing, sculpture, or emblem,”
so figuratively has a literal meaning as well.
Moving on from that …
Originating in 1350–1400, this Middle English word
derives from the Late Latin figūrātīvus
and replaced Middle English figuratif.
It’s important to remember that
a figurative description is different than a literal meaning
that describes exactly what is happening in black-and-white terms.
So while you may be so happy
that you want to figuratively shout from the rooftop,
you would only use literally if you were actually
standing on the roof and screaming with joy.
What does literally mean?
Although figuratively has room for interpretation or exaggeration,
literally is exact and concrete in its meaning.
The adverb is defined as “in the literal or strict sense”
and “actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy.”
Whatever word or phrase the word literally modifies
is being described in a literal manner; word for word.
For example:
Although you may not literally know everything
there is to know about sports, you can probably tell us
literally everything that happened during the last play.
If you’re describing what actually happened,
without exaggeration or inaccuracy, then literally is the right choice.
For example,
I spent literally every cent I had on that gift works
if you actually did empty out every penny you had to your name.
Literally was first recorded around 1525
but its usage began to change in the 19th century.
Starting from this time,
literally began to be used as an intensifier for effect,
which contradicts its meaning of “without exaggeration.”
This shift has normalized its misuse, and
that’s become a major pet peeve
for many who are aware of the difference.
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How to use each word
Since words and phrases typically have
both literal and figurative meanings,
it’s easy to know when to use each of these terms,
once you understand the difference between the two.
You can literally open a package as soon as it arrives
but you can only figuratively open your heart to love.
You can also only figuratively tell the whole world how you feel
but, instead, you can literally tell every person
whom you come in contact with about your feelings.
Feel like you’re so frustrated that you’re literally going to explode?
Wrong!
You may feel like you’re figuratively going to erupt,
but it’s safe to say you won’t literally combust
due to an emotion anytime soon.
Dictionary.com:
USAGE NOTE FOR LITERALLY
Since the early 19th century,
literally has been widely used as an intensifier
meaning “in effect, virtually,”
a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning
“actually, without exaggeration”:
The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries.
The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise.
The use is often criticized; nevertheless,
it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing.
Although this use of literally irritates some,
it probably neither distorts nor enhances
the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs.
The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense “actually”:
The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived.
Dictionary.com:
HISTORICAL USAGE OF LITERALLY
The adverb literally was formed in English by adding
the adverbial suffix -ly to literal,
an adjective borrowed from Late Latin litterālis
“of or relating to letters or literature.”
(When we say “the letter of the law,” we are referring to its literal,
or most obvious, meaning that follows the actual wording of the law.)
But it is of no use to complain that literally properly
means “actually; without exaggeration,”
the exact opposite of figuratively.
That battle is almost lost;
popular usage has nearly won,
so that literally may also be used to mean “in effect; very nearly; virtually.”
In fact, this meaning is now quite common,
with literally being used to intensify a metaphorical expression,
as in “He literally died when he found out the truth.”
Another usage battle was lost well over two thousand years ago,
when Cicero, the Roman Republic’s greatest orator and man of letters,
in his dialogue
Brutus, yielded his own older “correct” pronunciation of certain words
to the more recent popular “incorrect” usage,
changing his own pulcer “beautiful” to pulcher, triumpus “triumph” to triumphus, and Cartāgo “Carthage” to Carthāgo.
(Notice that it is the “vulgar” spellings that are current in English
pulchritude, triumph, and Carthage ).
In each of the spelling changes,
“c” to “ch,” “p” to “ph,” and “t” to “th,”
the “h” represents aspiration of the consonant
(voiceless stops in these cases).
Aspirated voiceless stops were a feature of the pronunciation
of the uneducated populace who aspired to
but overshot the pronunciation of educated speakers.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Frequently Asked Questions About literally
Can literally mean figuratively?
One of the definitions of literally that we provide
is "in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way
to emphasize a statement
or description that is not literally true or possible."
Some find this objectionable on the grounds that it is not
the primary meaning of the word,
"with the meaning of each individual word given exactly."
However, this extended definition of literally
is commonly used and is not quite the same meaning as figuratively
("with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal").
Is the extended use of literally new?
The "in effect; virtually" meaning of literally is not a new sense.
It has been in regular use since the 18th century
and may be found in the writings of Mark Twain, Charlotte Brontë,
James Joyce, and many others.
Is the extended use of literally slang?
Among the meanings of literally is one
which many people find problematic:
"in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way
to emphasize a statement or description
that is not literally true or possible."
Neither this nor any of the other meanings of literally
is what we would consider slang.
This sense has been in standard use by many esteemed writers
since the 18th century.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Words of the Week
The Words of the Week - 7/2/2021
The words that defined the week ending July 2nd, 2021
’Literally’
The endless scourge on the English language
that is our inability to deal with change
returned with a vengeance this week,
as former president George W. Bush
gave an interview in which he offered thoughts
on the word literally.
George W. Bush is "on a campaign"
to stop people from overusing the word "literally."
The former U.S. president shared an impromptu vocabulary lesson
by phone on TODAY Wednesday while talking to daughter
Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb on the fourth hour.
"I think the word 'literally' is overused for several reasons.
One, it's misunderstood.
Two, it's become a convenient habit,"
Bush began, before pausing to ask Hoda if she misuses the word herself.
— Gina Vivinetto, Yahoo News, 30 Jun. 2021
As a reference work,
we have no political affiliations or leanings.
However, when anyone—former president or otherwise
—complains about literally,
we might suggest that the sense of literally
so decried (meaning “in effect,” or “virtually”)
may be found in the writings of some of our most celebrated authors
(Brontë, Joyce, Twain), and has been in use for hundreds of years.
He, and many others, may not like it,
but correctness in English is not formed through executive order.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate
All your favorite pet peeves in one convenient location
Literally
This is literally the first word that comes to mind for many people,
when asked what word or usage is most vexatious.
The bothersome sense is the one we define as “in effect; virtually
—used in an exaggerated way
to emphasize a statement or description
that is not literally true or possible.”
We do not offer this definition as a practical joke,
or because we want to hurt you;
we are trying to provide an accurate record of the English language,
as it is used.
If you wish to read more about this you may do so here.
What is the point of words having meanings
if they can mean literally the opposite of what they are defined to mean?
People who use the word litterally to mean not literally
aren't using an alternative meaning, they're using the word incorrectly.
MW seems intent on ensuring that no matter
how wrong you are you're still right.
— Comment on literally definition by J. P., 2020
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Word History
Literally Everything You'll Ever Need To Know About Semantic Bleaching
A very special article about 'very' (& 'actually', 'really', 'ultimately'...)
Many people complain about the use of literally
in a way that seems, well, non-literal.
This is because figurative use of the word (“I literally died laughing”)
seems to contradict the meaning of the Latin root of literally, littera,
which means “letter.”
The problem some people have with literally
is that it’s a mushy adverb:
if we removed it from our example
and said “I died laughing,”
the sentence is understood in precisely the same (non-literal) way
—as hyperbole.
Adding “literally” just adds emphasis;
it’s the salt in the stew because the burden of meaning
is on the other words (“died laughing”).
Therefore, if “literally” is added and no change in meaning is the result,
then ipso facto “literally”
literally carries little meaning in this particular sentence.
This reduction of a word’s intensity is called “semantic bleaching,”
and it’s a linguistic phenomenon that is more common
than you may realize:
when you say “Have a great day!”
you don’t mean “Have a day that is large in spatial dimension,”
and when you say “That movie was awesome”
you don’t necessarily mean “That movie was expressive of awe or terror.”
Both great and awesome (and fantastic, amazing, awful, and many others)
have meanings that have become less literal over time.
We could say that the problem with some uses of literally
isn’t that it has lost some of its meaning,
it’s that other uses haven’t lost the original meaning
“by the letter” or “actually.”
Both exist in frequent usage today.
Like literally,
very and really retain their original meanings
but have added another.
Very came to English from the French spoken by the Norman invaders,
and the 13th-century word for “true” was verai,
which compressed to vrai in modern French.
The ultimate Latin root is verus, meaning “true.”
We still use very to mean “truly” or “truthfully”
(“that was a very brave act,” “I’m very sorry”),
but it frequently conveys emphasis
for which truth is neither particularly important nor in doubt
(“the very last thing I packed,”
“you’re very welcome,”
“the food isn’t very good”).
It’s an intensifier—a word that colors another
but that, in this case, has little color itself.
The same is true of really:
sometimes it means “in reality” (“they really are twins”)
but it often confers simple emphasis (“I had a really great time”)
or subjective judgment (“that’s a really good play”)
that doesn’t depend on objective realness or reality.
Ultimately originally meant “finally” or “at the end”
(“they ultimately succeeded”) reflecting its Latin root ultimatus
meaning “last” or “final,”
but is now also often used to mean “eventually”
(“we ultimately agreed to the deal”).
Actually originally meant “in act or in fact”
(“I don’t know what actually happened”)
but is much weaker in meaning when it is used to emphasize
that a statement is true or surprising
(“we actually planned to leave early,”
“the movie was actually pretty good”).
Sometimes it seems as though
literally is held to an adverbial double standard
that makes many people question the validity of its use as an intensifier,
whereas other words with similar patterns of usage
seem to pass without criticism.
While it’s important to be careful about language use,
it’s also important to acknowledge that language is flexible
and words can have several different meanings.
Effective use of intensifiers means using them sparingly.
Ultimately, it’s up to you.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree:
Literally = in a literal manner;
= word for word:
literally translated;
= actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy:
The platoon was literally wiped out in the explosion.
Not to be confused with:
actually
= an actual or existing fact;
= really; genuinely, without exaggeration:
The deceased was actually frightened to death.
virtually
= for the most part;
= almost completely; just about:
He was virtually scared out of his wits.
[Literally, like virtually,
is widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect,”
which contradicts the earlier meaning of
“actually, without exaggeration.”
Virtually is often used to mean “actually”
when its definition is
“for practical purposes though not in name.”]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:
Usage Note:
For more than a hundred years,
critics have remarked on the incoherence of
using literally in a way that suggests
the exact opposite of its primary sense
of "in a manner that accords with the literal sense of the words."
In 1926, for example, H.W. Fowler deplored the example
"The 300,000 Unionists ... will be literally thrown to the wolves."
The practice reflects a tendency to use certain adverbs, like completely and unbelievably, as general intensifiers,
without calling to mind the primary sense of the adjective
from which the adverb is made.
In this regard, literally is very similar to the adverb really,
whose intensive use often has nothing to dowith what is "real,"
as in
They really dropped the ball in marketing that product.
· With regard to literally,
the Usage Panel supports the traditional view.
In our 2004 survey,
only 23 percent of the Panel accepted the following sentence,
in which literally undercuts the sentence's central metaphor:
The situation was especially grim in England where industrialism was literally swallowing the country's youth.
The Panel mustered more enthusiasm for the use of literally
with a dead metaphor,
which functions as a set phrase and evokesno image for most people.
Some 37 percent accepted
He was literally out of his mind with worry.
But when there is no metaphor at all,
a substantial majority of the Panel was willing to allow literally
to be used as an intensifier;
66 percent accepted the sentence
They had literally no help from the government on the project.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary:
literally
usage:
Since the early 20th century,
literally has been widely used as an intensifier
meaning “in effect, virtually”:
The senator was literally buried alive in the June primaries.
This use, common in many styles of speech and writing,
is often criticized
for being the opposite of the original meaning of literal.
In such cases, nothing is lost by omitting literally.
