Dr. Shelly Arneson Author and Consultant
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation
Picture

Happy Communicating
​

Maybe I'm just more figurative....literally.

11/10/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
As I got out of the shower this morning, I searched high and low for a bottle of lotion.  I had to laugh when I realized I was avoiding the only lotion I had left.  I was avoiding it because of the name and the time of day.  No, no, no....I can't put on Sleep lotion when I need to be energized and ready for the day, can I?  The Sleep lotion will make me sleepy, right?  

Before engaging in communication with another person we don't know well, maybe it would be a good idea to know if they are more figurative or more literal.  You know how they have a quiz for everything now?  Just step into the Facebook vortex and you will be bombarded with quizzes like "Which Brady Bunch character are you most like?"  or "Which animal from Lion King would you be like if you lived in animation?"  

Here is my quiz for: Are you more figurative or more literal?

1.  Analogies make me ______________
                 a.  happy as they provide clarity for tough concepts
                 b.  CRAZY---just say what you want to say


2.  Respond to this statement.
     "Teaching is like swimming because when we are really struggling, it often feels like drowning."
                 a.  I agree, and when teaching is at a high level, it's like lifeguarding.  You can                         help others who are struggling.
                 b.  Ummmmm....swimming is in the water.  You don't teach in the water.


3.  Respond to this statement.
     "Knee surgery has gotten much easier.  The recovery is not anything like dealing with Ebola, for instance."  
                  a.  I know! I have heard I won't be laid up for nearly as long as I had originally                        thought. 
                  b.  Ummm....of course knee surgery isn't like having Ebola.  After all, Ebola is                          a communicable disease.


Let's just agree that if you answered "b" for each of these, you might just be a little more literal than the people who answered "a".  In the past few weeks, I have literally heard every one of those "b" responses.  I wanted to laugh and say, "Analogies are just that---a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.They aren't meant to BE the thing---they are comparisons!!" Then I realize I am giving way too much power to the beast (figuratively speaking).  


I think the important thing to note is we need to be aware of our audience.  If we are speaking to someone who is quite literal, analogies and figurative language just don't work.  Eyes might glaze over as the literal person tries to think of all the reasons that analogy does not match the comparison, point by point.
But....for those folks who are figurative, analogies and other figurative language can "hit the spot" and you will often hear comments like "I've never heard it said quite like that before."  For instance, I heard someone say yesterday, "You simply can't save face and your rear end at the same time."  For some reason, it just hit me how profound that is.  But I don't really believe I need to think about that statement in literal terms.....ewwww!  


Just for today, perhaps we can take stock in who our audience is before we decide to do all figurative or all literal examples.  It might just help us in our communication with others.  

Happy Communicating---literally!  


Shelly

1 Comment
Theresa Pate
11/13/2014 06:37:45 am

Shelly Girl, I literally love you forever......... Mama2

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Shelly Arneson

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Tjeerd, Johnragai-Moment Catcher, UnknownNet Photography, Mr. Bombdiggity, wuestenigel, quinn.anya, Chocolate Geek, Jorbasa, Leonard J Matthews, JefferyTurner, Golf Resort Achental, fabola, www.ilmicrofono.it, m01229, Heinrich Plum, Titanic Belfast, Strocchi, Cultural viewpoints from around the world, katrienberckmoes, fabola, susivinh, fourcroft, Sweet Dreamz Design, usarjnco, Eldriva, symphony of love, cordalth, boellstiftung, David Holt London, maryjohum, Tony Webster, Rich.S., ZK-OJQ, davidmulder61, garryknight, ChrisPerriman, mrkrndvs, goatling, YellowstoneNPS, Frederick Homes for Sale, Mary_on_Flickr, yourbestdigs, Dean Hochman, guillenperez, Janitors, rachaelvoorhees
  • Home
  • Blogs and News
  • Workshops
  • Consultation
  • Shop
  • Links
  • Contact Information
  • Dissertation