Literal and figurative language

The literal (Latin sensus litteralis, from littera "letter" ) is the simple or literal meaning of a spoken utterance. The term is V.A. in younger uses relative to that in which words or phrases are usually used.

In ancient and medieval distinctions multiple levels of meaning of texts, especially religious texts ( cf. quadruple meanings of Scripture ) is often the literal was also known as " historical sense " (Latin sensus historicus ) refers. What is meant is then particularly the reproduction of the external events like it - could also be determined by historical methods - according to contemporary knowledge understanding. Many medieval authors, such as Thomas Aquinas, but use " sensus litteralis " or " sensus historicus " in a contrast enhanced senses.

Definition of the term

The expansion of the meaning of a text " on the literal addition starts with the typological interpretation or typology (Greek: τύπος, typos =" archetype, a model " ), in which a real person or an event with another person or another Done is set in relation ".

An antonym is " transferred sense " ( sensus metaphoricus ) or " figurative sense ". Many figures of speech have a figurative sense.

Retrieved from " literalism " is spoken when a text understanding reductively limited to the literal meaning - especially in relation to religious texts. Many religious scholars connect such text understanding with religious fundamentalism.