What does a 'metaphor' accomplish in communication?

A metaphor accomplishes a powerful and evocative comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things, allowing a speaker or writer to convey meanings, emotions, and ideas in a nuanced manner. By highlighting similarities in their characteristics, metaphors enrich communication and help the audience understand complex concepts more intuitively.

This figurative language often evokes imagery and emotional responses that a straightforward description cannot achieve. By drawing parallels, metaphors encourage the audience to think differently about the topics being discussed, facilitating a deeper engagement with the material. This transformative capability of metaphors makes them essential tools in public speaking and persuasive writing.

In contrast, straightforward descriptions might lack the depth of insight a metaphor can provide, while summarizing an argument in a single statement or creating a literal comparison is typically more direct and does not capture the richness of metaphorical language.