Variations in figurative language use as a function of mode of communication

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Communication Studies
• Psychology

Background:

• Communication mode influences message content.
• Figurative language is a key aspect of communication.
• Understanding how media affects language use is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different communication modes affect the use of figurative language.
• To analyze variations in figurative language, including interrogative analogies, across various media.
• To explore the relationship between media affordances and the deployment of figurative language.

Main Methods:

• Pairs of subjects (expert and novice) collaborated on a construction task.
• Communication occurred in four distinct modes: full copresence, screen-separated, intercom, and e-mail.
• Figurative language use was measured across these different communication conditions.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in figurative language types were observed between the communication modes.
• The use of specific figurative devices, such as interrogative analogies, varied depending on the medium.
• The study identified patterns in figurative language use related to media characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Media characteristics (costs, constraints, affordances) shape the use of figurative language.
• Figurative language plays a distinct role in communication, adapting to the constraints and possibilities of different modes.
• These findings contribute to understanding the nuanced interplay between medium and message construction.