The Role of Figurative Expressions in Linguistic Communication: A Case of Semantics

Figurative language is a central mechanism through which human communication transcends literal expression to achieve richer semantic depth. This study investigates the role of figurative expressions in linguistic communication with particular focus on their semantic functions. Anchored on Perrine’s (1969) Theory of Figurative Functions, the research explores how figurative language enhances meaning through imaginative pleasure, additional imagery, emotional intensity, and means of concentration. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, using data purposefully extracted from the New Oxford Secondary School Course SS1. Figurative instances including metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and idioms were identified, categorized, and thematically analyzed. Findings reveal that figurative expressions function as powerful communicative tools that transform abstract concepts into concrete imagery, intensify emotional tone, and condense complex meanings into concise and memorable forms. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these expressions encode cultural values, reinforce social consciousness, and foster interpretive engagement among users. The study concludes that figurative language remains indispensable to meaning-making, enabling speakers to convey subtle nuances, evoke vivid mental representations, and achieve communicative precision across linguistic contexts. Received: 18 November 2025 / Accepted: 29 December 2025 / Published: January 2026