Unveiling Figurative Expressions: Exploring Paraphrases &

Metaphors

Ikhtiyar E. Umirov

, Farkhad K. Yuldashev

, Farogat F. Yuldasheva

Dilnoza M. Kholikova

Salomat F. Yuldasheva

and Malokhat S. Sharipova

Uzbekistan State World Languages University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Trope, Metaphor, Linguistic Metaphor, Artistic Metaphor, Paraphrase, Epithet, Euphemism, Phraseological

Unit, Fixed Conjunction, Figurative Expression, Figurative Device.

Abstract: Until now, paraphrases have not been a separate, special object of scientific research, and have not been

studied in a monographic plan, not only in Uzbek linguistics but even in Turkology. Although paraphrases

are actively used both in our oral and written speech as a means of artistic representation, they are one of the

factors that show the richness of our language and the wide range of semantic possibilities. Paraphrases serve

to make the speech effective, clear, logical, and unique. In Uzbek linguistics (also in Turkology), there are

only a few articles that note that paraphrases have their own characteristics within the means of artistic

representation and that they should be studied separately, along with the concise definition and comments

given in the dictionaries about paraphrases. Consequently, the scientific-theoretical study of this figurative

expression, its nature, and its essence are some of the issues that must be solved in today's Uzbek linguistics,

especially stylistics. Based on this, in this article, for the first time, paraphrases were distinguished from

related phenomena from a scientific and theoretical point of view, and their essence was revealed. Preliminary

thoughts on the creation of paraphrases were also presented. The relationship of paraphrases with linguistic

phenomena such as euphemism, phraseologism, synonymy, epithet, metaphor (artistic metaphor), metonymy,

synecdoche, and functional transfer was highlighted. In addition, this article serves as a theoretical resource

for the scientific study, analysis, and uncovering of the meaning of paraphrases, that is, other types of trope

transfer, and also makes a significant contribution to the enrichment of existing thoughts on tropes in the field

of stylistics; assists to understand and solve some aspects of the dialectic relationship between language and

speech.

1 INTRODUCTION

Language is like a beautiful mosaic, filled with a

variety of literary devices that add depth and colour

to our communication. Among these, metaphors and

paraphrases shine brightly, offering us ways to

convey complex ideas and emotions with vivid

imagery and figurative language. Metaphors, derived

from the Greek word for "transfer," allow us to use

words and phrases in a way that draws comparisons

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between different things or events. This can lead to a

deeper, more poetic representation of concepts, where

the literal meaning of a word shifts to capture the

essence of something else. For example, describing

someone's courage in facing challenges as "a fierce

attack of the Black forces" creates a powerful image

that goes beyond the literal meaning.

On the other hand, paraphrases offer a different

approach, rephrasing existing objects, events, or

concepts to highlight their less obvious features. This

504

Umirov, I., Yuldashev, F., Yuldasheva, F., Kholikova, D., Yuldasheva, S. and Sharipova, M.

Unveiling Figurative Expressions: Exploring Paraphrases & Metaphors.

DOI: 10.5220/0012873500003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 504-509

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

technique not only clarifies but also enriches our

understanding of the subject. Unlike metaphors,

which directly transfer one object's name to another,

paraphrases use symbolic and descriptive language to

convey meaning.

Exploring these linguistic tools reveals their

unique roles in communication and literature. They

add depth and richness to our language, making our

expressions more vibrant, emotional, and impactful.

Understanding the differences and applications of

metaphors and paraphrases provides valuable insights

into the art of effective communication.

2 PARAPHRASES AND

METAPHORS

Metaphor is a Greek word meaning "transfer." In this

case, words and phrases are used figuratively based

on the similarity of things and events. The meaning

of a metaphor changes, but the concept does not. For

example, in the sentence "Grandfather pressed the tip

of his belt to his eyes," and "A red light plays on the

tips of the poplars" (Myrmukhsin), the word “tip” is

used twice. However, they do not mean the same

thing. In one, the tip of the belt is understood, and in

the other, the highest part of the poplar. The first and

main meaning of the tip, as given in the explanatory

dictionary, is "thinned sharp edge of things." So, the

name of one subject was transferred to another based

on a certain similarity. This is a linguistic metaphor.

Metaphors are also discussed in literary studies.

Metaphor in fiction is distinguished from metaphor in

language by the method of simile. In artistic

metaphor, the similarity between objects is not direct

(in form), but based on their colour and

characteristics. Accordingly, it achieves

expressiveness and emotionality. For example, in the

phrases "Courage alone was not enough to overcome

the fierce attack of the Black forces" (Ch. Aytmatov)

and "Come on, wolves, go back on your words..."

(Khamza), the dark forces and wolves are not

permanent names for the concept of enemies and rich

people. In this context, it is appropriate to quote Prof.

S. Usmanov's opinion about the mutual

differentiation of linguistic and artistic metaphors.

In literature, a metaphor is a concise form of a

simile that doesn't serve as a direct name for an object.

In this context, the term represents an object or event

that hasn't been previously defined within the speech

passage.

This type of metaphor is typical of national

languages, while artistic metaphors reflect the

perspective of the writer. Linguist B. Umurkulov

supports this view, stating that artistic metaphor is a

vivid, expressive tool that enhances the imagery of

artistic speech. As a stylistic device, artistic metaphor

functions to create vivid images and convey deeper

meanings. Outside of literary texts, a word with a

metaphorical meaning functions as a direct name for

the object and remains in the nominative function.

Artistic metaphors are classified by their structure

in various sources, such as lexical and compound

metaphors, as well as one-syllable and two-syllable

metaphors.

3 DISCUSSION

According to Professor R. Kongurov, metaphors in

poetry can be categorized into two types: simple and

extended. He, along with E. Begmatov and Y. Tojiev,

defines these types by their structure. A simple

metaphor consists of a single word, while an extended

metaphor involves two or more words. For example,

"dome" (for sky), "snake" (for a cold person), "lion"

and "falcon" (for a strong person), and "fox" (for

cunning) are considered simple metaphors. On the

other hand, metaphors like "steel horse," "blue ship"

(for a cotton-picking machine), "white gold" (for

cotton), "blue fire" (for gas), and "steel bird" (for a

plane) are viewed as extended metaphors.

However, this explanation differs from the views

of scholars such as S. Usmanov and B. Umurkulov,

who consider artistic metaphors as simple and regard

paraphrases (figurative expressions) as extended

metaphors. Paraphrases are formed by transferring

the meaning of words, including metaphors, but they

require a clear object to convey the meaning. For

example, the phrase "the queen of the field - corn" is

a paraphrase where corn symbolizes a field plant with

its own landscape. One key difference is that

paraphrases are semantically linked to the specific

word they describe, which is not a requirement for a

metaphor.

Linguist A. Shomaksudov emphasizes the

importance of understanding the development of the

lexical meaning of a word. This understanding

enables one to choose the appropriate means of

expression in language. For instance, "the spring of

life" is used to signify youth, "the means of

communication" refers to language, and "the most

forgiving person" symbolizes a mother, all of which

are directly related to the evolution of meaning

through metaphor.

Unveiling Figurative Expressions: Exploring Paraphrases & Metaphors

505

It's important to distinguish between metaphor and

paraphrase as they are not the same. While metaphor

conveys meaning by directly transferring the name of

one object to another (like "the eye of a tree" or "a

ring"), a paraphrase describes existing objects, events,

and concepts differently based on their features not

yet known to people.

Paraphrases bring out concepts of expressiveness,

variety, and imagery through the transfer of word

meaning. For example, "Today, the capital of our

country has become an Islamic culture" (Turkestan)

uses Islamic culture to symbolize Tashkent, "Let's

take care of our green wealth" (Nature) applies green

wealth broadly to plants, and "We still do not expect

to see Pele, Maradona, and Guilt on green fields in

Uzbek football" (Turkestan) uses green fields to

symbolize the stadium.

In paraphrases like "The Key to Knowledge" and

"The Silver Thread," books and pillars are

represented figuratively. For instance, the key in "The

Key to Knowledge" is symbolic, representing how

knowledge can unlock understanding, similar to how

a key unlocks a building. The use of "silver" in

describing a cocoon symbolizes its color, likening it

to the metal, while "fiber" is used to describe its

texture. Such use of symbols enhances the value of

words through metaphorical expressions.

So, paraphrases must have a clear object to describe.

If this requirement is not met, or if the criteria are not

followed, then the resulting visual expressions will

not be very convincing. Metaphors, on the other hand,

do not require such clarity.

4 PARAPHRASE AND

METONYMY

Metonymy, derived from the Greek word meaning "to

give another name," involves expressing one thing by

the name of another based on their interdependence,

without any inherent similarity between them. For

instance, referring to a tablecloth as a "treat" is a form

of metonymy because the tablecloth is closely

associated with the treats placed on it. Unlike

paraphrases, which aim to describe the essence of a

subject more deeply, metonymy directly renames one

object with the name of another that is closely

related.There are key differences between metonymy

and paraphrase. Firstly, metonymy directly refers to

one object by the name of another, while paraphrases

provide a deeper understanding of the subject.

Secondly, metonymy involves objects that are related

to each other, whereas paraphrases use names that

may not have any direct relationship. Thirdly, in

metonymy, the name of one subject is directly

transferred to another, while paraphrases rename the

subject by describing and explaining it.Furthermore,

metonymy often involves the omission of words, such

as in the phrase "I read Navoi by Oybek," where "by

Oybek" stands for the authorship of Oybek. This

ellipsis feature is not present in paraphrases.

Additionally, while metonymy typically involves two

related members, paraphrases emphasize the

descriptive expression, leaving out the described

thing or word. For example, instead of saying

"Sadriddin Ayniy, the author of the novel 'Gullar',"

one might use the metonymic phrase "Gullar's

author."

It's worth noting that paraphrases can be created

using the method of metonymy. For instance, the term

"dancing queen" is a paraphrase coined to visually

describe Mukarrama Turgunboeva's talent. Since

Turgunboeva was a dancer, closely associated with

the concept of dance, she was figuratively named the

"queen of dance." This name was formed not directly

but through the metonymic transfer of meaning,

resulting in a paraphrase.

In metonymy, the meaning of a word is specified

within the text. For example, "Bird language" in a

sentence refers to the name of a book, where only the

name is used instead of the actual work. While the

concepts of Navoi and "Bird Language" are related,

the term "Bird Language" might be unclear to the

general audience. Hence, when cited, "Bird

Language" becomes the title of the work.

Paraphrases can be used alongside the subject

they describe, enhancing the figurative interpretation

of the word. For example, "the father of our nation,

the great Amir Temur," clarifies the paraphrase for

Amir Temur. However, paraphrases are often used

without explicitly mentioning the subject, relying on

context for understanding. For instance, "the island of

Freedom" is a paraphrase for the Republic of Cuba,

without explicitly stating its original name.

Paraphrases are more expressive and artistic than

metonymy. Their vividness is apparent even outside

of the text. For example, "Cuba - the island of

freedom," "India - the country of songs," or

"Uzbekistan - the land of scholars or the land of white

gold" are all examples of expressive paraphrases.

In summary, metonymy renames based on the

interdependence of two objects, while paraphrases

require a descriptive connection.

Paraphrase and euphemism are similar

phenomena, but they differ from each other.

Euphemism is a term used in place of another to

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soften its impact or make it more acceptable. For

example, "passed away," "perished," or "the soul

departed" are euphemisms for "died."

In Babur's famous poem, the use of phrases like

"the soul coming out," "closing its eyes," and

"perishing" can be seen as euphemisms for "died."

However, these phrases are considered paraphrases

because they serve to reveal the character of the

people in the work, even if indirectly. Additionally,

as mentioned earlier, paraphrases involve a figurative

element.

The dictionary meaning of "death" is "the

cessation of vital activity in organisms; the end of

life." However, there is also a figurative image

associated with this word, such as "closing one's eyes

for life," "not coming to this bright world," or "not

living again." Such images and descriptions are

sources for creating paraphrases.

Euphemisms can often have multiple meanings.

For example, "born" can refer to the birth of a child

or the birth of an idea. In contrast, paraphrases do not

typically have this feature. The euphemistic

expression "came into the world" softens the meaning

of "born" and adds a more figurative touch to it.

4.1 Similarities & Differences Between

Paraphrases and Euphemisms

Paraphrases and euphemisms share the common trait

of renaming concepts, but they differ in how they

achieve this renaming. Paraphrases use multiple

expressions to describe a single noun, similar to how

euphemisms do. For example, instead of simply

saying "youth," euphemisms might use phrases like

"the spring of life" or "the age of love."However,

there are key differences between paraphrases and

euphemisms.

Firstly, euphemisms replace harsh or unpleasant

words with softer, more pleasant terms. Paraphrases,

on the other hand, do not aim to soften the original

word but instead provide a unique and often vivid

description of the concept.

Secondly, paraphrases are known for their

figurative and expressive nature, which is less

pronounced in euphemisms. Euphemisms tend to be

more straightforward in their replacement of words.

Lastly, euphemisms can also include

dysphemisms or cacophemisms, which are terms that

represent opposite or harsh concepts. For example,

euphemisms for "die" could include phrases like "to

be swallowed up" or "to be level with the earth."

Paraphrases, however, focus on positive and

expressive descriptions.In summary, while both

paraphrases and euphemisms involve renaming

concepts, they do so in different ways, with

paraphrases being more figurative and expressive,

while euphemisms aim to soften or replace harsh

terms.

5 PARAPHRASE AND

PHRASEOLOGY

Fixed compounds and paraphrases share similarities,

such as being composed of multiple words that form

a unit, lacking semantic division, replacing words,

and being able to function within a sentence.

However, the nature of paraphrases cannot be solely

defined by these criteria. Paraphrases are studied as a

distinct phenomenon in linguistics, unlike fixed

compounds. While paraphrases may resemble

phraseologisms in form, it would be inaccurate to

consider them synonymous. Some scholars suggest

that paraphrases can be seen as phraseologized or

stabilized, akin to phraseologisms, but this does not

mean they are identical. Paraphrases and fixed

compounds are separate but closely related linguistic

events.

The differences between fixed compounds and

paraphrases are as follows:

1. Descriptive vs. State/Action Orientation:

Paraphrases are descriptive representations

of subjects and events, highlighting

characteristics or qualities, like "the book is

the lamp of the mind." In contrast, fixed

compounds and phraseological idioms often

express states or actions, such as "to cheat -

to fill one's stomach with nuts."

2. Formation Methods: Paraphrases are

formed through various methods of meaning

transfer, including metaphor, metonymy,

synecdoche, and functional transfer. On the

other hand, fixed compounds primarily use

the metaphorical method of meaning

transfer.

3. Word Formation: Paraphrases can be

formed from a single word, such as "a

woman is pure," "a god is the Lord," and "a

hairdresser is a goldsmith." Fixed

compounds typically involve multiple words

and do not have this feature.

4. Semantic Relationship: Paraphrases

exhibit a mutual semantic closeness between

the names of subjects, events, and the

paraphrases themselves. For example,

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"school - center of knowledge" shows a

direct relationship. In contrast, fixed

compounds may not have a direct

correlation between the phrase and the word

it describes, as seen in "inexperienced -

mother's milk has not left her mouth" or

"angry - hair standing on end."

In our opinion, the number of criteria listed above

gives an opportunity to distinguish between

paraphrase and phraseologisms.

6 PARAPHRASE AND EPITHET

"An epithet is a poetic qualifier, a word added before

such words (emphasis is ours - I.U.) in order to

indicate a feature, sign of a thing, event, or concept.

Therefore, epithets also describe and explain the

important characteristics of objects and concepts.

Accordingly, epithets also seem similar to

paraphrases, but they are separate phenomena that

require separate investigation.

As we know, in speech, paraphrases are embodied

as figurative names of subject events. What they

express is omitted from speech. Compare: for

example, - Soon the bride of the seasons will enter our

country (Uzb. Lit. and art). "White gold with golden

hands creates" (one of the slogans in the archive). The

bride of the seasons, white gold, golden hands

paraphrase is a figurative expression of the words

spring, cotton, and farmers.

Epithets emphasize and exaggerate an aspect of

the thing described that is considered important from

the point of view of the speaker. The word described

in epithets is not omitted but is additionally used in

the front part of these words. Accordingly, the

characteristics of a certain word are revealed.

Compare: The ornaments of autumn do not remain

from silver winter, and emerald spring (Uygun).

The examples show that epithets cannot be

descriptive names of objects and events. They are

artistic image tools that clearly show a sign of a

person, thing, or reality.

So, epithets and paraphrases are stylistic tools of

speech that reveal important features of the subject

and events.

7 CONCLUSION

In summary, exploring the roles of paraphrases and

metaphors in language and literature highlights their

unique functions. Metaphors, which come from the

Greek word for "transfer," use figurative language to

draw similarities between things and events. This

shifts the meaning while keeping the core idea intact.

For instance, the word "tip" can refer to different

things based on context, showcasing how metaphors

adapt their meanings. In literature, metaphors add

expressiveness and emotional depth by comparing

objects based on their qualities.

Paraphrases, however, rename objects, events,

and concepts more descriptively. They rely on

figurative objects and are closely linked to the words

they represent, like calling corn "the queen of the

field." Unlike metaphors, paraphrases offer a clearer

depiction by highlighting specific characteristics.

Comparing paraphrases with other linguistic

elements like metonymy, euphemism, and

phraseology reveals their distinct traits. Metonymy

renames objects based on their interdependence,

while euphemisms soften harsh terms. Though

phraseology and paraphrases share structural

similarities, they differ in formation and function.

Understanding these differences enriches our

appreciation of language's expressive power.

Recognizing how metaphors and paraphrases

uniquely contribute to communication and literary

expression emphasizes the intricate ways language

conveys meaning. This insight demonstrates the

significance of figurative language in enhancing how

we share and interpret ideas.

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