When grammar
is treated (as we have tried to treat it) as "logical instinct,"
then there can be no conflict with other instincts.
The suggestiveness of words finds its specific embodiment in the so
called "figures of speech." We must examine them a little,
because when we come to such an expression as "The kettle boils" after
a few lessons in tracing logical connections, we are likely to say
without hesitation that we have found an error, an absurdity.
On its face it is an absurdity to say "The kettle boils" when we mean
"The water in the kettle boils." But reflection will show us that we
have merely condensed our words a little. Many idioms are curious
condensations, and many figures of speech may be explained as natural
and easy condensations. We have already seen such a condensation in
"more complete" for "more nearly complete."
The following definitions and illustrations are for reference.
We do not need to know the names of any of these figures in order to use
them, and it is altogether probable that learning to name and analyse
them will to some extent make us too self-conscious to use them at all.
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