Meaning of analogy (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Analogy:

An analogy is called the similarity or similarity relationship that can be identified between different things.

The word analogy comes from the Latin analogĭa, and this in turn comes from the Greek ἀναλογία (analogy), which means 'proportion', 'likeness'.

The concept of analogy can also be used to refer to the reasoning that similar characteristics between different beings or things can be recognized.

Thus, an argument by analogy is one that uses similar situations to explain something, such as: “Our son feels anger when we do not let him go out with his friends, in the same way that you get angry when I turn off the television while you watch soccer ”.

In this sense, analogy, as a concept, has a wide application in the most varied fields of knowledge, such as law, biology, linguistics, grammar, rhetoric or geography.

Analogy in law

In law, an analogy designates the method by which a legal norm is extended to cases that had not previously been contemplated in it, this is due to the fact that a similar relationship can be identified in them with other cases or specific situations for the which had already been applied.

Biology analogy

Biology considers as analogies the existing similarities between parts or organs that, in different organisms, have similar functions, as well as the same relative position. Such would be the case, for example, of the udder of a cow with the breasts of a woman, whose function is to breastfeed; another similar case would be that of the wings of a butterfly and those of a bee.

Linguistics analogy

Within the field of linguistics, the principle of analogy can be applied to the creation of new linguistic forms or to the modification of existing ones, based on the similarity between them. The quintessential example is the past I had, I was, I walked, formed from the analogy with Hube.

Analogy in grammar

For grammar, analogy constitutes relations of similarity, forms presented by linguistic elements whose functions are equal or coincident with each other. For example, one of the analogies between the word ser and estar is that they are both verbs.

In this sense, the analogies in grammar, also called verbal analogies, are divided into two types: symmetric and asymmetric analogies.

Symmetric and asymmetric analogies

Symmetric analogies are interchangeable as they are equivalent, whereas the terms of asymmetric analogies are related but do not indicate similarity.

Types of symmetric analogies

Within the symmetric analogies:

• Synonym analogies: they share the same characteristics as, for example, light and lamp. Complementary analogies: objects linked in a function, such as bed and rest. Cogeneric analogies: they belong to the same class or category as, for example, novel and short story.

Types of asymmetric analogies

Among the asymmetric analogies we can count the following:

• Antonym or opposition analogies: opposing terms such as analogy and difference. Analogies of intensity: the degree of emphasis or power, such as disgust and hatred. Inclusive analogies: relationship between the whole and a component of the whole. This category is divided by: genus-species, such as canine and dog; all-part as, for example, Sonora and Mexico; set-element such as shoal and fish; continent-content such as computer and motherboard. Analogies by location: they are related by the place where they are, such as airplane and airport. Sequentiality analogies: different stages of the same cycle, such as childhood and adolescence. Analogies by function: they are associated by work or task, such as cook and cook. Analogies by reciprocity: one conditions the existence of the other, such as mother and son. Analogies by product: one generates the other, such as baker and bread. Analogies by means and / or instrument: a tool attributed to an agent such as an astronomer and a telescope. Analogies by characteristic: indicates an attribute of the object, such as sun and heat.

Analogy in rhetoric

In rhetoric, analogy designates a literary device through which relationships of similarity are established between two elements, concepts or ideas, with the aim of offering a novel perspective of the matter in question that allows the reader to understand it from other angles.

For example: Batman is to Robin what Sancho is to Don Quixote; water is to plants what birdseed is to a parakeet.

Geography analogy

In geography, analogy is used to establish similarities and disparities between different events and phenomena that occur in different parts of the planet.

In this sense, the principle of analogy can be applied to compare the Caribbean Sea with the South China Sea, or the Amazon jungle with the Lacandon jungle.

As a result of this study process, we obtain general and specific characteristics of each one of the places, which allows us to better understand its peculiarities.