Meaning of literal meaning (what is it, concept and definition)

What is the literal sense:

As a literal meaning we call that which a word or expression has in itself, which conforms to its original meaning, to that which is assigned by convention.

The literal meaning does not vary depending on the context, intention or situation, therefore, it does not give rise to second interpretations or double meanings. In this sense, it is opposed to the figurative sense. For example: "Luis saw the stars with Marta", that is, both looked at the sky.

Language in the literal sense is more typical of discourses or texts that seek to communicate ideas, information or messages in a direct, clear, concise manner, such as, for example, scientific or informative texts.

As such, when we use language in a literal sense we are doing so with a denotative character, that is, we use the words as a reference to indicate something that means exactly what the word refers to, without double meanings, ironies or metaphors.

See also:

• Literal meaning

Literal sense and figurative sense

The literal sense is the opposite of the figurative sense. The figurative meaning is one that can be attributed to a word or expression by virtue of the situation, context or intention with which it is used. For example: "His heart was coming out of his mouth with emotion." The figurative sense is more typical of literature, poetry or humor, that is, forms of expression that are enriched by ambiguity.

Instead, the literal meaning is that which a word or expression has in itself, which is limited to its original meaning, which is not subject to interpretations, contexts or intentions. For example: "The subject entered the room and stood at a table by the door." The literal sense is common in texts of an informative or scientific nature.