The Meaning of Lugas Words is the Real Meaning, Know the Difference with Figurative Words

Kapanlagi.com - Indonesian language has become the language used in daily communication. However, in fact, there are still few people who master the theories in the Indonesian language. Yet, there are many interesting things that can be learned from the language that unites the Indonesian nation. The meaning of lugas words is one of them.

In the Indonesian language, there are many types or classes of words, such as nouns, adjectives, verbs, and so on. Besides the type or class of words, words in the Indonesian language can also be divided according to the meaning contained in the word. Therefore, we then recognize the existence of the meaning of words in a straightforward manner and the meaning of words figuratively.

Studying the meaning of lugas words will be very useful in daily life. One of the benefits of learning lugas words is that it makes it easier for us to understand the meaning or intent of a text or conversation. Therefore, summarized from various sources, here is a brief description of what lugas words are.

1. Definition of the Word 'Lugas'

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According to the Great Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), the meaning of the word 'lugas' is about the essentials only, straightforward, and not convoluted. Based on this meaning, it can be concluded that the meaning of the word 'lugas' is the actual meaning of the word, conveyed directly or explicitly and not implicitly.

Quoted from dosenbahasa.com, the word 'lugas' is divided into two types, namely 'lugas' in general or in a broad sense and 'lugas' in a specific or narrow sense.
'Lugas' in general includes words that have the actual meaning but are still general or not detailed. Meanwhile, 'lugas' in a specific sense is a word that has the actual meaning, but in a more specific sense.

1) Examples of 'lugas' in a general or broad sense:

- Mother visited aunt's house bringing a cake.

Explanation: in the above sentence, food is one example of 'lugas' in a general sense. Food has a broad meaning, it can mean various types of food such as cakes, main dishes, fruits, and so on.

2) Examples of 'lugas' in a specific or narrow sense:

- Mother visited aunt's house bringing cookies.

Explanation: in the above sentence, cookies are one example of 'lugas' in a specific or narrow sense. Because cookies directly refer to a specific type of food, which is a cake with a dry texture.

2. Difference Between Literal and Figurative Words

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As mentioned earlier, the opposite of the literal meaning of a word is the figurative meaning. So, what is the difference between the two? In linguistics, the literal meaning of a word is also known as denotation. On the other hand, the figurative meaning of a word is also known as connotation.

If the literal meaning of a word indicates its actual meaning, then conversely, the connotative or figurative meaning indicates a meaning that is not literal. Sometimes, people find it difficult to distinguish between words with literal or figurative meanings. Therefore, to interpret figurative words, we need to understand the intention and context of the written or spoken sentence.

To better understand the difference between the two, let's look at the following two examples:

1) Andi is Pak Samsul's right-hand man.

2) Bayu sprained his right hand due to a fall yesterday.

In the sentences (1) and (2) above, the phrase "right hand" is found. The difference is that in sentence (1), the phrase "right hand" has a figurative meaning, which means a trusted person. Therefore, the meaning of the first sentence is the same as "Andi is Pak Samsul's trusted person." Meanwhile, in sentence (2), the phrase "right hand" has a literal or actual meaning, which means Bayu's right hand.

3. Examples of Literal Words in Sentences

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In everyday conversations, the meaning of literal words is more commonly used compared to figurative words. Meanwhile, the meaning of figurative words is more often used in literary works such as poetry or prose. However, it is not impossible for someone to use a word purely as a figure of speech. Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish the meaning of literal and figurative words.

To understand it better, consider some examples of sentences that contain literal words commonly used as figurative words below.

1) Adi really likes eating chicken liver.

(eating chicken liver: often used as a figure of speech meaning frustration)

2) Crocodile is a reptile.

(crocodile: often used as a figure of speech meaning a man who likes to play with women)

3) Orangutan's arms are longer than its legs.

(long arms: often used as a figure of speech meaning someone who likes to steal)

4) Beni hangs his shoes on a tree.

(hanging shoes: often used as a figure of speech meaning someone's retirement from being a soccer player)

5) The smell of lesser galangal is certainly different from the smell of ginger.

(smell of lesser galangal: often used as a figure of speech meaning children or someone who is inexperienced)

Those are some brief explanations about the meaning of literal words, which are the true meaning of a word. Hopefully, it is beneficial and can broaden your knowledge!

(kpl/gen/psp)