Critical thinking and language

Kirby and Goodpaster described metaphor as "an implied comparison between two things." (Kirby & Goodpaster, 1999, p.82) At its most basic, metaphor is a rhetorical trope or a figure of speech, where a comparison is made between two seemingly unrelated objects without using "like" or "as". There are several ways for a person to describe their life and the best way is by using a metaphor. Anything can be used for a comparison, from trees …

…and analyze or question that language can help us. It can also damage another human being, especially with the right words. You can break a person's spirit by using the wrong words or in the wrong context. Having a common language gives us the opportunity to express ourselves and get a message across to whomever we wish to speak to or question. Language is an integral part when it comes to our critical thinking abilities.