Here's a breakdown:
* Focus on the words: A literal understanding focuses solely on the dictionary definition of the words used.
* No figurative language: It ignores any metaphors, similes, idioms, or other figures of speech.
* No context considered: It disregards any surrounding information that might influence the meaning, such as the speaker's intention or the situation.
Examples:
* Figurative: "He's a real pig." (Literal understanding: He's an actual pig) (Figurative understanding: He's messy or rude)
* Context: "It's raining cats and dogs." (Literal understanding: Cats and dogs are falling from the sky) (Contextual understanding: It's raining very heavily)
* Implied meaning: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." (Literal understanding: The speaker wants to consume a horse) (Implied meaning: The speaker is very hungry)
In contrast to literal understanding:
* Figurative understanding: Recognizing and interpreting figures of speech.
* Contextual understanding: Considering the surrounding information to understand the intended meaning.
* Critical thinking: Analyzing the text or statement and considering the author's intent, biases, and arguments.
In summary: Literal understanding is a basic level of comprehension that focuses only on the exact words used, ignoring any potential hidden meanings or context. It's a good starting point for understanding, but often not sufficient to fully grasp the intended message.