The verbal analogies are the relationships that can have two different words, either by affinity or approach in their meaning. These relationships are shown by means of a premise or matrix that gives rise to the analytical fact.

This matrix is ​​later compared with a compendium of options, where the answer that completes the reasoning is found. Verbal analogies touch all areas of human existence; there is not an aspect of man’s work that does not present affinity between the terms that concern him.

Analogies do not necessarily apply within the same field of knowledge, they can occur between antagonistic fields. It can be inferred that verbal analogies refer to the similarity between different things and how, through logic and analysis, the subjects obtain the conclusions that allow them to find those similarities.

For the realization of relationships by analogy, three basic topics are used: by synonymy (the common features between meanings), by antonymy (the opposite features between meanings), and by logical relationship (this corresponds to the use of the term, the role that plays in a given context).

Verbal analogies motivate the development of linguistic reasoning of the individuals who apply them, greatly expanding their communicative possibilities and allowing them to more easily conceptualize the phenomena that surround them and occur.

Structure

Matrix or premise

It contains the terms that give rise to everything, written in capital letters, from which the analyzes and correlations are formulated. The terms proposed here allow us to obtain a congruent answer through reason.

Options or alternatives

They are the words that are presented as a possibility of solution to the matrix. These words are preceded by letters of the alphabet —a, b, c and d, respectively. Words that are not the result are called “distractors.”

Characteristics

– They are mathematical-logical proportions, they relate the elements around antagonistic or similar qualities in their different dimensions.

– They are a multidisciplinary nexus, they can link any aspect of human endeavor.

– They allow to obtain solid conclusions of the relationship between elements of various kinds through logic.

– They are a tool to reinforce reasoning through observation and analysis.

Types and examples

There are three types of verbal analogies:

Continuous verbal analogies

In this type of analogy, a couple of words are presented that have some kind of direct relationship and a third one is waiting to be related. Then a list of terms is displayed that should be related to the third word in question.

The subsequent objective is to find that the link that is achieved between the third word and one of the options on the list, is the closest thing to that existing between the correspondence between the first two terms that were discussed at the beginning and that function as Referrer.

Example 1

Car  is to highway like bicycle  is to …

a- Supermarket.

b- Path.

c- House.

d- Restaurant.

The answer by logical relation of functionality is b, path. The car is used to travel the highways; the bicycle, to ride the trails.

Example 2

Heron  is to a lagoon  as a seagull  is to …

a- Forest.

b- Desert.

c- Mar.

d- Volcano.

By logical relation of functionality, the answer is c, mar. Herons hunt in the lagoons; the seagulls, in the sea.

Example 3

Aspa  is a fan  as a fan  is a …

by hand.

b- Engine.

c- Boat.

d- House.

The answer is the a, mano. The blade allows the fan to blow air; the fan at hand, too.

Alternate verbal analogies

These analogies present the same structure as the previous one; however, the relationships between the words are different.

In this case, the relationships occur between the first words of each pair of propositions and between the second, respectively. That is to say: “A” is to “B”, as “C” is to … Then the relationship is presented between “A” and “C”, and later between “B” and the solution.

Example 1

Apple  is to television  as pear  is to …

a- Goat.

b- Car.

c- Blue.

d- Computer monitor.

The answer is d, computer monitor. The apple and the pear are fruits; therefore, something had to be found that was related to television. In this case, the monitor is an electronic device that fulfills an almost identical function to that of the television.

Example 2

Hunting  is diving  as harassing  is …

a- Jogging.

b- Sue.

c- Dive.

d- Frize.

The answer is c, dive in. Hunting and harassing are synonymous, so a synonym for diving had to be found.

Example 3

Bad  is cold  as good  is …

a- Volcano.

b- Sulfur.

c- Heat.

d- Steam.

The answer is c, heat. Bad and good are antonyms; therefore, an antonym of the word cold had to be found to find the solution.

Incomplete verbal analogies

These analogies lack two words: the first word of the first pair (instead of “A” is a “B”, we have “…” is a “B”) and the second word of the second pair (as usual in the analogy continuous and alternate).

In a vast majority of cases, these types of analogies are continuous, and must necessarily be perfect to be fulfilled.

Example 1

… is to sound  as silence  is to …

a- Music-void.

b- Horse-rider.

c- Voice-mute.

d- Walk-stand.

The answer is c. It was necessary to look for that which generates sound and at the same time resembles silence.

Example 2

…   is a juice  as a glass is a …

a- Glass-wine.

b- Cup-tea.

c- Soup-plate.

d- Shut-tequila.

The answer is a. The perfect match had to be found that would make it possible to relate the terms and their uses: for juice, a glass; for the glass, wine.

Example 3

… is to notes  as book is to …

a- Pentagram-letters.

b- Orchestration-verses.

c- Score-words.

d- Rhythm-titles.

The answer is c. The coincidence had to be found that would make it possible to relate the global with the specific. In this case, the sheet music contains notes and the books contain lyrics.

Importance

Verbal analogies have allowed man great advances in the different sciences thanks to the correlations that this resource allows to make between the different aspects that make up a reality.

Apart from correlations by synonymy, antonymy and logic, cultural parameters can also be presented as points of comparison to relate terms; For the most part, these respond to concrete aspects of isolated realities.

As its etymology indicates (from the Greek ana : “conforming”; and logy : “reason”), it has allowed man to understand the environment and how the parts that make it up are related through reason, helping the growth of the same for the benefit of the species.

Verbal analogies, andragogically and pedagogically, represent a necessary resource in the intellectual development of the present and future generations.