The use of analogy in giving instructions

In everyday experience people frequently encounter situations in which they must give instructions to others. Often, this requires describing some nov el object or situation to the other, a task that may be facilitated by the use of analogies. In this study, subject pairs work together to build simpl e models, with one party giving directions to the other person, who builds the actual models. Analogies prove useful in completing this task by helpin g to make novel information easier to comprehend, and by doing so more econ omically than literal descriptions. Analogies were used frequently by both those subjects who were giving the directions (as descriptions) and those w ho were receiving direction (as questions). The use of analogies in this si tuation provides some understanding of the role figurative language plays i n the process of collaboration, whereby participants in a conversation work together to establish mutual understanding.