Metaphor as Instrument of Socialization of Primary School Age Children

Abstract

The article represents psychological and scientific analysis of metaphor. The basic components of understanding the metaphor by junior pupils have been defined. Understanding and identification of metaphor by children have been considered in the context of correlation of activity
and its interpretation. The statement has been grounded that diagnostics of metaphor identification by children must include not only execution correctness control of some action, but also grounding correctness control and comprehension of this action. Presented experimental studies of understanding and identification metaphors by children that use only correctness criterion of activity execution have been analyzed.
Represented experimental data of scientists demonstrate, that in contrast to the understanding, the identification of metaphor is very difficult. These data are consistent with the known fact of the later comprehension and formation of language and speech reality in children compared with the reality of external world objects and actions with them. As a result, metaphor does not harmonize with many parameters of both practical and scientific discourse. However it is used in daily life and in science. Metaphor is consistent with expressive and emotional function of practical speech. However more important is its second source: metaphor corresponds human ability to capture and create similarity between very different individuals and classes of objects.
Among means of personality socialization, deep scientific studies require those, that can be purposefully improved in order of effectiv use in educational process in comprehensive school, starting from the first classes. Primary school age children have specific difficulties of socialization, facing the problem of adaptation to the new
social role, new status, that is serious ordeal of their mental and physical capabilities.

Keywords: metaphor, imagination, development, identification, creativity, socialization.