What Did You Say? What Do You Mean?: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Metaphors

Children with autism or Asperger Syndrome (AS) have difficulty understanding figurative language because they use and comprehend language literally and expect words to mean exactly what they say. This can often lead to misunderstandings at home and in the classroom.

Jude Welton looks at a hundred of the most common figures of speech in this visual workbook designed as a springboard for family and classroom discussions. Each figure of speech is accompanied by an illustration showing its literal meaning, which will help AS children recognise and learn to enjoy metaphors and figurative language. The book can be used by parents one-to-one with their ASD child. Teachers can also use the book as the basis for classroom work on figurative language.

Table of Contents

Foreword Elizabeth Newson.

About this book.

Metaphors.

Appendix 1: For parents and teachers: a guide to helping children with Asperger Syndrome to understand what we mean.

Appendix 2: Ideas for using this book.