Developing more sophisticated language

As the young person develops through adolescence, they will typically use language more analytically to understand and reflect on complex issues, for example, using figurative language, the young person will compare a situation with another concept to make it easier to understand. An ability to manipulate language can result in very complicated stories.

Idioms such as, ’put your money where your mouth is’, ‘bite off more than you can chew’ or ‘costs an arm and a leg’ are phrases or fixed expressions that offer advice using figurative meanings.

A more complex understanding of language leads to the development of more complex humour. Irony and satire begin to feature. Satire is a way of using humour to point out issues or problems usually within society. Irony describes the difference between what is expected and what really happens, for example, on a dark rainy day in January, when someone says, "What a lovely day to sunbathe".

The young person can make a joke about a serious situation, for example, a natural disaster. This shouldn’t be seen as a judgement on the issue, just that the young person possibly finds the subject difficult to understand and to deal with. The ability to recognise sarcasm is dependent on the young person being able to understand another person’s point of view.