Final answer:
Devon's statement using 'like a hungry pig' is an example of his understanding of figurative language, specifically a simile.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nine-year-old Devon saying, "My brother eats like a hungry pig," demonstrates his understanding of figurative language. Specifically, Devon has used a simile, which is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way, usually with the words 'like' or 'as'. In Devon's statement, he compares his brother's eating habits to those of a 'hungry pig' to emphasize the voracious or untidy manner in which his brother eats. This type of language use is common as children's vocabularies grow and they become more adept at expressing themselves in varied and colorful ways.