Communication

This subject is a fairly common theme in my own thinking and around my home in general. Personally, I deliberately try to limit my communication to the use of literals and not slang or figures of speech. I believe that if one pays attention to the way words are used, and in what context, they will notice that the more professional and academic the communication is, the less slang and figures of speech will be present.
For me, and apparently this is unusual, I find figures of speech or slang to be far more open to misinterpretation and misunderstanding than literal speak. Mainly, I believe, due to the subjectivity and inherent ambiguity of it. It almost seems by definition that slang or figures of speech are artistic and subjective. In the same way that a piece of music or a painting can be excellent or poor, based solely on preference, so too can speech be broadly interpreted i.e., understood in a variety of ways and vaguely articulated.
But really, is that the goal of speech? Or does communication, by definition, aim for the transference of meaning with a specific goal in mind?