While metonymy replaces a concept or object entirely with a related term, synecdoche takes an element of the object and uses it to refer to the whole, and metaphor uses unlike things to draw an interesting comparison. The same metonymic principles that relate different senses of a word serve to create and retrieve novel meanings in actual language use. For example, in their introductory textbook to grammaticalization theory, hopper and traugott 1993 dedicate a. Metonymy is a figure of speech that uses a phrase that is indicative of, and associated to, an actual concept.
There are many figures of speech in the english language, one of them being metonymy. This phrase uses metonymy pronounced mi ton uh mee, which is a figure of speech that replaces words with related or associated words. Includes a bit on the etymology of metonymy spoiler. For example, the british monarchy is often referred to as the crown. Metonymy is using a word to denote something nearby. Often the substitution is based on a material, causal, or conceptual relation between things. Definition of metonymy noun in oxford advanced learners dictionary. The study of metonymy from the cognitive view is a great help for people to understand the cognitive and conceptual nature of metonymy, and it will shed new light on the english vocabulary teaching. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which something is called by a new name that is related in meaning. The metonymy generally involves a specific example e. Choose from 16 different sets of metonymy examples flashcards on quizlet. Whether it be brand names like kleenex and bandaids that have come to stand for all the products in a category. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept. Metonymy definition, a figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related, or of which it is a part, as scepter for sovereignty, or the bottle for strong drink, or count heads or noses for count people.
Definition and examples for teachers 9th 12th standards. In metaphor, this substitution is based on some specific analogy between two. Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. The times hasnt arrived at the press conference yet. Having explained this basic function, lets move on to understanding what metonymy and metaphors are, and the difference between the two. The role of conceptual metonymy in meaning construction1 klausuwe panther linda l. Metonymy is when something is used to represent something related to it. Metonymy is, broadly defined, a trope from the greek to change in which one word or meaning is used to stand for another associated word or meaning. Metaphor forms part of our way of thinking, of understanding the world. Lets talk about synecdoche and metonymy, two very particular types of metaphorical expression in which one word is representative for another word or concept.
What is the difference between metonymy and synecdoche. Metonymy definition is a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated such as crown in lands belonging to the crown. Metonymy is an important means for people to know the world and enrich the language. Examples of metonymy to help you understand this figure of speech. Sep 06, 2017 metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept. Youll find examples of metonymy used frequently in both literature and everyday speech. So, for example, when youre talking about the power of a king, you might say the crown, instead. When people refer to their car as their wheels thats a synecdoche. Metonymy is when you substitute an attribute or something closely related to a thing for the name of the thing. Metonymy meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Metonymy definition of metonymy by the free dictionary.
History reading history by a wellknown figure of speech, called metonymy, we use a word denoting the means by which we accomplish anything to denote the end accomplished. Examples of metonymy to help you understand this figure of. Pdf metonymy, grammar, and communication researchgate. This paper illustrates firstly the cognitive nature of metonymy in terms of its definition, classification and contiguity notion. Pdf understanding what is a metaphor, a metonymy and a. At times, it lexicalizes that is, it becomes very common, and we are not aware that we are using a metaphor. Poetics today, 1984 metonymy and metaphor also have fundamentally different functions. As weve seen above, metonymy is used to provide meaning and connections to concepts. We can come across examples of metonymy both from literature and in everyday life. In the saying the pen is mightier than the sword, the pen is an example of metonymy that stands in for what big idea. The wikipedia page on metonymy has more examples of metonymy, a discussion of metonymy in ancient rhetoric, and an introduction to the importance of metonymy in 20th century critical theory. More abstractly, though, metonymy is an example of the kind of associative thinking that allows literature to capture and express the complicated and nonliteral experience of life.
For example, the sentence he is a tiger in class is a metaphor. Metonymy examples and definition of metonymy literary devices examples of metonymy in everyday life. Sometimes metonymy is chosen because its a wellknown characteristic of the concept. Metonymy definition and meaning collins english dictionary. A less common form of synecdoche occurs when a whole is used to refer to a part.
Another noted example is the change of orange from the name of a fruit to the color of that fruit. Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is used to represent the whole or vice versa. A steering wheel would be a good metonym for driving, a violin a good metonym for a classical orchestra, bread a good metonym for a bakers shop, a file folder a good metonym for organizing documents in a computer. Difference between metonymy and synecdoche definition. Metonymy is the replacement of words with related or associated words.
Examples of metaphor and metonymy were therefore seen as linguistic. Jul 11, 2018 metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept. Its just a type of metaphor in which an object is used to describe something thats closely related to it. Metonymy is the use of a linked term to stand in for an object or concept. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of something is used to refer to its whole.
The part that is chosen to be a metonym of its whole is not arbitrary. The number shown in parentheses at the end of outline heading lines indicates how many examples of that category occur in the list of references. A metonym is typically a part of a larger whole, for example, when we say wheels, we are figuratively referring to a car and not literally only the wheels. Both metonymy and metaphor involve the substitution of one term for another. Metaphor and metonymy are similar in various aspects but the major difference is that if a metaphor substitutes a concept with another, a metonymy selects a related term. The word synecdoche might sound intimidating and archaic, but chances are youre probably already using synecdoche in your writing and everyday speech. You might use it yourself without even realizing it. In contrast, a metaphor is about understanding and interpretation. One can find metonymy examples in literary works like poetry, prose, drama, etc.
A concise definition of metonymy along with usage tips, an expanded. So, wheels are the associated part that represent the whole car. Metonymy examples and definition of metonymy literary devices. Im mighty glad georgia waited till after christmas before it seceded or it would have ruined the christmas parties. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which something is introduced by a new name that is related to the original thing or concept. Such a part must be in some sense outstanding, easily recognizable, and play a unique role in the whole. We base on previous models to produce communicative units, and a. Choose from 180 different sets of metonymy flashcards on quizlet. Metonymy definition metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. An oftcited example of metonymy is the noun tongue, which designates not only a human organ but also a human capacity in which the organ plays a conspicuous part. The first recorded definition of metonymy, however, is anonymous and was included in a treatise on rhetorics entitled rhetorica ad herenium.
White house president source a typical examples of metonymy would be bottle in i drank the whole bottle, where the container bottle stands for its contents the liquid in the bottle a container and its contents being contiguous or closely associated. The literary term of metonymy is covered in this multiple choice quiz. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. Jan 14, 2020 metaphor is a figure of speech based on similarity, whereas metonymy is based on contiguity. Learn metonymy examples with free interactive flashcards.
In metaphor you substitute something like the thing you mean for the thing itself, whereas in metonymy you substitute some attribute or cause or effect of the thing for the thing itself. For example, the captain commands one hundred sails is a synecdoche that uses sails to refer to shipsships being the thing of which a sail is a part. Polysemy, multiple meanings of a single word or phrase, sometimes result from relations of metonymy. The role of conceptual metonymy in meaning construction. Pen refers to written words, and sword to military force. Read on to discover some exciting new examples of metonymy. Metonymy and related figures of speech are common in every day talk and writing. Synecdoche is an incredibly useful tool to employ in your prose to help emphasize important themes for. Ask your class to lend their ears, and eyes, to a short video that defines and offers examples of synecdoche and metonymy. In the oftquoted phrase, the pen refers to the the written word, which, according to the statement, is a more effective and powerful instrument of change than the sword, which represents military or physical force. From margaret mitchells gone with the wind georgia refers to the government, people of georgia. A method for discriminating metonymy and metaphor by.
Blanks definition seems clearer, which considers metonymy as a linguistic. Pdf in the traditional view, metonymy is a matter of words language. A famous example is, the pen is mightier than the sword, from edward bulwer. So, if metaphor is for substitution, metonymy is for association. The expression less is more, for example, has meaning, and is not. The actual term is substituted by a word or a phrase that refers to the concept that. The propositional form of these examples can be developed in order to produce. Metonymy, from greek metonymia, change of name, or misnomer, figure of speech in which the name of an object or concept is replaced with a word closely related to or suggested by the original, as crown to mean king the power of the crown was mortally weakened or an author for his. For more information, students can take a look at the related lesson titled synecdoche vs. Metonymy in the greek text which is not carried over literally by the rsv or kjv translators is not included, either in the following examples or in the list of figures that begins on page 21. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which its closely associated such as crown for. Metonymy a figure of speech in which a related term is substituted for the word itself.
Read on to know what is metonymy and about examples of metonymy. Definition of metonymy from our glossary of english linguistic and grammatical terms containing explanations and crossreferences to other relevant english grammar terms. This article will show you the importance of metonymy and how to use it in a sentence. Listen to the audio pronunciation in the cambridge english dictionary. Synecdoche is a figure of speech referring to when a part of something is used to refer to the whole, such as in the phrase all hands on deck, where hands are people.
879 115 816 663 992 1294 501 1098 1357 1306 347 1230 935 487 1382 1478 1487 1148 330 1140 721 498 630 702 781 209 1233 158 462 1126 1423 505 309