We use different expressions for making others aware of what we feel and what we would do. Younger people can talk with more simplicity, but adults, especially the teenaged ones prefer to draw their sentences with a twist. Bothering least about the most common expressions ( like: hey bro what's up? how are you doin'? you know that...whatever! etc.) we tend to increase our vocabulary and speak more intelligently and stylishly. With the advent of internet memes, sarcastic speeches (who can forget Heath Ledger's performance) and soliloquys, another figure of speech is as important as these, and this is "metonymy". A clear concept of metonymy is essential for mastering the English literature and presenting the humorous yet witty statements amidst a good conversation!
The words "metonymy" and "metonym" come from the Greek: μετωνυμία, metōnymía, "a change of name", from μετά, metá, "after, beyond" and -ωνυμία, -ōnymía, a suffix used to name figures of speech, from ὄνῠμα, ónyma or ὄνομα, ónoma, "name."
Metonymy is about the association between two concepts, without actually considering the similarity between those. According to Dirven, two examples using the term "fishing: clarify the distinction between a metaphor and a metonym. The phrase "to fish pearls" uses metonymy, drawing from "fishing" the idea of taking things from the ocean. What is carried across from "fishing fish" to "fishing pearls" is the domain of metonymy. In contrast, the metaphor "fishing for information" transfers the concept to a new domain.
Metonymy is slightly different from the concept of synecdoche, in fact the latter is a part of the previous. In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to the whole. Although, some people treat metonymy and synecdoche as two exclusive figures of speech which may or may not come to a sentence simultaneously. When the distinction is made, it is the following: when "A" is used to refer to "B", it is a synecdoche if A is a component of B or if B is a component of A, and a metonym if A is commonly associated with B but not part of its whole or a whole of its part.
As with other literary devices, one of the main purposes of using a metonymy is to add flavour to the speech and writing. Instead of just saying, "the staff at the post office" or naming all of the entities of a dinner each time you want to refer to the meal, one word plays the entire trick quite flawlessly!
Common examples of metonyms include:
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
"The White House will have an announcement on this Thursday."
"I went there at around six o' clock and drank a full glass!."
"Can you please lend me your hand to carry the luggage upstairs?"
"The library has fined the students who have made a delay in returning the books."
The words "metonymy" and "metonym" come from the Greek: μετωνυμία, metōnymía, "a change of name", from μετά, metá, "after, beyond" and -ωνυμία, -ōnymía, a suffix used to name figures of speech, from ὄνῠμα, ónyma or ὄνομα, ónoma, "name."
Metonymy is about the association between two concepts, without actually considering the similarity between those. According to Dirven, two examples using the term "fishing: clarify the distinction between a metaphor and a metonym. The phrase "to fish pearls" uses metonymy, drawing from "fishing" the idea of taking things from the ocean. What is carried across from "fishing fish" to "fishing pearls" is the domain of metonymy. In contrast, the metaphor "fishing for information" transfers the concept to a new domain.
Metonymy is slightly different from the concept of synecdoche, in fact the latter is a part of the previous. In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to the whole. Although, some people treat metonymy and synecdoche as two exclusive figures of speech which may or may not come to a sentence simultaneously. When the distinction is made, it is the following: when "A" is used to refer to "B", it is a synecdoche if A is a component of B or if B is a component of A, and a metonym if A is commonly associated with B but not part of its whole or a whole of its part.
As with other literary devices, one of the main purposes of using a metonymy is to add flavour to the speech and writing. Instead of just saying, "the staff at the post office" or naming all of the entities of a dinner each time you want to refer to the meal, one word plays the entire trick quite flawlessly!
Common examples of metonyms include:
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
"The White House will have an announcement on this Thursday."
"I went there at around six o' clock and drank a full glass!."
"Can you please lend me your hand to carry the luggage upstairs?"
"The library has fined the students who have made a delay in returning the books."
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