I. Brainstorming

We have learned a lot about metaphors. Do you know what metonymy is?

II. Metonymy

1. Definition

Metonymy is a conceptual operation in which one entity, the vehicle, can be employed in order to identify another entity, the target, with it is associated.

2. Types of metonymy

1) WHOLE via PART; PART via WHOLE:

I noticed several new faces tonight.

2) REPRESENTING ENTITY via REPRESENTED ENTITY:

England won the world cup in 1996.

3) POSSESSED ENTITY via POSSESSOR:

Where are you parked?

4) CONTAINED ENTITY via CONTAINER:

The kettle’s boiling.

5) WOOD via TREE:

It’s made of solid oak.

6) INSTITUTION via PLACE:

The white house denies the allegations.

7) PRODUCT via PRODUCER:

Pass me the Shakepeare on the top shelf.

3. Relation between metaphor and metonymy

1) Metaphor is based on resemblance, whereas metonymy is based on contiguity. Metaphor is the conceptual relation “X is understood by Y”; metonymy is conceptual relation “X stands for Y”.

2) A further distinction between metonymy and metaphor is that while metaphor involves cross-domain mappings, metonymy involves a mapping within a single domain or domain matrix.

3) The mental strategies in their respective prototypical instantiations are different.