Metonymy

Emre ÇETİNKAYAOrhan UĞUR

Cengiz KOLUKISA

Definition

• Metonymy is a figure of speech used in rhetoric 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

• The words "metonymy" and "metonym" come from the Greek: μετωνυμία, metōnymía, "a change of name“

• Metonymy also may be instructively contrasted with metaphor. Both figures involve the substitution of one term for another. In metaphor, this substitution is based on some specific similarity, whereas, in metonymy, the substitution is based on some understood association.

Polysemy

• The concept of metonymy also informs the nature of polysemy, i.e., how the same phonological form (word) has different semantic mappings (meanings). If the two meanings are unrelated, as in the word pen meaning both writing instrument and enclosure, they are considered homonyms.

• Within logical polysemies, a large class of mappings may be considered to be a case of metonymic transfer (e.g., chicken for the animal, as well as its meat; crown for the object, as well as the institution). Other cases wherein the meaning is polysemous, however, may turn out to be more metaphorical, e.g., eye as in the eye of the needle.

Some Examples

• Money just walked in.(A rich person has entered the room).

• The grilled cheese sandwich decided not to tip. (The person who was waited on did not tip their waitress).

• Green scarf over there looks shady.( The man sneaking around the store in the green scarf is looking shady).

The term White House actually refers to the authorities who work in the building called the White House. 

"Hollywood" is used as a metonym (an instance of metonymy) for American cinema, because of the fame and cultural identity of Hollywood, a district of Los Angeles, California as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars. 

Hollywood" is used as a metonym (an instance of metonymy) for American cinema, because of the fame and cultural identity of Hollywood, as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars. 

Literary Examples• Genesis 3:19“By the sweat of your

brow you will eat your food until you return to the

ground, since from it you were

taken; for dust you are and to dust you will

return.“

• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 :

"Friends, Romans,countrymen, lend me your ears." • Genesis 27:28“God will give you…anabundance of grain and

new wine “

Analysis In the Genesis 3:19 the use of metonymy is seen when the

word sweat is used in place of hard labor. The author uses this to show how Adam is working really hard in order to survive by obtaining food. By using sweat instead of hard labor the author creates a more vivid image.

In Julius Caesar the use of ear is used to grab the audience attention instead of just saying listen. The author is trying to show the reader that what is about to be said is important therefore he uses metonymy to grab the readers attention.

In the Genesis 27:28 the author uses metonymy when he says grain and new wine instead of wealth. The author uses this to show how Jacob will obtain wealth by using two common things that can be traded for great amount of wealth. The author is trying to show the reader how Jacob will acquire wealth by using wine and grain as symbols of wealth.

Sources

• Metonymy." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Unabridged. Random House, Inc. Web. 9 Oct. 2010.<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/metonymy>.

• "Genesis 3:19." BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 100 Versions and 50 Languages. Nick Hengeveld, 1993. Web. 8 Oct. 2010.<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A19&version=NIV>.

• Clipboard. Digital image. Clipart Guide. Acclaim Images, 9 Oct. 2010. Web. 2005. <www.clipartguide.com/_named_clipart_images>.

• Decision Making. Digital image. Warwickshire County Council. 8 Aug. 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. <www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/graphics>.