Slide semantic meeting 4

Semantics 1
Meeting 4


5 minutes to review
Figures of Speech- Simile & Metaphor
Fill in the blanks with ‘Simile’ or ‘ Metaphor’
- The use of a word or phrase to - The use of comparison of one
indicate something different
thing with another is. . simile
........
metaphor
from the literal meaning
is . . . . . . . . . .
- Implicit comparison is used in . - Explicit comparison is used in .
simile
. metaphor
......
.......
- No function words are used in .
- Function words are used in . simile
..
. .metaphor
.....
- There was a storm in his family last
night. metaphor

- Her life is as beautiful as a
dream. simile

Section 2: Word Meaning
Fill in the blanks with missing letters.
1. C H

I

L D H O O D

This word refers to the time when you were young.

2. W O R L D
This word refers to a lot of countries.
In English, can we use the following sentences?
‘The childhood of Mary was so good.’
‘The childhood of the world was so good.’


Section 2: Word Meaning
2.8 Figures of speech (cont.)
2.8.1 Personification

2.8.2. Metonymy


Section 2: Word Meaning
2.8.1 Personification
Ex1.:

cruel

heat

the deceitfulness of

riches

the childhood of

the world

human’s characteristic + abstract notion = personification
inanimate thing
Personification is a special kind of metaphor in which some human
characteristic is attributed to an inanimate object
or abstract notion.
is a lifeless thing or quality is stated as if it
were living.
Can we use ‘The childhood of the world was so good.’?


Section 2: Word Meaning
2.8.3. Metonymy
Ex2:He drank the cup.
= the coffee, the tea, the chocolate, etc. in the cup
Ex3: He is the best pen of the day.
= the best writer

What does “the cup” substitute for?  the coffee, the tea, the chocolate, et
What does “the best pen” substitute for?  the best writer
Metonymy

What is Metonymy?

 The substitution of the name of one thing for that
of another to which it is related/with which it is
associated is metonymy.


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(a) A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or
symbolizes
Ex4: Can you protect your children from the cradle to the grave?
signs
childhood death

Ex5: The new proposal might affect the cloth in some way.
the clergy


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(b) An instrument substitutes for an agent
Ex6: Who brought fire and sword into our country?
a destructive war
instruments
Ex7: He is the best pen of the day.
the best writer


Section 2: Word Meaning

* How to recognize a metonymy?
(c) A container substitutes for the thing contained.
Ex8: The kettle is boiling.
The water in the kettle

containers

Ex9: Why don’t you recognize the power of the purse?
the money kept in the purse


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(d) The concrete, like an organ of the human body
substitutes for the abstract such as love, hatred, sincerity,
mental ability, a natural talent, etc.
Ex10: She has an ear for music.
possesses a remarkable talent for
learning, imitating, appreciating, etc. music
organs of the human body
Ex11: She has a good head of business.
She is gifted in/is clever at dealing with business


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(e) The abstract substitutes for the concrete.
Ex12: His Majesty died a year ago.
The king

abstract

Ex13: The authorities put an end to the riot.
The group of people who have the power to give orders or take action.


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(f) The material substitutes for the thing made.
Ex14: The marble speaks.
The marble statue
Ex15: He was buried under this stone.
the tombstone.

material


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to recognize a metonymy?
(g) An author/ a producer/ a place where goods are made
substitutes for his work(s) / its product(s)
author
Ex16: I have never read Nguyen Du.
Nguyen Du’s poems
Ex17: I love old china.
crockery made in China

producer

Work in pairs (5’)
Which statement below is related to Personification (1) & Metonymy(2)

1/ Research says that these methods are best.

(1)

2/ The concrete, like an organ of the human body substitutes for
the abstract such as love, hatred, sincerity, mental ability, a
natural talent, etc.

(2)

3/ A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or
symbolizes

(2)

4/ It is a special kind of metaphor in which some human

(1)

characteristic is attributed to an inanimate object or abstract
notion.
5/ Some people feel bored with the deceitfulness of riches.

(1)


Exercise 8-P.48, item 5,6,10,14

Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what kind of figures
of speech used in each of them
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
14. The river ate the bank away.


Exercise 8-P.48, item 5,6
Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what kind of figures
of speech used in each of them
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.

 personification

 The wind howled angrily = the wind blew strongly
 The wind [ - animate, -human]  howled angrily [ +animate, +human]

6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.  metonymy
 When the US president called, the ambassador went at once.
 The White House [+sign] = the US president [ + person]


Exercise 8-P.48, item 10,14
Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what kind of figures
of speech used in each of them
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
 metonymy
If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City’s Mayor.
 The City Hall [+sign] = City’s Mayor[ + person]

14. The river ate the bank away.
 ate the bank away = gradually destroyed the bank

 personification

 The river [- animate, - human]  ate away[ + animate, + human]


With key words below, when do we have a metonymy
and a personification?
Metonymy
sign
person, object
organ

the abstract

instrument

the abstract

the concrete

agent

the material

an author /a producer

container

the thing made

work, produce

the thing containe

Personification

Human’s characteristic/ abstract notion


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to distinguish between metaphor and metonymy?
Ex18: The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises
The organization is keeping the brake on a certain vehicle in order to
reduce its speed.
The core meaning

The organization is controlling the increase in the sums of money
paid for its current activities.
The metaphoric meaning
“keeping the brake”
= “controlling the increase”

associated similarity?
mean controlling s.th?

 Two implicitly compared things that are associated similar

each other are used in metaphor.


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to distinguish between metaphor and metonymy?
Ex19: No man is an island. Every man is a piece of the continent.
[ + concrete] island
continent

isolation
[ + abstract]
community

 No one can isolate himself from the community he has been living in
man = island

associatedly similar?

Every man = a piece of the continent
 Two implicitly compared things that are not associated similar
each other are used in metonymy.


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to distinguish between metaphor and metonymy?
NOTES:
- Metaphor is based on the associated similarity shared by the two
things being implicitly compared while metonymy does not depend
on such similarity.

Section 2: Word Meaning
2.8.4 Synecdoche
a part or an aspect of a person
Ex.20: Gray hairs should be respected.
= the whole person/object
Old and elderly people

Ex.21: This is a village of only more than one hundred souls.
people
Synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy in which “ a part
or aspect of a person, object, etc. is meant to refer to the
whole person, object, etc.”


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to distinguish between metonymy and synecdoche?
Ex22: The princess captures
the hearts of the nation.

Ex23: He has a kind heart.

 All the people of that

 A kind-hearted person who is

country love the princess.

concerned for others around him.

the hearts [ + organ of the human body]
a heart [ + organ of the human body
[ + concrete]
[ + concrete, + part ]
+ stand for
+ stand for
the love

[ + emotional experience]
[ + abstract]

 The hearts = metonymy

a person

[ + human]
[ + concrete, + whole]

 a kind heart = synecdoche


Section 2: Word Meaning
* How to distinguish between metonymy and synecdoche?
Ex24: spare the rod and spoil the child.
 If you do not punish a child when he

Ex25: All hands on deck did help
 All the people on one of the

does wrong, you spoil his character.

floors of the ship worked hard to

The rod
+ stand for

[ + thing]
[ + concrete]

accomplish a certain task.
hands[ + organ of the human body]
[ + concrete, + part ]

+ stand for
The punishment [ + human activity, intention]
[ + abstract]
people [ + human]
[ + concrete, + whole]
 The rod = metonymy

 hands = synecdoche


Work in pairs (5’)
Which statement below is related to Metaphor (1), Metonymy(2) & Synedoche(3)
1/ Two implicitly compared things that are associated similar

(1)

each other are used in ……...

2/ A part or aspect of a person, object, etc. is meant to refer

(3)

to the whole person, object, etc.
3/ The concrete stands for the abstract

(2)

4/ The concrete stands for the concrete.

(3)

5/ Two implicitly compared things that are not associated similar
each other are used in ……..

(2)