6. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is the simplest kind of metonymic relations which can be called quantitative. It is when a part stands for the whole, or the whole stands for a part.

Synecdoche “Red Hood”, “Hands wanted”, “I am reading books.” These wheels will drive you at your pleasure.

7. Antonomasia

Antonomasia is the use of a proper name for a common noun or vice versa. The examples of metonymic antonomasia are:

1) using the name of a famous personality for his characteristic feature;

2) using a geographical name where some event took place for the very event;

3) using the name of some establishment to denote its policy;

4) using geographical names for things that originated from there;

5) naming things for their inventors.

Metonymic antonomasia famous personality : He is the Napoleon of crime. event : He met his Waterloo. establishment : the White House. geographical name : china, champaign. inventors : Amper, Volt, Makintosh.

The examples of metaphoric antonomasia are:

1) using a proper noun for a common one. The proper name in this case expresses the most striking feature in the personage’s character;

2) using a common noun as a proper name. The proper name serves the man’s main characteristic.

Metaphoric antonomasia A proper name for a common noun : “Don Juan” for an amorous man; “Othello” for a jealous man. A common noun for a proper name : Bekky Sharp, Коробочка.

The appeal to imagination in metonymy is much weaker than in metaphor. Nevertheless, it is a powerful means of poetic expression because of its conciseness with which the metonymy can pick out one particular aspect of a complex things or idea making it easier to understand.

8. Periphrasis

Periphrasis, or circumlocution, is a device which both names and describes. The name of a person or thing is substituted by a descriptive phrase. This is the way of speaking around a topic, and not stating it directly. Periphrasis may be trite or original.

Periphrasis trite: man-in-the street, organs of vision original: The little boy was deprived of what can never be replaced (Charles Dickens).

Periphrasis may be logical or figurative. Logical periphrasis is based on some inherent or prominent feature of the described object. Figurative periphrasis is based either on metaphor or on metonymy.

Periphrasis logical: weak sex – strong sex, guardian of the public order. figurative: root of all evil, young blood, head-hunters.

9. Euphemism

Euphemism is a variety of periphrasis. It is a word or phrase, which substitutes an idea or a thing which the author does not want to name directly, or which he finds unpleasant. A euphemism calls in the reader’s (listener’s) mind the word it stands for.

Euphemism to die – to go to the forefathers; to pass away; to join the majority; to kick the bucket; to depart this life drunk – fresh; high; merry; three sheets to the wind; high as a kite

Nowadays in English we may distinguish between the following groups of euphemisms:

1) traditional, i.e. religious or moral euphemisms which have been long in usage, and become clichés;

2) political, parliamentary and medical euphemisms;

3) individual euphemisms.

traditional: ‘God’ – Heaven, Jove, Goodness, Lot; ‘Devil’ – Old Nick, Deuce, the Prince of Darkness; political: ‘capitalism’ – free enterprise; ‘the poor’ – less fortunate people; ‘hunger’ – undernourishment; individual: ‘What did I tell you! He’s round the twist! He’s got rats in the bottle!’ (R. Dahl)