Metonymy and
Synecdoche
Metonymy
#. Metonymy Definition
It
is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of
something else with which it is closely associated. We can come across examples
of metonymy in everyday life.
#. Function of Metonymy
Generally,
metonymy is used in developing literary symbolism i.e. it gives more profound meanings
to otherwise common ideas and objects. By using metonymy, texts exhibit deeper
or hidden meanings and thus drawing readers’ attention. In addition, the
use of metonymy helps achieve conciseness. For instance, “Rifles were guarding
the gate” is more concise than “The guards with rifles in their hands were
guarding the gate.”
Furthermore,
metonymy, like other literary devices, is
employed to add a poetic color to words to make them come to life. The simple
ordinary things are described in a creative way to insert this “life” factor to
the literary works.
#. Examples
of Metonymy in Everyday Life
We
use metonymy frequently in our everyday life. For a better understanding, let
us observe a few metonymy examples:
- England decides to keep check on
immigration. (England refers to the government.)
- The pen is mightier than the sword.
(Pen refers to written words and sword to military force.)
- The Oval Office was busy in work.
(“The Oval Office” is a metonymy as it stands for people at work in the
office.)
- Let me give you a hand. (Hand means
help.)
Synecdoche
#. Synecdoche Definition
Synecdoche
is a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent
a part.
Synecdoche may also
use larger groups to refer to smaller groups or vice versa. It may also call a
thing by the name of the material it is made of or it may refer to a thing in a
container or packing by the name of that container or packing.
#. Synecdoche Examples from Everyday Life
It
is very common to refer to a thing by the name of its parts. Let us look at
some of the examples of synecdoche that we can hear from casual conversations:
- The word “bread” refers to food or
money as in “Writing is my bread and butter” or “sole breadwinner”.
- The phrase “gray beard” refers to
an old man.
- The word “sails” refers to a whole
ship.
- The word “suits” refers to
businessmen.
- The word “boots” usually refers to
soldiers.
#. Function of Synecdoche
By using synecdoche, the writers
give otherwise common ideas and objects deeper meanings and thus draw readers’
attention.
Furthermore,
the use of synecdoche helps writers to achieve brevity. For instance, saying
“Soldiers were equipped with steel” is more concise than saying “The soldiers
were equipped with swords, knives, daggers, arrows etc.”
synecdoche when used appropriately adds a distinct color to
words making them appear vivid. To insert this “life” factor to literary works,
writers describe simple ordinary things creatively with the aid of this
literary device.
Difference
between Synecdoche and Metonymy
Synecdoche
examples are often misidentified as metonymy (another literary device). Both may
resemble each other to some extent but they are not the same. Synecdoche refers
to the whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. For example,
calling a car “wheels” is a synecdoche because a part of a car “wheels” stands
for the whole car. However, in metonymy, the word we use to describe another
thing is closely linked to that particular thing, but is not necessarily a part
of it. For example, “crown” that refers to power or authority is a metonymy
used to replace the word “king” or “queen”.
