[General] Metaphor/Metonymy issues

optickimis · Jun 27, 2010

Hello

Being a non-native English speaker, I'm faced with slight difficulties when it comes to solving the following tasks. I would really appreciate it if you could help me.

The following tasks are not exam questions/homework, just a set of exercises I picked up from various "self-taught" course books.

PART 1:

Specify the underlying metaphor for the following expressions:

a. I just can’t swallow that claim.
b. Look how far we’ve come.
c. I’ve never won an argument with him.
d. We are at a crossroads.
e. The theory needs more support.
f. She produces a book every year.

Specify the source domains in the following metaphorical expressions about love

(target domain LOVE):
a. Their marriage is on the mend.
b. We’ll just have to go our separate ways.
c. She’s my better half.
d. We can’t turn back now.
e. I’m starved for affection.
f. I don’t think our relationship is going anywhere.
g. He thrives on love.

optickimis · Jun 27, 2010

PART 2.

Specify whether the metonymic expressions below are of the type PART-FOR-
WHOLE, WHOLE-FOR-PART or of the type PART-FOR-PART.

a. Did you hear the whistle? (p-f-w)
b. She is my joy (?)
c. She married money. (p-f-w)
d. Bob spent last summer in America. (w-f-p)
e. Cambridge won’t publish the book. (w-f-p)
f. The car needs washing. (w-f-p)
g. He is an experienced farm hand. (p-f-w)
h. Bush attacked Saddam. (p-f-w)
i. Hold your tongue. (p-f-p)
j. He spends too much time in front of the tube. (p-f-w)

My answers are shown in parentheses.

Raymott · Jun 27, 2010

optickimis said:
Hello
Hello optickimis, welcome to the group.
You should know we like students to "have a go" at the questions (as you have done in your second post)

Some of these seem quite simple, and not language-based at all. I'll give my answer to a few.

PART 1:

Specify the underlying metaphor for the following expressions:

a. I just can’t swallow that claim.
It is hard to swallow food that is unpalatable, or that one thinks might be poisoned. It is easy to swallow good, tasty food. The metaphor of "swallowing a claim" should be readily apparent.

b. Look how far we’ve come.
c. I’ve never won an argument with him.
d. We are at a crossroads.
A crossroads is where two or more roads meet. You can turn either left or right, or go straight ahead. There is a choice.

e. The theory needs more support.
f. She produces a book every year.

Specify the source domains in the following metaphorical expressions about love

(target domain LOVE):
a. Their marriage is on the mend.
The source domain seems to be from medicine.
b. We’ll just have to go our separate ways.
c. She’s my better half.
d. We can’t turn back now.
e. I’m starved for affection.
"Starving" is usually used for "hunger" (for food). The source domain is food.

f. I don’t think our relationship is going anywhere.
g. He thrives on love.

Perhaps you could have a go with the others and see if people agree with you. After all, these would be as much guesses by native speakers as they would be for you.

[General] Metaphor/Metonymy issues

optickimis

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optickimis

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Raymott

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