Any language is constantly updated and developed through borrowing and the emergence of new words thanks to the means of figurative literature, which include many varieties of tropes and artistic figures. From a school course in literature it is known what metonymy is. However, it would be interesting to know how this artistic technique is used in various areas of our lives.
Definition of metonymy
Metonymy is, in fact, the transfer of the name of one object (subject, phenomenon, class) to another based on various methods of association (adjacency, partivism, contiguity, and others). There are several types of metonymy (temporal, logical, spatial), they are also distinguished by the principle of education (verbal, adjectives, subject). However, the facts of using this phenomenon in various fields are interesting: not only in literature, but also in art, design, architecture and others.
Literature
If we consider what is metonymy in literature, then we can say that this is one of the ways to enrich the work and create additional interest in artwork. Metonymic constructions were especially popular in the century before last, while they were used not only to decorate the work, but also to hide its true meaning. So, for example, in the poem by A. S. Pushkin “Arion”, the author covers up the political significance of the work, which describes the tragic events of the uprising of 1825, in the name of the poet and singer of ancient Grets
ui. In most cases, metonymy is used to briefly convey meaning, ideas. For example, the heroine of the wonderful theater and film actress
Lyudmila Maksakova Rosalinda says the following words: “The clock was ticking, the coffee pot hissed ...”. The last phrase implies that the contents of the coffee pot are hissing, but in this design the meaning is clear and its transmission is carried out most briefly. We often use such
stylistic devices in everyday life. However, it is important to emphasize that metaphor and metonymy, although they are varieties of the same concept - paths, but have differences. In a metaphorical transfer, there should be similarities between these objects, and a comparison can also be made. For example, birch trees nod - birch trees sway like they nod.
Journalism and official style
In newspaper articles and on the pages of news resources, you can find such constructions that use the metonymy of time, the names of countries, government organizations and others. For example, such phrases are often found: “The White House received a delegation from the Netherlands”, “This week was hot” and so on. Legal documents use such transfers from the action on the subject or result - the subject, object, and also from part to the whole - the person (legal). The official style also does not prohibit the use of such constructions, for example, people are often used to transfer from any event or event: “The forum supported those who put forward proposals ...”.
Art, Design and Architecture
One can understand what metonymy is in art and even in ordinary objects surrounding us by paying attention to such details as, for example, jug handles in the form of animals that lowered their heads into a vessel, legs of armchairs made in the shape of animal legs with claws, other. Such examples can be found in samples of ancient culture: braziers with palm handles basking in the fire, various ornaments such as meander, rocaille, lambrequin and others that use transference - imitation of garden motifs in the form of trellises and climbing plants.
Folklore and more
Metonymic phenomena can be found in the culture of any people, for example, in the folklore and craftsmanship of the Russian people there are many examples. These are cut out cockerels, skates on the roofs or spoons with swan heads, winches, buckets and other items. What is metonymy in photographic art? The French photographer Alix Malka, who works in the style of "perfectionism", in her creation of "Friend" creates the impression of the presence of another person, placing a hand with a cigarette in the lens, leaned on the armrests of the chair. There are a lot of similar cases of transference, in various interpretations and types, and this phenomenon enriches our language and life in general, allows us to achieve brevity, to convey the meaning of the unsaid with additional elements and details. Moreover, it can be found in every language structure, for every nation, for example, metonymy in English is practically no different from Russian. Here you can also find all types of transfer of subject names.