A euphemism is a word or phrase substituted for a word that is too blunt or possibly offensive to say directly. Oct 07, 2017 synecdoche is a rhetorical device where the speakerwriter uses a part of something in the place of the whole thing. Definition and examples of synecdoche in speech and literature 7 e s l synecdoche definition. Synecdoche is a type of symbolism where one thing is used to represent something else. From silent dust, by lance comfort tell that its sculptor well those passions read which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, the hand that mocked them.
Jan 30, 2020 a synecdoche is a figure of speech used when a part of something is used to refer to its whole, or vice versa. Synecdoche definition of synecdoche by the free dictionary. I have feet that put steven spielbergs et to shame. A synecdoche is a class of metonymy, often by means of either mentioning a part for the whole or conversely the whole for one of its parts. Synecdoche uses a part of something is to refer to the whole entity, or in reverse, a whole entity is used to refer to a part. Indeed, synecdoche is sometimes considered a subclass of metonymy. Highlight or underline the personification example in each sentence. A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to the whole of something or vice versa. For example, the captain commands one hundred sails is a synecdoche that uses sails to refer to shipsships being the.
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of something is used to refer to its whole. Definition of synecdoche from our glossary of english linguistic and grammatical terms containing explanations and crossreferences to other relevant english grammar terms. Caden and adeles bedroom fall 2005 morning a1 darkness. Metonymy and synecdoche by danielle shaykin on prezi. Synecdoche is the use of a deliberate confusion of scale, in which a poet refers to one thing in terms of a part of it or in terms of what it is a part of. Closely related to metonymythe replacement of a word by one closely related to the originalsynecdoche is an. Synecdoche pronounced sinekdikey is a trope or figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole for example, abcs for alphabet or less commonly the whole is used to represent a part england won the world cup in 1966. Although burkes conventional definition of synecdoche sounds strikingly similar to metonymy, it functions for him as a corrective to metonymical excess.
Such a part must be in some sense outstanding, easily recognizable, and play a unique role in the whole. Sonnets and other forms of love poetry frequently use synecdoches to characterize the beloved in terms of individual body parts rather than a coherent whole. The word head is often used in counting cattle or people, such as in the phrase per head. So a person could be a sympathetic ear, or the person who was actually speaking when the news reports that the government said today. Synecdoche refers to the whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. It uses a part for the whole thing, or the whole for one of its parts. There are many types of figurative language found when listening to spoken english or reading an english text. This article will show you the importance of synecdoche and how to use ita synecdoche is a figure of speech which allows a part to stand for a whole or for a whole to stand for a part. As a general guideline, one may use synecdoche for figures that are actually a part of the whole, or the whole for the partmore strictly connected to the thing intended than a metonymy would be.
A common example is the word crown used to represent the king or monarch or even the entire nation. Create two new sentences, one for metonymy and one for synecdoche. Synecdoche definition of synecdoche by merriamwebster. It comes from the compound greek word sunekdoche sunekdoxhv which is composed of the preposition sun suvn, together with, and ekdoche ekdoxhv, a receiving from. But an expression like the west might just mean the u. Synecdoche can be used to emphasize an important aspect of a fictional character. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which you use a part of something to stand for the whole thing. Synecdoche literary examples run away from us over the cobbles.
Definition, usage and a list of synecdoche examples in common speech and literature. Caden, 40, opens his eyes in bed, and groggily looks at himself in the bureau mirror. It can be defined as a figure of speech where part of a sentence describes the entirety. While synecdoche has many other definitions in its role of metonymy, this is the one we feel to be its most common application in biblical interpretation. A synecdoche is a figure of speech used when a part of something is used to refer to its whole, or vice versa. Information and translations of synecdoche in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Synecdoche, figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression hired hands for workmen or, less commonly, the whole represents a part, as in the use of the word society to mean high society. A steering wheel would be a good metonym for driving, a violin a good metonym for a classical orchestra, bread a good metonym for a bakers shop, a file folder a good metonym for organizing documents in a computer. The list of metonymies and synecdoches that appears in this book is intended both to impress.
When a whole is used as the part or a part of a thing is put for the whole examples. The term synecdoche might seem unfamiliar but you wouldve surely come across such words or sentences in written text. Verbally, examples include bread and butter meaning livelihood, the. These three examples, and most other cases, use the part for the whole. Since then his study of metonymy has been confined within the study of metaphor for centuries.
The veronica represents christs face and, by synecdoche, his entire body. The usage of synecdoche, thus, emphasizes a sentence delivering the right context and embellishing the literary. The part that is chosen to be a metonym of its whole is not arbitrary. Synecdoche are words or phrases that name only a part of a whole to represent the entirety of the concept or subject. A synecdoche is a class of metonymy, often by means of either mentioning a part for the whole or conversely. Synonyms for synecdoche at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions.
Exercises on semantic change transfer of meaning in metaphor. For example, calling a car wheels is a synecdoche because a part of the car, its wheels, stands for the whole car. Pdf lesson plans, teacher articles and a directory of teaching and reference resources. Synecdoche is a figure of speech which expresses either more, or less, than it literally denotes. When i am done with this article, i plan to hit the bottle. A figure of speech in which the name of a part is used to stand for the whole as hand for sailor, the whole for a part as the law for police officer, the specific for the general as cutthroat for assassin, the general for the specific as thief for pickpocket, or the material for the thing made from it as. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole and. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole, or vice versa. In synecdoche, the whole stands for the part, while in metonymy, the part stands for the whole. Choose from 69 different sets of synecdoche flashcards on quizlet. Synecdoche examples and definition literary devices. The sound of a radio and pots and pans clanging fades in. Like metonymy, this figure is based on a relationship rather than a resemblance.
Synecdoche definition is a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole such as fifty sail for fifty ships, the whole for a part such as society for high society, the species for the genus such as cutthroat for assassin, the genus for the species such as a creature for a man, or the name of the material for the thing made such as boards for stage. Bell for participating in this debate with me as it is the only one on this subject on the internet. Examples from common english expressions include suits for businessmen, boots for soldiers pars pro toto, and america for the united states of america, totum pro parte. If your parents buy you a car and you say that you just got a new set of wheels, youre using synecdoche youre using the wheels, which are part of a car, to refer to the whole car. Thus, it means the transfer or exchange of one idea for another associated idea. Its meaning is meant to be taken figuratively, not literally. Drawing attention to the part instead of a whole allows us to be more specific with our point as well. An example of this is someone saying that they need a hand with a project. Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part.
Jul, 2014 synecdoche can be used to emphasize an important aspect of a fictional character. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to thewhole thing or viceversa. One example of a figure of speech that has been frequently used by many writers. Synecdoche is tropea word or phrase from the ancient greek word for turnthat. Synecdoche is a rhetorical trope and a type of figurative speech similar to metonymya figure of speech that uses a term that denotes one thing to refer to a related thing. Synecdoche definition, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a. Synecdoche definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Synecdoche definition a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or visa versa origin.
The literary term of synecdoche is covered in this multiple choice quiz. There were going to be 20 heads at the dinner table. Examples of synecdoche from everyday life john hancock listen, youve got to come take a look at my new set of wheels. The word sails is a part of a ship that can also be used to refer to a whole ship as an synecdoche example. Jan 14, 2020 unlike a visual synecdoche, the two images bear a close relationship, but are not intrinsically linked.
Closely related to metonymythe replacement of a word by one closely related to the originalsynecdoche is an important poetic device for creating vivid imagery. Examples from common english expressions include suits for. The whole is used as the part twenty sails came into the harbor. For him, metonymy is one of the four categories of metaphor the second category, though he never used the word metonymy explicitly. Dubois preface the purpose of this book is to bring to the attention of translators the nature of metonymy and synecdoche and the need to translate these two figures meaningfully.
In summary, synecdoche is a type of figurative language. And unlike visual metaphors, metonyms do not transfer the characteristics of one image to another. It is more distantly related to other figures of speech, such as metaphor more rigorously, metonymy and synecdoche can be considered. An informal definition of metonymy is that it is a figurative expression. The whole world did not treat him badly only a part. The claim is often made without any substantiation. In fact, you can find many examples of a parttowhole synecdoche used in the english language. Synecdoche definition synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to thewhole thing or viceversa. The word comes from a greek word meaning simultaneous understanding. John beekmans metonymy and synecdoche in notes on translation 23 1967 by carl d. Synonyms for synecdoche include pars pro toto, synecdochy, figure of speech, phrase, adumbration, allegory, alliteration, allusion, analogue and analog. In the oftquoted phrase, the pen refers to the the written word, which, according to the statement, is a more effective and powerful instrument of change than the sword. Faith is a synecdoche please see opening statements for a definition is an argument that is often employed by church of christ preachers.
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole, or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a croesus for a rich man. Like how the hands is always used to do a job, and while the entire person is vital to the completion of a task, using the hands emphasizes the. A synecdoche is a word that refers to a part of something to mean the whole. The person is neither just an ear nor the whole government, but using synecdoche to suggest that.
Synecdoche definition, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a croesus for a rich man. Synecdoche simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Also the use of a material for the object made out of it. For example, the captain commands one hundred sails is a synecdoche that uses sails to refer to shipsships being the thing of which a sail is a part. However, in metonymy, the word used to describe a thing is closely linked to that particular thing. Alliteration onomatopoeia metaphor simile hyperbole anderson. Mar 12, 2020 synecdoche countable and uncountable, plural synecdoches rhetoric a figure of speech that uses the name of a part of something to represent the whole, or the whole to represent a part. Please note that some file types are incompatible with some mobile and tablet devices. Lets talk about synecdoche and metonymy, two very particular types of metaphorical expression in which one word is representative for another word or concept. The cognitive nature of metonymy and its implications for. Synecdoche is a rhetorical device where the speakerwriter uses a part of something in the place of the whole thing.