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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Metonymy Example?
Today I heard a reporter on the radio say:
"The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed 80 people in Najaf today."
In as much as what is being condemned is the human act of bombing (for which the car bomb is the the linguistic proxy) it seems to me that this must be an example of metonymy.
Am I correct, or is there some more accurate term? I assume it is not also an example of synecdoche, as in the example: "Move your butt!" where the "butt" is a proxy for the person (including that person's butt). After all, the car bomb is not a formal part of the act of bombing, since not all acts of bombing involve the use of cars, in the way one assumes that "butts" are an integral part of all people.
Am I correct here?
As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than a car bomb to condemn. Surely these acts can be explained and understood in ways that though pointing to great tragedy and evil, are comprehensible? As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration. But that takes us outside of AUE/AEU.
Inquiring ...
Chrissy
"The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed 80 people in Najaf today."
In as much as what is being condemned is the human act of bombing (for which the car bomb is the the linguistic proxy) it seems to me that this must be an example of metonymy.
Am I correct, or is there some more accurate term? I assume it is not also an example of synecdoche, as in the example: "Move your butt!" where the "butt" is a proxy for the person (including that person's butt). After all, the car bomb is not a formal part of the act of bombing, since not all acts of bombing involve the use of cars, in the way one assumes that "butts" are an integral part of all people.
Am I correct here?
As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than a car bomb to condemn. Surely these acts can be explained and understood in ways that though pointing to great tragedy and evil, are comprehensible? As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration. But that takes us outside of AUE/AEU.
Inquiring ...
Chrissy
Top answer
"[/nq] [nq:1]As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than ... comprehensible? As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration.
- "[/nq] [nq:1]As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than ...
- comprehensible?
- As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration.
- But that takes us outside of AUE/AEU.
- [/nq] Depends on what the reporter was referring to.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]Today I heard a reporter on the radio say: "The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed 80 people in Najaf today."[/nq]
[nq:1]As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than ... comprehensible? As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration. But that takes us outside of AUE/AE
[nq:1]As an aside, I wonder whether the United States might not have been better served finding something more complex than ... comprehensible? As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration. But that takes us outside of AUE/AE
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[nq:1]Today I heard a reporter on the radio say: "The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed 80 ... As it stands, the condemnation is practically a motherhood declaration. But that takes us outside of AUE/AEU. Inquiring ... Chrissy[/nq]
Personally, my guess is that he meant "car bombing" and simply misspoke. I have learned not to listen too closely to people speaking on t.v. wit
Personally, my guess is that he meant "car bombing" and simply misspoke. I have learned not to listen too closely to people speaking on t.v. wit
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[nq:1]"The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed 80 people in Najaf today." In as much as what ... the car bomb is the the linguistic proxy) it seems to me that this must be an example of metonymy.[/nq]
The term metonymy is usually encountered, these days, as meaning the use of a well-known brand name as a generic term for a device manufactured by that brand. "Hoover" for vacuu
The term metonymy is usually encountered, these days, as meaning the use of a well-known brand name as a generic term for a device manufactured by that brand. "Hoover" for vacuu
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[nq:2]"The United States has condemned the car bomb that killed ... to me that this must be an example of metonymy.[/nq]
[nq:1]The term metonymy is usually encountered, these days, as meaning the use of a well-known brand name as a generic ... that the sentence you quote necessarily contains that meaning. On balance, I think that boils down to "no". Cheers, Daniel.[/nq]
It didn't occur to
[nq:1]The term metonymy is usually encountered, these days, as meaning the use of a well-known brand name as a generic ... that the sentence you quote necessarily contains that meaning. On balance, I think that boils down to "no". Cheers, Daniel.[/nq]
It didn't occur to
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