Metonymic Processes Research Articles

Dracula’s Italian hosts: the manipulation of Bram Stoker’s novel in early Italian editions

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the first two Italian translations of Dracula as significant cases of manipulation of a classic of popular literature. It provides a brief survey of the malleable status of the text in its interlinguistic and intermedial translations in order to introduce the specificity of the Italian case. These two Italian translations represent two different, somewhat antithetical approaches to introducing gothic literature to early-twentieth century Italy. They show different strategies to overcome the deep-seated resistance of the Italian literary field by presenting the novel in very distinct ways. The Sonzogno edition highlights the novel’s popular character and shocking features, and domesticates its most unsettling aspects by focusing on the ghastlier elements and through systematic removal of all the novel’s political and socio-anthropological references. In the Bocca edition, Fedi adopted a reframing strategy that linked the novel with occultist beliefs, thus turning it into a sort of fictional treatise on vampirism and emphasizing its philosophical and mystical import. In order to make sense of these two cases, this article considers the interconnections between censorship and translation as a metonymic process, which can stimulate unorthodox readings that can ultimately be productive and grant books a more varied readership.

Aportaciones de la semántica cognitiva a la formación de palabras por composición

The aim of this research is to show the application of Cognitive Semantics to the description of nominal compounding in American Spanish. Compounding is a productive morphologic process used to create words with a transparent meaning (apoyacabeza ‘head restraint’, destapabotellas ‘bottle opener’ etc.). However, many compounds also have an important level of idiomaticity (ahogabecerro ‘tree’, bienmesabe ‘candy’ etc.). The paper shows that Cognitive Semantics can explain the semantic opacity of these idiomatic compounds on the basis of metaphoric and metonymic processes. The data are extracted from the Diccionario de americanismos published by the Real Academia Espanola.

Subalternity reloaded: singularity, collectivity and the politics of abstraction

ABSTRACTThis contribution aims at outlining two different trajectories that can be traced throughout Spivak’s works, both of which take the concept of subalternity as their point of departure: the first analyses subalternity as a path to singularity and problematizes its consequences and impasses, while the second focuses on subaltern politics as a process of generalizability to be accomplished through self-synecdoche, namely through a metonymic process of de-singularization that only allows the subaltern to understand itself as a part of a collective whole (i.e. citizenship). The essay attempts to show the mutual complementarity of these two (seemingly) opposite moves in the direction of a possible strategy of desubalternization.

Repensando a motivação metonímica da metáfora: uma análise pela perspectiva da Integração Conceitual

estudos contemporâneos postulam a possibilidade de interação entre os processos metafóricos e metonímicos na produção de sentido. Autores como Goossens (2003), Barcelona (2003) e Radden (2003) redimensionaram seus esforços em busca de modelos que pudessem comprovar a ocorrência dessa interação. No entanto, as pesquisas desenvolvidas por esses autores, consideram apenas a possibilidade da existência do processo metonímico, atuante na motivação do processo metafórico, ou no domínio-fonte, ou no domínio-alvo da metáfora motivada. Diante disso, este artigo, como parte de uma pesquisa mais ampla de doutorado, tem a finalidade de demonstrar que toda metáfora é motivada por um conjunto complexo de metonímias, sendo esse conjunto presente tanto em seu domínio-fonte quanto em seu domínio-alvo. Demonstrando assim a importância do processo metonímico na criação do processo metafórico.

Metáfora e metonímia como mecanismo de variação lexical em Apurinã (Aruák)

O presente trabalho visa apresentar os resultados de um estudo que busca descrever e analisar os processos metafóricos e metonímicos que subjazem a variação lexical em Apurinã, uma língua da família linguística Aruák. Os dados utilizados neste trabalho foram coletado in locus entre os anos de 2013 e 2015, junto a várias comunidades Apurinã, além de dados de pesquisa anteriores (FACUNDES 2000, BARRETO 2007 e BRANDÃO 2007). O estudo se articula no quadro teórico-metodológico da Teoria da Metáfora Conceptual (LAKOFF e JOHNSON, 1980) e da Sociolinguística Variacionista (LABOV, 2008 [1972]). Os casos de variação lexical tratados aqui envolvem principalmente a nomenclatura de fauna e flora que constituem o fenômeno do “duplo vocabulário” (uso extensivo de duas ou mais formas para designar um mesmo referente em um domínio específico do léxico da língua) presente na língua. Os resultados indicam que o fenômeno de “duplo vocabulário” existente na língua permite fazer inferências sobre a organização conceitual que os falantes têm de certos elementos de fauna e flora. O fato de o “duplo vocabulário” apresentar uma coerência semântica construída a partir das relações metafóricas e metonímicas que motivam nomear dois referentes com a mesma forma sugere haver uma rede semântica interligando referentes distintos no léxico Apurinã.

Metonimia sintáctica en construcciones de transferencia

Fecha de recepción: 17 de julio de 2015.Fecha de aceptación: 19 de noviembre de 2015.Este estudio analiza tres construcciones del verbo dar que predican no un evento de transferencia, sino uno de emergencia y/o crecimiento de una entidad (Este árbol da manzanas agrias, El maíz se da bien aquí, Se le da bien el canto). En lugar de analizarlas como casos de elisión de argumentos, proponemos que son el resultado de desemantización de la noción de transferencia en favor de eventos más simples, tanto conceptual como argumentalmente, cuya existencia se explica en forma natural a partir de relaciones dinámicas de corte metonímico en que unas abonan el terreno para la existencia de las otras.

Licensing and blocking factors in the use of BEGIN verbs

This article investigates the cognitive operations underlying the different uses of four main begin verbs in English, i.e. start, begin, commence and initiate, and the pragmatic implications connected with them. The study follows an analytical approach based on the Lexical Constructional Model and on more general but fundamental assumptions of Cognitive Linguistics, according to which grammar is conceptually motivated. Attention is paid to the effects produced at the structural level by our varying conceptualizations of occurrences indicating the inception of an activity, with a special focus on the metonymic and metaphoric processes governing and affecting lexical-syntactic and semantic-pragmatic representations. begin verbs are observed in their ability to be integrated into constructions that appear to be regulated by a well-defined set of constraints.

Exploring a diachronic (re)cycle of roles

In this paper we explore the struggle between the use of the Dative case and the competing strategy featuring the prepositionad‘to’ and the Accusative from Latin to Early Romance. Unlike the Dative, the prepositional strategy is semantically transparent, sincead‘to’ has a clear allative meaning. We first consider the diachronic development of the roles involved in the Dative-marked complex within a chronological span ranging from Plautus to theVulgateand show that competing manifestations featuringadare conditioned by semantic factors, since the extension of the prepositional strategy can be better explained in terms of metaphoric and metonymic processes. We discuss the gradual expansion of the prepositional turn in Early Romance with a view to exploring the paths along which it gradually took over the functions traditionally associated with the Dative complex. Building on these data, the paper assesses the theoretical implications for a better understanding of competing multifunctional devices that encode role complexes from a diachronic perspective and shows how a pool of synchronic variation can trigger and constrain linguistic change.

Interface metáfora e metonímia inscritas nas concepções de violência entre estudantes brasileiros e franceses

A metáfora e a metonímia são recursos eminentemente humanos, presentes na linguagem da vida cotidiana, ambas consideradas estruturas de pensamento. No entanto, muitas vezes, essas manifestações misturam-se a ponto de não conseguirmos estabelecer de fato as fronteiras entre elas. Por isso objetivamos analisar a construção de metáforas e de metonímias e suas inter-relações nas concepções de violência de jovens com idade média de 11-13 anos, estudantes de duas escolas situadas nas cidades de Fortaleza, Ceará e Libourne, França. O trabalho foi realizado com base na pesquisa qualitativa, tendo como eixo um estudo comparativo que possibilitou-nos analisar a complexidade da construção de sentidos da categoria VIOLÊNCIA em termos sociocognitivos e culturais. O corpus analítico é constituído de trechos de entrevistas realizadas com 24 estudantes, divididos em 06 grupos de 04 integrantes (12 brasileiros, 12 franceses). A leitura e a análise dos dados basearam-se nos aportes teóricos da Linguística Cognitiva, em especial, a Teoria Cognitiva da Metáfora e da Metonímia – TCMM. A inter-relação metáfora/metonímia mostrou-se evidente quando os dois grupos discorreram sobre os sentimentos decorrentes de ações violentas, como a dor e a tristeza e quando usaram partes do corpo para comunicar esses sentimentos. Os dois grupos, ao conceptualizarem a violência, utilizaram-se de processos metafóricos e metonímicos o que nos permite sugerir uma universalidade parcial dos esquemas cognitivos de base corpórea para comunicar e expressar sentimentos.

Ingeniería de la metonimia en la publicidad gráfica

Este artículo es fruto de una investigación realizada con el objetivo de analizar el rol de la metonimia cognitiva en la creatividad publicitaria. En él se analiza el proceso metonímico como elemento clave en la creación de significados y como componente indispensable en las estrategias publicitarias.

Pourquoi l'une des juridictions du prince-évêque de Liège s'appelait-elle l'Anneau du palais ?

A study of the name given to one of the feudal jurisdictions of the Bishop of Liège in his capacity as feudal lord has made it possible to illustrate the exceptional nature of these jurisdictions. At the back of the episcopal palace, the door leading to the garden – a focal location where the feudal lord metes out justice – has a metal ring, which the person to be tried strikes to request the gatekeeper to let him know where the Bishop is and to make him witness to a request for deferment. Since the feudal lord is bound to denounce this as an assault on his sovereign rights, he orders a sergeant to issue a proclamation at the rear of his residence and to ring the public bell to summon his vassals. Through a metonymic process, the “Palace Ring” thus becomes a par excellence designation for the institution through which the Bishop of Liège, by crystallizing his personal power as feudal lord, preserves his rights as the supreme upholder of the law. Seeking to shed light on the prerogatives of this jurisdiction and on how it operated, the authors describe the singular procedure of the request for deferment, known as a paroffre. They then analyze the punishment at the core of the coercive mechanism, the forjugement (an ancient term designating the loss of all rights and privileges), established to assure the cohesion of the feudal group.

The multiple readings of 'metaphor' in the classroom: co-construction of inferential chains

This paper is part of a research project whose central aim is to empirically investigate the multiple readings of 'metaphors' in literary texts. The methodology employed is interpretive and the main research technique is the 'Group-Think Aloud'. In this paper, the data discussed were generated by a group of readers engaged in the reading of 'The Pulverized Mountain', a poem by Drummond de Andrade. The analysis focuses on the interpretations of the final verses that, due to incongruities presented, constitute enigmas for the reader to decipher. Analysis has shown that the apparent data chaos and complexity has, in fact, an organization in inferential chains co-constructed by metonymic and metaphoric processes.

Generating New Meanings Through Metonymy in Colombian Slang (Parlache)

Taking into consideration the impact that semantic change has on slang, we analyse the role metonymy plays as a mechanism for generating new meanings in the youth slang of Medellín (Colombia), also known as parlache. As a starting point, the concepts “slang” and “metonymy” are delimited. Following these clarifications, a sample of twelve argotic meanings generated through metonymic processes of existing units is analysed. The results obtained after the analysis evidence tendencies in the use of certain types of metonymy within the sample. Likewise, tendencies in the choice of source concepts seem to be based on universal cognitive principles such as “typical over non-typical,” “bodily over mental,” and “concrete over abstract,” among others.
 Received: 29-08-08/ Accepted: 04-12-08
 How to reference this article:
 Perez Sanchez, J. M. (2009). Generación de nuevos significados, mediante la metonimia, en el parlache. Íkala. 14(1), pp.13-35.

Genre-dependent metonymy in Norse skaldic poetry

This article describes a metonymic process which is common in skaldic verse, but rare in everyday language. This process allows one member of a category to stand for another (for example, SEA is referred to by the name of another member of BODIES OF WATER, such as `river' or `fjord'). This process has previously been called `metaphor' (cf. Fidjestøl, 1997). However, I show that the process lacks several characteristics of metaphor as defined in cognitive linguistics, including multiple mappings and the creation of target-domain inferences. I suggest that the process is more similar to metonymies such as Category for Member (cf. Radden and Kövecses, 1999), and should be called `Member for Member' metonymy. I argue that Member for Member metonymy is rare in conversational language because it fails to generate the inferences and cognitive benefits provided by most metaphors and metonymies. However, Member for Member is abundant in skaldic verse, because the aesthetic and sociolinguistic goals of this genre outweigh the considerations of clarity and efficiency imposed on conversation by the Gricean Maxims. I furthermore propose that Member for Member metonymy is a defining feature of classical skaldic poetry, and one that distinguishes this genre from later, more naturalistic styles such as hrynhent. The observation that Member for Member occurs in a specific literary genre like skaldic poetry — even though it is normally barred from conversational language — indicates that cognitive linguists must study the full range of linguistic genres in order to document the cognitive processes that underlie language use.

Nine Fragments in Search of an Author: Poetic Lines Attributed to Terpander

An examination of the nine fragments attributed to Terpander (some in ancient sources, some by modern editors) suggests that none is securely assigned to him. Indeed, the evidence suggests that most circulated in citharodic prooimia, and that the attribution to Terpander was a metonymic process of identification of a genre with its traditional founder. This interpretation makes better sense both of the fragments themselves and of the uses to which they were put in our source-texts.

The verb of giving in Thai and Mandarin Chinese as a case of polysemy: A comparative study

It is common knowledge that the words corresponding to GIVE in serializing languages like hây and gěi in Thai and Mandarin Chinese, respectively, have multiple uses. Owing to the similarities as well as the differences in the synchronic usage and the diachronic development toward grammaticalization exhibited by the same words, they will be examined comparatively in this study, whose objectives are twofold: (i) to identify the similarities and differences in the usage between hây and gěi at the present time and (ii) to argue that these multiple meanings of hây and gěi are related, i.e. they are cases of polysemy. It has been brought to light that hây in Thai has a number of uses like: (1) a main verb use to indicate an action of possession transfer, (2) a dative use, (3) a benefactive use, (4) a causative use, (5) a malefactive use, and (6) a connective use in purposive, jussive, and complementation constructions. Its Mandarin Chinese equivalent gěi too has a range of uses like: (1) a main verb use, (2) a dative use, (3) a benefactive use, (4) a causative use, (5) a passive use, and (6) a ditransitive use. As is typical of serializing languages, these different, multifarious uses of hây and gěi arguably constitute cases of polysemy. It has also been discovered that the metonymic process, which involves pragmatic inferencing, plays a primary role in semantically extending the meaning of GIVE in both the languages.