转喻、提喻、换称三种修辞手法的对比
THE COMPARISON BETWEEN METONYMY, SYNECDOCHE AND ANTONOMASIA 转喻、提喻、换称三种修辞手法的对比 转喻(Metonymy)、提喻(synecdoche)、换称(antonomasia)这三种修辞 手法都属于关系类修辞,它们的共同之处都是用某一事物的名称指代另一事物的 名称,故而常常容易使人混淆。目前国内有关英语修辞的教科书中就常将这三种 修辞手法混为一谈,使得老师和学生对此模糊不清。其实,如果将这三种修辞手 法的定义和用法弄清,就不难区分它们。下面就这三种修辞手法的定义、用法以 及它们之间的异同等作些比较: 一.转喻(Metonymy)的定义与用法: 1.定义:用某一事物的名称代替另一事物的名称的修辞手法叫做转喻或借代。这 两种事物之间有着密切相关的联系。(A metonymy is a figure of speech that has to do with the substitution of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated.) 2.用法: 转喻通常用下列几种方式指代: ①① 根据人名或商品品牌名: Uncle Sam(山姆大叔)→Americans or the American government(美国人/美国政 府) John Bull(约翰牛) →the English nation or a typical Englishman(英国/地道英国人) He is reading Shakespeare. 他在读莎士比亚作品。 Shakespeare s works (用作者指代作品) He went in debt just to keep up with the Joneses. 他为了与邻里攀比而负债。 neighbours (用“琼斯家”指代“邻里”) We drove a Ford to Hyde Park. 我们驾驶一辆福特牌小轿车到海德公园去。 a car whose make is Ford(用品牌名指代实物) ②② 根据实物名称: Finally she married money. 她最终嫁给了有钱人。 a rich man (用“钱”指代“有钱人”。) I live near an airport and passing planes can be heard night and day. 我住在飞机场 附近,日夜可以听到过往的飞机声。 the noise made by passing planes (用“过往的飞机”指代“噪音”。) ③③ 根据动植物名称: the big apple(大苹果)→New York city(纽约市) Russian bear(俄国熊)→Russians or the Russian government(俄国人/俄国政府) British lion(英国狮)→England or the English government(英国/英国政府) The flower of the nation was sent off to war. 该国的壮小伙子都被送去打仗了。 the strong young men (the flower 通常用来指代“精英”、“精华”等。在句中,它被用来指代“壮小伙子”。) ④④ 根据工具名: When the war was over, he laid down the sword and took up the pen. armswriting 战争结束后,他放下武器,从事写作。 1 The pen is mightier than the sword. 文章胜武力。 books and writingarmed force (用“笔”指代“文章”,用“剑”指代“武力”。) Only the knife can save him. 只有手术刀能够挽救他。 operation(用“手术刀”指代“手术”。) ⑤⑤ 根据职业名: I could not hear the actors. 我听不见演员的台词。 the words of the actors(用“演员”指代“台词”。) Some students were talking loudly in class that I could not hear the teacher clearly. 一些学生在课堂上大声说话,我听不清老师的课。 the teacher s lecture (用“老师”指代“老师的课”。) ⑥⑥ 根据装东西的容器或容器里所装的东西: He is too fond of the bottle. 他太喜欢喝酒了。 wine(用容器“瓶”指代内含的物质“酒”。) The kettle is boiling. 水开了。 the water in the kettle (用容器“壶”指代内含的物质“水”。) His purse would not allow him that luxury. 他钱包里的钱不允许他那么奢侈。 the money in his purse (用“钱包”指代它里面所装的“钱”。) Two beers, please. 请来两杯啤酒。 two glasses of beer (用内含的物质“啤酒”指代容器“杯”。) ⑦⑦ 根据身体的部位: Brain drain. 人才流失。 talent(用“大脑”指代“人才”。) But I was not one to let my heart rule my head. 我可不是那种让感情驾驭理智的人。 feelings or emotions reason or good sense (用“心”指代“感情”,用“头”指代“理智”。) Grey hairs should be respected. 老年人应该受到尊敬。 old people (“头发”是人体的一部分,其前加了形容词“灰白的”之后,具有一种象征意义,常用 来指代“老年人”。) ⑧⑧ 根据典型实物借代职业: He decided to enter the bar after college. 他决定大学毕业后当律师。 the legal profession (the bar 原意是法庭围栏,现常用来指代律师职业) Members of the press weren t allowed into the combat zone. 新闻记者不准进入战斗 区域。newspaper reporters (the press 原意是印刷机,现常用来指代新闻记者) He has been appointed to the bench. 他被委任为法官。 position of judge (the bench 原意是法官的席位,现常用来指代法官。) ⑨⑨ 根据制作某东西的材料: He had only a few coppers in his pocket. 他口袋里只有