提喻 转喻 隐喻

转喻、提喻、换称三种修辞手法的对比

三种关系类英语修辞手法———转喻、提喻和换称的共同之处都是用某一事物的名称指代另一事物的名称,常常容易使人混淆。其实,如果将这三种修辞手法的用法加以对比分析,就不难区分了。

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。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,就不难区分了。下面就这三种修辞手法的定义、用法以及它们之间的异同作些比较:

1.转喻(Metonymy)的定义与用法

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.)转喻通常用下列几种方式指代:

(1)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)

(2)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”。)

(3)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”。

(4)根据工具名:

When the war was over, he laid down the sword and took up the pen.

└→arms└→(writing

战争结束后,他放下武器,从事写作。

The pen is mightier than the sword.文章胜武力。

└→books and writing└→armed 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”。)

(5)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”。)

(6)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”。)

(7)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”。

(8)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。

(9)根据制作某东西的材料:

He had only a few coppers in his pocket.他口袋里只有几个铜币。

└→coins(copper是制作coin的材料。)