Transcript Metaphor?
Unit 13 Restriction, Elevation and Degradation of Meaning Restriction of Meaning Restriction of meaning means that a word of wide meaning acquires a narrower, specialised sense which is applicable to only one of the objects it had previously denoted. Examples liquor Old Meaning liquid Specialized meaning alcoholic drink example meat Old Meaning food Specialized Meaning Flesh of animals word Old meaning Specialization disease discomfort illness poison drink Poisonous drink wife woman married woman accident event unlucky event girl A child A female child word Old meaning Specialization starve die Die of hunger stink Any smell Bad smell success Result a good result corpse a human or animal body living or dead a dead body esp. of a human being 现代英语中把日常生活用语转用 到科技方面，这也是词义缩小的 一种现象。 A clean room 和 a white room均为日常 生活用语，现指用于 精密零件制造的“绝 尘室” “A clean room” or “ a white room”,increasingly becomes shop talk. 清洁室或称白室正日益变成专家们 的行话。 Elevation of Meaning Words often rise from a humble beginning to a position of greater importance. This change is called elevation of meaning. Pioneer: foot soldier who cleared the way for any army by falling trees, etc. A person who goes before, preparing the way for others, as a scientist doing exploratory work Fond: foolish Tender and affectionate minister • Old: an attendant • New: a person at the head of a department of a state. marshall Originally: A horse tender Present Meaning: Officer of highest rank craftsman Old: a person good at cheating Now: a man who does a skilled job, usu, with hands shrewd Old meaning: wicked; malicious Now: keen-witted; clever or sharp in practical affairs nimble • Old meaning: quick at stealing • present meaning: quick of comprehension 见125页 Elevation of Meaning Degradation of meaning Words with a commendatory meaning may become ones with a derogatory sense. This is called degradation of meaning or deterioration Four Kinds of Degradation of Meaning A. A word falls into disrepute because of social prejudice Example Villain old meaning:a farmer present Meaning: a man guilty of evil deeds clown Old meaning: a peasant present Meaning: a man who is clumsy and behaves stupidly wench • Old meaning: a country girl • present meaning: a girl of loose character boor Old meaning: a farmhand present meaning:one who is rough, impolite and clumsy churl • Old meaning: a farmhand • present meaning: one who is rude and unfriendly B. A word becomes less respectable because of euphemism Examples 见127页 C. Middle terms which are neutral in meaning and take on favorable or unfavorable meaning according to context Examples见128页 Fortune, is a middle term, because it may be either good or bad but the adjective fortunate has a positive value. So with the word luck. The word refers to good or bad luck, especially to good luck. But the adjective lucky only denotes “ having or bringing good luck”. D. Sometimes a word shows deterioration in some of its uses, but maintain itself in others. execute To kill sb. as a lawful punishment To carry out an order, a plan, a piece of work 4-2-3 Semantic Changes from the Literal Use of words to Their Figurative Use 1. Metaphor ! We k n o w t h a t words are used in two ways: literally and figuratively. When used literally, they have their natural and usual meaning. When used figuratively, they have a suggested meaning. A simile is a figure of speech which makes a comparison between two unlike elements, having at least one point of resemblance in appearance, quality, action or effect. Metaphor? A metaphor, like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated. There are three major groups of metaphors according to function and character: A. Anthropomorphic metaphors B. Animal metaphors C. Synaesthetic metaphors A. Anthropomorphic metaphors Many inanimate objects are compared to the parts of the h u m a n b o d y. the eye of a needle 针眼 the eye of a potato马铃薯的芽眼 the eye of the hurricane 风眼 the eye of a flower 花心 the eye of a peacock’s tail孔雀翎斑 the eye of the revolution 革命中心 参见p.32 for More Examples B. Animal metaphors A great many inanimate objects, including various instruments, machines and parts of machines are called after an animal. Cat-o’-nine-tails; 九尾鞭；香蒲 Cat-ice: thin ice unsupported by water 薄冰 Catlap: slops, tea, etc. 稀薄饮料 Catmint or catnip 猫薄荷 Another large group of animal names can be transferred into words indicating persons. A pig:a dirty, greedy or illmannered person An ass: a stupid foolish person A mouse: a person, esp. A woman, who is quiet and timid A goose: a silly person, esp. female A cat: a nasty person A rat: a low worthless disloyal man A lion: a famous and important person A fox: a person who deceives others by means of clever tricks A tiger: a person like such an animal in fierceness, courage, etc. An owl: a wise-looking dullard. A mule: a stupid or obstinate person A dark horse: a person whose abilities are hidden A mule: a stupid or obstinate person An ape: a person who copies the behaviour of others A monkey: a child who is full of annoying playfulness and trick A parrot: a person who repeats, often without understanding, the words or actions of another C. Synaesthetic metaphors They are metaphors used to refer to direct association between the form and the meaning of language. This type of metaphor is based on the similarity of two things. warm or cold temperature warm or cold voice loud music loud colours sweet tea sweet sound or music piercing wind piercing sound a grave face grave news a stormy day a stormy quarrel stony ground a stony heart dirty hand a dirty night A number of nouns, adjectives, or verbs in English can be used as metaphors. 1) The use of a Noun as a Metaphor: A ray of hope a grain of truth a shadow of doubt a flight of fancy the fire of passion 2) the use of an adjective as a metaphor Bitter enemy murderous heat iron courage 3) the use of a verb as a metaphor: Time flies. Time presses. He bridles his anger.