Situational metonymies

1. Situational metonymies Günter Radden Hamburg University raddeng@yahoo.com Situation metonymies

2. Structure 1. What is metonymy? 2. Cognitive steps in communicating a (metonymic) situation 3. Examples of situational metonymies Situation metonymies

3. 1. What is metonymy? – my view Is metonymy (i) a matter of contiguity? (ii) a matter of substitution? (iii) a reference-point phenomenon? (iv) an inferential process? – No. – No. – Yes, and… – Yes, and… Situation metonymies

4. (i ) Metonymy is not a matter of contiguity but a matter of association “Metonymies may be called natural inference schemas, i.e. easily activatable associations among concepts that can be used for inferential purposes. (Panther & Thornburg 2004) “[…] metonymy is a process of co-activation of strongly associated concepts within single integrated conceptualisations […] […] metonymy is an ‛embodied’ mental process occurring naturally and unconsciously as a result of synaptic links in the parts of the brain supporting mental and linguistic activities.” (Bierwiaczonek 2013: 37 and 256) Situation metonymies

5. Bidirectionality of metonymic relations CONTAINER FOR CONTENT: This bottle is sour. CONTENT FOR CONTAINER: You did it, mate, says Morgan, clinking beers with Wallace. POSSESSOR FOR POSSESSION: My wife was towed away. POSSESSION FOR POSSESSOR: Arthur married money. REPRESENTATION FOR OBJECT: It’s not raining on this map. OBJECT FOR REPRESENTATION: I like Monet’s water lilies. (‘I like the paintings of water lilies by Monet’) Situation metonymies

6. Is there a limit to metonymic associations? How can these metonymies be described? - Flight agent asking passenger: “Do you want window or aisle?” ‛object for space near space for object’ = Proximity ICM? - Passenger at railroad station asking where the ticket office is: “Where can I get train tickets?” “Trains are over there.” ‛vehicle for permit for agent for place’ = ? - Wife to husband: “Can you set the table, dear?” ‛object for part of the object (table top) for objects supported by object (on) for action involving objects’ = ? Situation metonymies

7. (ii) Metonymy is not a matter of substitution but evokes both source and target There are a lot of good heads in the university. (= not just ‛people’, but ‛intelligent people’) He’s got a Picasso in his den. (= not just a ‛painting’, but ‛Picasso’s work in relation to the artist’) “Metonymic concepts allow us to conceptualize one thing by means of its relations to something else.” (Lakoff & Johnson 1980) “An idea that has been activated does not merely evoke one other idea. It activates many ideas, which in turn activate others.” (D. Kahneman 2011:52) Situation metonymies

8. Interaction view of metaphor(I.A. Richards 1936, Max Black 1955) “When we use a metaphor we have two thoughts of different things active together and supported by a single word, or phrase, whose meaning is a resultant of their interaction. The reader is forced to connect the two ideas.” (I.A. Richards, Max Black) “Metaphor is a special case of blending, where elements of two input spaces are projected to form a third space, the blend, with its own distinct properties.” (Langacker 2009: 342) Situation metonymies

9. Metonymy as conceptual blending Conceptual integration – also known as “blending” or “mental binding” – is a mental operation whose uniform structural and dynamic properties apply over many areas of thought and action, including metaphor and metonymy. (Turner & Fauconnier 2003) Metonymy involves the conceptual blending of the concept evoked by the source term and the concept evoked by the intended target. Blending is an online real-time process that creates new meaning through the juxtaposition of familiar material. (Alac & Coulson 2004) Situation metonymies

10. Metonymy as conceptual blending Integration of Part-Whole Vital Relations We point to a picture of a face and say “That’s Jane Doe,” not “That’s the face of Jane Doe.” We have constructed a network mapping the individual to the picture of what seems to us her most salient part, her face. In the blend, the face is projected from one input and the whole person from the other. In the blend, face and person are fused: The face is the personal identity. (Fauconnier &Turner 2002:97) person face person with her personal identity Situation metonymies

11. Metonymy as conceptual blending The conceptual blending approach accounts for the fact that the metonymic source concept is not simply erased but is fused with the metonymic target concept, giving rise to emergent meaning in the metonymic blend. The shoes were neatly tied. WHOLE FOR PART theshoes thelaces thelaceswereneatlytied the shoes as a whole were neat Situation metonymies

12. (iii) Metonymy is a reference-point phenomenon - and there is more to it. target target target target target metonymy Ref.Pt. Dominion Conceptualizer Situation metonymies

13. Last year, Greece was rescued with a package worth €110 billion Potential metonymic targets: the people, the banks, the state, the budget, the economy, etc. state banks budget PLACE FOR ? PLACE FOR STATE PLACE FOR INSTITUITION PLACE FORINHABITANTS people economy PLACE FOR ? Greece dominion Conceptualizer Situation metonymies

14. (iv) Metonymy is an inferential process “Metonymies may be called natural inference schemas, i.e. easily activatable associations among concepts that can be used for inferential purposes.” (Panther & Thornburg 2004) Situation metonymies

15. 2. Cognitive steps in communicating a (metonymic) situation Situation metonymies

16. “Please turn on your phone after the performance.” audience: metonymic inferences verbalized FINAL SUBEVENT FOR WHOLE EVENT FOR INITIAL SUBEVENT announcer: metonymic reasoning - conceptualization: WHOLE EVENT FOR POTENTIAL SUBEVENTS - frame: theater performance - virtual inference: FINAL SUBEVENT FOR WHOLE EVENT FOR INITIAL SUBEVENT - verbalization: “Please turn on your phone after the performance.” ‛turn phone on’ ‛public disturbance’ ‛turn phone off’ Situation metonymies

17. Cognitive steps in communicating a conceptual situation (i) People typically conceive of a situation as a whole gestalt. Situation metonymies

18. Journalese Der Opel hatte nicht auf Rot geachtet – er war auch nicht nüchtern. ‘The Opel hadn’t paid attention to the red light – it wasn’t sober either’ (Westdeutsche Zeitung) Auto flüchtet auf drei Rädern. ‘Car escaped on three wheels’ (Rhein-Zeitung) Nach dem Unfall sei der etwa 30 bis 40 Jahre alte Volvofahrer ausgestiegen und habe kurz mit dem Notarztwagen gesprochen. ‘After the accident the 30 to 40-year-old Volvo driver was reported to have gotten out of his car and having had a word with the emergency ambulance’(Nordwest-Zeitung) Situation metonymies

19. Cognitive steps in communicating a conceptual situation (i) People typically conceive of a situation as a whole gestalt. (ii) Any situation evokes a complex network of associated concepts. Situation metonymies

20. Network of associated concepts of a situation and situational metonymies • situation situation-internal ICM ICM manner means property cause situation- external situational core subevent thing thing relation situation situation situation type place time reality - potentiality Situation metonymies

21. thing-eventmetonymies THING FOR PROPERTY: I am just a student THING FOR EVENT: We’ve always had a nose for the very best. OBJECT FOR EVENT INVOLVING THE OBJECT: Mary began the book. THING FOR THE USE OF THE THING: The treadmill burns 200 calories an hour. OBJECT INVOLVED IN ACTION FOR AGENT: couch potato Situation metonymies

22. propertymetonymies PROPERTY FOR A THING: You’re insulting my intelligence. EVENT FOR PROPERTY OF A THING FOR THE THING: pick-up truck Situation metonymies

23. meansandmannermetonymies MEANS FOR ACTION: He sneezed the napkin off the table. MANNER OF PERFORMING AN ACTION FOR THE ACTION: I’ll be brief. MANNER OF PERFORMING AN ACTION WITH A THING FOR A PROPERTY OF THE THING: Our investors are more interested in long-term, stable, reliable returns than in the fast buck. / fast car TIME FOR MANNER: permanent talk Situation metonymies

24. causalmetonymies CAUSE FOR EFFECT: beautify the garden. CAUSE FOR PURPOSE: donate money for a good cause EFFECT FOR CAUSE: happy hour ‘times when restaurants reduce their prices on alcoholic beverages’ PRECEDENCE FOR CAUSE: Who started the fight? Situation metonymies

25. situation-type metonymies STATE FOR EVENT: Paolo Soleri is dead at 83. SEEING FOR MAKING SURE: Can you see to it. HABIT FOR SPECIFIC EVENT: Would you care for something to drink? – I never drink. EVENT FOR STATE: Please fasten seatbelt while seated. MOTION FOR STATE: The poplar is after the oak. PROCESS FOR ACTION: The door opened‘someone opened the door’ RESULT FOR ACTION: Have another cookie. ACTION FOR RESULT: He is catching a bird./ dermatologically tested (It doesn't say who or what skin it was tested on. And it doesn't even mean that They PASSED the test.) Situation metonymies

26. POTENTIALITY, ACTUALIT, REALITY metonymies POTENTIAL FOR ACTUAL: I can see your point./ I must admit you are right. ACTUAL FOR POTENTIAL: Do you play the piano?/ He is an angry person. ACTUAL FOR ASSIGNED: Is someone sitting here? – No, the seat is empty. SUBJECTIVITY FOR REALITY: That was a penalty. APPEARANCE FOR REALITY: He looked puzzled. Situation metonymies

27. timemetonymies Time-internal: PAST FOR PRESENT: What was your name?/ This was the supermarket. POINT IN TIME FOR PERIOD: At the moment there is no news available. PASSING TIME FOR PRESENT: currently ‘presently’ PROXIMATE TIME FOR DISTANT TIME: Today's syntax is tomorrow's morphology. Time-external: EVENT FOR TIME: Christmas; Tok Pisin: yu gat hamas krismas? THING FOR EVENT FOR TIME: I explained a few classes ago. THING FOR ACTIVITY FOR TIME TO DO THAT ACTIVITY: She left about two beers ago. TIME FOR EVENT: 9/11 Situation metonymies

28. placemetonymies PLACE FOR EVENT: Greece was not supposed to happen. / Not longer after, Hutton was on the plane./ Jack is on the phone. EVENT FOR PLACE: He drove through a red light./ bus stop TIME FOR DISTANCE: From Cologne to Vienna it is ten hours by train. Situation metonymies

29. Cognitive steps in communicating a conceptual situation (i) People typicallyconceiveof a situationas a wholegestalt. (ii) Anysituationcomprises a complexnetworkofassociatedconcepts. (iii) In “thinkingforspeaking”, thespeakerdecides on howtocodethesituationshewantstocommunicate in a givenlanguage in accordancewithprinciplesofcooperation. Situation metonymies

30. Thinking for speaking Thinking for speaking - a specialized form of thought that is mobilized for communication (Slobin 1996) English: assert trajectory, imply end-state The boy climbed the tree. Spanish: assert end-state, imply trajectory El niño está subido en el árbol. ‛the boy is climb-PART en [= in/on] the tree’ [= the boy is in a state of having climbed the tree] Situation metonymies

31. Cognitive steps in communicating a conceptual situation (i) People typicallyconceiveof a situationas a wholegestalt. (ii) Anysituationcomprises a complexnetworkofassociatedconcepts. (iii) In “thinkingforspeaking”, thespeakerdecides on howtocodethesituationshewantstocommunicate in a givenlanguage in accordancewithprinciplesofcooperation. (iv) A communicativeactis (ofnecessity) metonymicandhencerequiresthespeakertogaugeitsadequacybyanticipatingthehearer’sinferentialtask. Situation metonymies

32. Iconicity in syntax (Posner 1986) (a) Mr. Smith stopped in front of his house. He waved to a passing neighbor and got out of his car. (b) Mr. Smith stopped in front of his house. He raised his arm and smiled to a passing neighbor. He pulled the handle of the door of his car, pushed the door open, swung his legs out, heaved his body out, and shut the door. Inference: The degree of painstakingness in the presentation of actions conveys the degree of painstakingness of the actions presented. DETAIL IN FORM FOR DETAIL IN MEANING Situation metonymies

33. Cognitive steps in communicating a conceptual situation (i) People typicallyconceiveof a situationas a wholegestalt. (ii) Anysituationcomprises a complexnetworkofassociatedconcepts. (iii) In “thinkingforspeaking”, thespeakerdecides on howtocodethesituationshewantstocommunicate in a givenlanguage in accordancewithprinciplesofcooperation. (iv) The communicativeactis (ofnecessity) metonymicandhencerequiresthespeakertogaugeitsadequacybyanticipatingthehearer’sinferentialtask. (v) The hearerconstructsthespeaker’sintendedmeaning via metonymicinferences. Situation metonymies

34. 3. Examples of situational metonymies (i) POTENTIAL FOR ACTUAL (ii) PAST FOR PRESENT (iii) SUBEVENT FOR WHOLE EVENT Situation metonymies

35. (i) POTENTIAL FOR ACTUAL: Inert perceptionWe can see the moon. Input 1 Input 2 Blend ABILITY:state with potentialactualization STATE OFPERCEPTION INSTANTANEOUSPERCEPTION able to see see actualizedSTATE OFPERCEPTION ecological motivation can see ABILITY We are able to see the moon (because it reflects light from the sun). STATE OF PERCEPTION We can see the moon. INSTANTANEOUSPERCEPTION We see the moon. Situation metonymies

36. Verbs of perception and cognition Google search “I see the moon” 3,920,000 “I can see the moon” 1,280,000 “I see a mouse” 246,000 “I can see a mouse” 17 “I hear a mouse” 27,700 “I can hear a mouse” 174,000 “I heard the slam” 308,000 “I could hear the slam” 22 “I understand the problem” 2,750,000 “I can understand the problem” 7,020,000 “I now understand the problem” 226,000 “I can now understand the problem” 15 Situation metonymies

37. (ii) PRESENT FOR PAST:Compression of time Wer bekam die Gulaschsuppe? ‘Who receivedthegoulashsoup’ (Comrie 1985:20) restaurant script presentbeing served pastordering blend past ordering being served Compression of times of preceding and present events in the past Situation metonymies

38. immediacyfordistance (VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR PAST: narrative present, historical present, scientific present, headlines,etc. emergent meanings: immediacy, liveliness Situation metonymies

39. immediacyfordistance:(VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR PAST/FUTURE Narrative present A wife asks her husband, “Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and if they have avocados, get 6.” A short time later the husband comes back with 6 cartons of milk. The wife asks him, “Why did you buy 6 cartons of milk?” He replied, “They had avocados.” Headline David Beckham retires England’s most capped player and arguably the most famous player on the planet, David Beckham, announced his retirement on 16 May, 2013. Situation metonymies

40. immediacyfordistance (VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR PAST: narrative present, historical present, scientific present, headlines,etc. emergent meanings: immediacy, liveliness (VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR FUTURE and HYPOTHETICALITY scheduled future: emergent meaning: present availability conditional clause: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay in the house. The protasis is construed as factual relative to a hypothetical future configuration. (Fauconnier 1997) emergent meaning: present reasoning (?): (VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR RECURRENCE recurrent (habitual) events fused into one event emergent meaning: characteristic property: John smokes. (VIRTUAL) PRESENT FOR TIMELESSNESS generalizations, general truths, minutes, captions, stage directions, etc. emergent meaning: present validity Situation metonymies

41. (iii) WHOLE SITUATION – SUBEVENTS whole situation co-present subevent successive subevents salient concomitant peripheral Situation metonymies

42. co-presentsubevents: salientandconcomitantsubevents Situational ICM comprising two co-present blended subevents concomitant subevent metonymic highlighting of concomitant subeventand emergent´meaning salient subevent soundforSLOW AND TRADITIONAL action action sound The shop assistant rang up the purchase on the cash register. motion sound soundforNOISY AND FAST motion The train roared over the mountain tracks. mannerforROUGH motion motion manner The airplane bounced its way to a halt. verbal non-verbal non-verbal forVERBAL COMMUNICATION The queen raised an eyebrow yesterday when she was told of a play about a man who has a passionate affair with his pet goat. Situation metonymies

43. co-presentsubevents:salientandperiheralsubevents Situtional ICM comprising several co-present subevents metonymic highlighting of a salient subevent subevents salientsubeventforsetofsubevents linguisticcompetence: speaking, understanding, writing, reading My wife speaks Finnish = ‘she speaks, understands, writes and reads Finnish’ but: I don’t read Hebrew. events in fall 1989: salientsubeventforcomplexSUBevents fall of the Berlin Wall, opening of the borders, visa-free travel, freedom of speech, free elections, etc. When the wall came down = ‘unspecific sum of co-present subevents’ Situation metonymies

44. co-presentsubeventI have been sitting behind the wheel all day. The interpretation of this sentence involves: a) PERIPHERAL SUBEVENT EVENT FOR WHOLE SITUATION: sitting behind the wheel = ‘driving’, in particular steering b) blending of the peripheral (passive) event of sitting behind the steering wheel and the central (active) event of driving c) emergent meaning derived from sitting: the journey was long, tiring, tedious, boring, etc. Situation metonymies

45. sitting behind the wheel (Google) • Have been sitting behind the steering-wheel for more than six hours today. Driving, driving, driving. It seems that there is nothing more natural than driving. Streets, boulevards, avenues, highways, freeways, backside alleys. Six hours driving without changing places. (= endless and tiring activity of driving) • From the very first time you sit behind the wheel, your car becomes an important part of your life. (= first experience of driving) • 25% of Britons would sit behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, according to the poll. (= drinking and driving) Situation metonymies

46. CO-REPRESENT SUBEVENTS: Playing a musical instrument The ICM of ‘playing a musical instrument’ comprises the following aspects: 1. a musical instrument four types of instrument according to the means of sound production: brass, woodwind, percussion, and string instruments 2. the production of sound 3. the production of music by a musician playing a tune on a musical instrument Situation metonymies

47. Playing a musical instrument in different languages English: production of music: you play an instrument Finnish: production of sound: you sound an instrument Japanese: different means of sound production: you pluck, blow, beat, or sound an instrument Hausa: one means of sound production: you hit an instrument Situation metonymies

48. Playing a musical instrument in Japanese String instruments (guitar, violin, viola, harpsichord, piano, organ, accordion, etc.) are ‘plucked’(hiku). Brass and woodwind instruments (trumpet, trombone, flute, oboe, recorder, harmonica, etc.) are ‘blown’ (fuku). Percussion instruments (drum, castanets, tambourine, xylophone, etc.) are ‘beaten’(tataku). Percussion instruments that are shaken (maracas, handbell, etc.) are ‘sounded’ (narasu). Playing any musical instrument in a performance is expressed as ‘musical.performance-do’ (ensoo-suru). Situation metonymies

49. Whole situation– subevents whole situation co-present subevent successive subevents salient concomitant central final precondition initial end peripheral Situation metonymies

50. SUCCESSIVE SUBEVENTS FOR WHOLE EVENT“travel” ICM (Lakoff) “How did you get to the party?” Precondition: “I have a car.” Embarkation: “I hopped on a bus.” Center: “I drove.” Finish: You park and get out. End point: You are at your destination Situation metonymies