tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9092237.post893612155292396503..comments2023-09-20T01:31:22.870-07:00Comments on Words Worth: metonymyJohn Horlivyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294891031282746948noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9092237.post-71110140220429779102009-11-06T17:46:31.199-08:002009-11-06T17:46:31.199-08:00Thanks for the excellent question! Substituting &q...Thanks for the excellent question! Substituting "spooks" for "MI-5 agents" is an instance of another figure of speech called periphrasis, "substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or of a proper name for a quality associated with the name." For "MI-5 agents" — spies who can see and listen to others without being visible to them — we substitute "spooks" — aka ghosts, who in our imaginations can do something of the same. But because the two terms involve a substitution of two different entities that have some quality in common, MI-5/spooks could also be seen as a metaphor, substituting "I knew you were a spook" for "I knew you were an MI-5 agent." Metonymy does not appear to be in action in this case .— Bloggin' John.John Horlivyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00294891031282746948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9092237.post-7805797398095911842009-11-06T08:55:19.810-08:002009-11-06T08:55:19.810-08:00How about "Spooks" for MI-5 agents?How about "Spooks" for MI-5 agents?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com