COGNITIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE PHENOMENON OF METONYMY

Abstract

Following structural linguistics, considering metonymy as a figure of meaning based on a contiguity relationship, lexical semantics considers metonymy as a mechanism for expanding lexical meaning.  Cognitive linguistics regards metonymy as a way of thinking and a cognitive process based on conceptual contiguity.  Metonymy in cognitive linguistics is considered a conceptual phenomenon that structures and shapes of human thinking and language.  This tool is also considered ubiquitous in the language and has cognitive and communication functions.