Ngá Nghä©a Unit 4

NGỮ NGHĨA HỌC.
UNIT 4: TYPES OF MEANING (continued)
UNIT OUT LINE
I. TYPES OF MEANING
A. WORD MEANING
1. Denotative meaning
2. Connotative meaning
B. SENTENCE MEANING (continued)
1. Literal meaning
2. Figurative meaning / Figures of speech
SENTENCE MEANING
FIGURES OF SPEECH
1. Irony
2. Sarcasm
3. Simile
4. Metaphor
5. Synecdoche
6. Metonymy
7. Personification
8. Hyperbole
9. Euphemism
1. Irony (châm biếm nhẹ): Saying the opposite of one’s thought for emphasis, for fun or
mocking.
Ex: + He is so kind that he let all the housework for me to do. (He is not kind at all)
+ He is so intelligent that no examiner has agreed to pass him so far.(He is rather stupid.)
2. Sarcasm (châm biếm nặng) /’sa:kæzǝm/ : bitter irony; sneeringly ironical remarks to
hurt somebody’s feelings.
Ex: + “The more I know about human beings, the more I want to be an animal”
(Jungle Boy) (Human beings are worse than animals!)
+ “Oh yes, we know how clever you are!” “Well, Mr. Know-it-all, What’s
the answer this time?”
3. Simile (so sánh trực tiếp) /’sımılı/: direct / explicit comparison using comparison words
‘like, as’ or comparison form.
Ex: He eats like a tiger (he eats as much as a tiger does.)
He is as poor as a church mouse (he is very poor)
4. Metaphor (ẩn dụ) /’metǝfǝ/: indirect / implied comparison (no comparison words ‘like,
as’.
a. Form of metaphor A = B (2 different objects are put on the same rank to compare
usually with ‘to be’) Ex: He is a pig ; he is a tail
1
A’s feature for B a noun as a verb. Ex: He apes my betters
A noun as an adjective. Ex: wavy hair; silky
hair
A verb for one type used for another.
Ex: Have you digested the lesson yet?
The committee shot my ideas down one by one
Từ ghép
b. Types of metaphor
 Dead metaphor: A metaphor used as a fixed expression or idiom.
Its meaning is fixed
Usually the speaker uses it naturally and unconsciously
Ex: the eye of a needle; the head quarter
 Live metaphor Used consciously, intentionally by a speaker
With various figurative meanings.
Its meaning depends on the situation
Ex: ‘He is a pig’ (may mean fat; lazy; stupid; dirty; greedy etc.)
5. Synecdoche /sı´nekdǝki/ : substitution of the whole for the part & vice versa
Ex:+ Vietnam won the football match (VN is used to refer to VN football team;
whole for part)
+ I don’t want you to come under my roof (= my house) (part for whole)
6. Metonymy /mǝ´tɒnǝmi/: substitution of related words (not whole – part)

Ways to identify a metonymy
 Container – Contained
Ex: - Very thirsty, he gulped down the whole bottle (= liquid in the bottle)
- As the teacher came in, the whole class stood up to greet him. (all the
students)
 Author – Works
Ex: - Have you read Khái Hưng yet? (= the novels of Khái Hưng)
- This is not a Picasso (= a painting by Picasso)
- His words can be trusted (= the speaker)
 Profession – Means
Ex: - I live on my pen (a writer)
- My Tyson lives on his gloves (a boxer)
 Symbol - Reality / Concrete - Abstract
Ex: - He tries his best to win her heart (= her love)
- He succeeded to the crown. (= the royal office)
- He has the tongue of king. (= the talent of tasting food)
- She has an ear for music. (= the talent for appreciating, enjoying … music)
 Material – Object made of it
- All our glass is kept in the cupboard. (= vessels and objects made of glass)
- You can get our gold in the upper drawer. (= jewelry made of gold)
7. Personification: Endowing an inanimate object with human qualities.

Ex: - The leaves are dancing in the morning wind. (= moving)
- The waves tore the ship into pieces. (= destroyed completely)
2
8. Hyperbole /haı´pɜ:bǝli/ (cường điệu): overstatement or exaggeration
Ex: - I’m so hungry that I can swallow a cow (= extremely hungry)
- I’ve invited millions of people to my party (= a lot of)
- I haven’t seen you for ages. (= a long time)
9. Euphemism /’ju:fǝmızǝm/ (uyển ngữ, nói tránh)

 avoid using some expressions because of taboo
 Death. Ex: my grandpa passed away (died)
 Toilet. Ex: Where’s the restroom please?
 Sexual relation. Ex: This is not a place for you to make love
 avoid using some expressions which may hurt the speaker (also called Litotes)
(negative, offensive or too direct or rude)
Ex: - She is not very beautiful. (= ugly)
- The U.S. decided to help the developing countries. (= poor, underdeveloped
countries)
- I don’t think you’re right (= you’re wrong)
Exercise 16: Identify the type of figure of speech used in the following sentences then give their
literal meaning.
1. My hands are as cold as ice.
2. I’ll make him eat his words.
3. He is the best pen of the day.
4. She has a good head of business.
5. Their Majesty died a year ago.
6. She usually sheds floods of tears whenever she is upset.
7. We need a force of a thousand rifles.
8. You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
9. He washed his hand out of the matter.
10. He looks as though he hasn’t had a square meal for months.
11. Who brought fire and sword into our country?
12. Why don’t you recognize the power of the purse?
13. I found the 52 pounds of books you let for me to carry. Your kindness really moves me.
3
14. The man is a demon for work.
15. They organized a fleet of 50 sails.
16. She is a girl of 20 summers.
17. When you take that course, plan to study 30 hours a day.
18. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.
19. Grey hairs should be respected.
20. Spare the rod, spoil the child.
21. Don’t live in such a sea of doubt.
22. When the White House called, the ambassador came at once.
23. My dormitory room is like a cave.
24. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.
25. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
26. The princess captures the hearts of the nation.
27. He has a kind heart.
28. The river ate the bank away.
29. The captain was in charge of 100 horses.
30. You can depend on Paul; he is a rock when trouble comes.
31. Life is a dream.
32. Research says that these methods are best.
33. Little Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress.
34. There was a storm in Parliament last night.
35. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.
36. We are tired to death of such movies.
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37. His words can be trusted.
38. The boss gave her a hot look.
39. He could not bridle his anger.
40. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
41. Death is laying his icy hand on the Queen.
42. The pen is mightier than the sword.
43. A camel is a ship in a desert.
44. Your charm and good looks exceed your wit.
45. With friends like you, who needs enemies?!
46. You have to pay the earth for such a masterpiece!
47. Luck almost always turns back to those who dare not face difficulty.
48. A dead leaf fell in my lap; that was Jack Frost’s card.
49. The ship plowed the sea.
50. The captain exploded with rage when the soldiers disobeyed him.

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NGỮ NGHĨA HỌC.

UNIT 4: TYPES OF MEANING (continued)

UNIT OUT LINE

6. Metonymy /mǝ´tɒnǝmi/: substitution of related words (not whole – part)

7. Personification: Endowing an inanimate object with human qualities.

9. Euphemism /’ju:fǝmızǝm/ (uyển ngữ, nói tránh)

2. I’ll make him eat his words.

3. He is the best pen of the day.

4. She has a good head of business.

5. Their Majesty died a year ago.

6. She usually sheds floods of tears whenever she is upset.

7. We need a force of a thousand rifles.

9. He washed his hand out of the matter.

10. He looks as though he hasn’t had a square meal for months.

11. Who brought fire and sword into our country?

12. Why don’t you recognize the power of the purse?

15. They organized a fleet of 50 sails.

16. She is a girl of 20 summers.

19. Grey hairs should be respected.

20. Spare the rod, spoil the child.

21. Don’t live in such a sea of doubt.

23. My dormitory room is like a cave.

26. The princess captures the hearts of the nation.

27. He has a kind heart.

28. The river ate the bank away.

29. The captain was in charge of 100 horses.

30. You can depend on Paul; he is a rock when trouble comes.

31. Life is a dream.

32. Research says that these methods are best.

33. Little Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress.

34. There was a storm in Parliament last night.

35. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.

36. We are tired to death of such movies.

38. The boss gave her a hot look.

39. He could not bridle his anger.

40. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.

41. Death is laying his icy hand on the Queen.

42. The pen is mightier than the sword.

43. A camel is a ship in a desert.

44. Your charm and good looks exceed your wit.

45. With friends like you, who needs enemies?!

46. You have to pay the earth for such a masterpiece!

49. The ship plowed the sea.

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