SYNECDOCHE

by **Dr. Goodword** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:16 pm

• synecdoche •

Pronunciation: sê-nek-dê-kee • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: 1. The metaphorical technique of naming a specific part when referring to the whole. 2. Naming the whole to indicate a part.

Notes: Today's Good Word is the proper literary term for a habit that is ubiquitous in common speech. The adjective for it is synecdochic(al) and you may use the adverb when you speak synecdochically. The practice of using synecdoches is synecdochism.

In Play: You avail yourself of synecdoche every time you say a neighbor lives two doors down the street, meaning houses. When your teenaged son whose English grades are low says, "I can't go out tonight, the 'rents have the wheels," he is saying "car" with one of the major rhetorical devices of English. The reverse situation, using a whole to refer to a part, is also synecdoche: "I think Ghana is going to beat Brazil in the World Cup," besides being wishful thinking, is a synecdoche in which wholes (Ghana, Brazil) refer to only parts of themselves (the Ghanan and Brazilian soccer teams).

Word History: Today's Good Word was taken whole from Greek synekdoche, the noun of the verb syn-ek-dechesthai "to take a part of". This verb comprises a prefix syn- "with, together" + a stem ek "out of" + dechomai "to take, receive." Ekdechomai alone means "take" in the sense of "understand", the opposite of the meaning of mistake. The -doche is cousin to Latin doc-ere "to teach", found in English words such as doctor and dogma. (Saying 'Thank you' to Katy Brezger for suggesting today's Good Word is almost synecdoche in the Agora, since it expresses only a part of our gratitude.)

by **Brazilian dude** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:46 pm

I think Ghana is going to beat Brazil in the World Cup," besides being wishful thinking, is a synecdoche in which wholes (Ghana, Brazil) refer to only parts of themselves (the Ghanan and Brazilian soccer teams).

Hahaha, you can say that again. Hexacampeões!

Brazilian dude

by **Stargzer** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:02 am

Hexacampeões

OK, I had to look that one up with Systranet. The best it could do was "champions" when I cleaved the word in twain. (Hint for the Good Doctor about a recently suggested GWOTD.

) Champions of Hex? Does this mean the Brazilian team is know for the use of VooDoo to win games? Is that why that sharp pain appeared in my foot last week?

by **Brazilian dude** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:57 am

Hexa means six in Greek, we'll be champions for the sixth time if we win the next World Cup. Not that I care, mind you, and I really don't, hahaha.

Brazilian dude

by **Stargzer** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:47 pm

Brazilian dude wrote:Hexa means six in Greek, we'll be champions for the sixth time if we win the next World Cup. Not that I care, mind you, and I really don't, hahaha.

Brazilian dude

Yeah, I figured something like that, like hexane, from my misspent youth. I can't count in Portuguese, but I can order 2 or three beers in French and Spanish.

by **Brazilian dude** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:47 pm

Um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez.

Duas cervejas, por favor.

Brazilian dude

by **Stargzer** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:47 pm

Brazilian dude wrote:Um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez.

Duas cervejas, por favor.

Brazilian dude

Duas Xingu, por favor. Muito obrigado!

by **Brazilian dude** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:56 pm

Xingu? Não conheço essa marca. Umas cervejas mais conhecidas são a Brahma, a Antartica, a Skol e a Belco, mas eu não bebo.

Brazilian dude

by **Stargzer** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:23 am

Brazilian dude wrote:Xingu? I do not know this mark. Known beers more are the Brahma,
the Antartica, the Skol and the Belco, but I do not drink.

Brazilian dude

I had a Xingu as one of the 100 beers I drank to complete my World Beer Club passport. (Not all at once! I paced myself over 8 months!) The others you mentioned are listed in this Wikipedia article. Maybe Xingu is like Foster's: brewed for export and not drunk by the locals. I saw on the can and bottle that the Foster's and Sapporo I had are brewed in Canada.

So who's drinking your 50 liters? :lol:

by **Brazilian dude** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:57 am

Brazilian dude wrote:
Xingu? I do not know this mark. Known beers more are the Brahma,
the Antartica, the Skol and the Belco, but I do not drink.

Brazilian dude

I didn't know my Portuguese was that bad. :shock:

Brazilian dude

by **tcward** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:41 am

Your Portuguese is fine... but your automated-English sucks!

-Tim

by **Brazilian dude** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:44 am

That's what I get from conversing with the gringos.

Brazilian dude

by **Stargzer** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:31 pm

Brazilian dude wrote:
Brazilian dude wrote:
Xingu? I do not know this mark. Known beers more are the Brahma,
the Antartica, the Skol and the Belco, but I do not drink.

Brazilian dude

I didn't know my Portuguese was that bad.

Brazilian dude

'Twas Systanet.com's translation. Your Portuguese is most likely impeccable for a Brazilian. :wink:

==========

Darn that lack of a spiel checkor!

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