Comments on: Can the Internet answer a question?

Question: Can the Internet answer a question?

lgandme0717 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:05:40 -0800

What's the linguistic term for this?: In a sentence like "The pharmacy called about your prescription," it's understood that it was actually someone *at* the pharmacy, not the building itself, that called.

My child took part in a language study that had a bunch of questions like this. For example, they asked, "Can a CD be loud?" and then a minute later asked a different version like, "Can a song be loud?" The researchers aimed to examine at what age children can interpret statements like this appropriately. I can't remember what they said this linguistic term was, and now it's driving me crazy. Thanks in advance!

By: nasreddin

nasreddin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:09:47 -0800

Metonymy?

By: ian1977

ian1977 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:10:01 -0800

This doesn't answer your question but couldn't 'pharmacy' mean 'pharmacy team' and not just 'pharmacy building'?

By: protorp

protorp — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:10:52 -0800

Metonymy

By: protorp

protorp — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:11:27 -0800

Drinks on me nasreddin?

By: lgandme0717

lgandme0717 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:18:15 -0800

Yes, yes, metonymy is it! Thank you so much for your lightning-fast responses!!

By: Knappster

Knappster — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:32:01 -0800