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1

English & Linguistics / Ok, what's this called?

« on: April 14, 2005, 03:22:20 PM »

Hmm... I asked a housemate and he went on about it being a figure of catachresis, which is both figurative and literal at the same time, or so say the American Deconstructionalists.  I think the conversation went on from there, and I think I was violated, but at that point I was no longer sure of what was happening.  You do things with words before you refer to the world!

For once, I'm glad to be a biochemist.

Edit:  So it makes sense... I think.  And might I add that I prefer the explanation offered here.  I bet he was just trying to sound smart.  Well, I'll show him I will.

2

English & Linguistics / Ok, what's this called?

« on: April 14, 2005, 03:00:34 PM »

For some reason this is bugging me today.  I understand that the "leg" of a chair is not really a leg, in that it doesn't have feet, isn't attached to a body, etc. and so is a metaphor.  But, at the same time, the real word for the object is a "leg".  So... is it still a metaphor?  Help a poor biochemist out.