Transferts sémantiques et classes d'objets
Semantic transfers and classes of objects

Summary/Abstract: This article presents elements of a comprehensive description of metonymy for the purpose of automatic processing. We have used a descriptive approach, as we collected empirical data and performed lexical classification before leading to a widespread interpretation of the studied facts. The metonymy type described in this paper involves basic names that form classes of objects, such as that where elements from class A give their predicates to elements of class B, on the basis of a syntactico–semantic correlation. Therefore, we speak of a metonymic transfer between classes of arguments, which are linked by some underlying predicates that have the role of correlating these classes. We illustrate our approach by studying the container/content relationship. We are expounding, in the first step, the appropriate predicates that define joint <containers> names and names of <content> (this author has written a novel, I drive a car, etc..), after which we describe extensively predicates suitable for <content> (to read a novel, the car is parked), transferred by metonymy name <containers> (to read a writer, I am parked). Our lexical perspective has the advantage of a verifiable bottom–up analysis, since the description is directed from lexical fine sub–classes. It also highlights the systematic nature of metonymy, which involves a series of homogeneous words, and considers a formalization particularly suited for the demands of processing systems.

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