"I am ______." Figure of speech?

[halday]

If someone writes, "I am water" or "I am sky" or "I am science",
or any other non-sentient entity, what figure of speech is that?

 

[konungursvia]

It's likely a form of metonymy.

 

[halday]

I understand metonymy generally. A part or aspect represents the whole; e.g., "wheels" stands for
vehicle, "crown" stands for monarchy. In the subject case, the writer, although not a part of the
entirety, claims to BE the entirety. What form of metonymy could that be?

 

[konungursvia]

That's synecdoche. Metonymy is more generally one name in place of another. For example, I can call my daughter "honey" when she is clearly not edible, except perhaps from the point of view of a Grizzly Bear.

 

[5jj]

metonymy - definition. American English definition of metonymy by Macmillan Dictionary
[url]http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/synecdoche
[/URL]

 

[halday]

Thanks for your help

 

[Rover_KE]

Thanks for your help.

Remember your punctuation, halday.

In fact, although your appreciation is welcome there is no need to write a new post to say thank you. Simply click the Like button on any posts you found helpful. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question.

• Rover