The Relationship between Metaphor and Metonymy

Metaphor and metonymy has been widely discussed in cognitive linguistics. However, there are also some problems concerning their relationship. Some linguists deem that metaphor is more basic than metonymy. While others claim metonymy is the foundation for metaphor, In this paper, so as to solve these uncertainties about their relationship and to present an overview of metaphor and metonymy, the paper will analyze the characteristic of metaphor and metonymy and then delineate their differences, hence reaching the relationship of metaphor and metonymy.