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sold. Later one the last two meanings developed meanings of their
own: the last but one – the meaning “barrister” (She is training for
the bar) and the last one – “a place where food and drinks are
served”). It is where polysemy splits and homonymy starts.
The process of development of a new meaning (or a change
of meaning) is traditionally termed transference. Two types of
transference are distinguishable depending on the two types of
logical associations underlying the semantic process
Transference Based on Resemblance (Similarity) This type
of transference is also referred to as linguistic metaphor. A new
meaning appears as a result of associating two objects
(phenomena, qualities, etc.) due to their outward similarity. The
noun eye, for instance, has for one of its meanings "hole in the end
of a needle, which also developed through transference based on
resemblance. A similar case is represented by the neck of a bottle.
In general, metaphorical change of meaning is often observed in
idiomatic compounds. The main meaning of the noun branch is
"limb or subdivision of a tree or bush". On the basis of this
meaning it developed several more. One of them is "a special field
of science or art" (as in a branch of linguistics). This meaning
brings us into the sphere of the abstract, and shows that in
transference based on resemblance an association may be built not
only between two physical objects, but also between a concrete
object and an abstract concept.
Transference Based on Contiguity Another term for this type
of transference is linguitic metonymy. The association is based
upon subtle of psychological links between different objects and
phenomena, sometimes traced and identified with much difficulty.
The two objects may be associated together because they often
appear in common situations, and so the image of one is easily
accompanied by the image of the other; or they may be associated
on the principle of cause and effect, of common function, of some
material and an object which is made of it, etc. Let us consider
some cases of transference based on contiguity. You will notice

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