Introductory Concepts
Elementary Relationships
Extensions of Verbal Behavior
Multiple Controlling Relationships
Building on the Elementary Relationships
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26.5 Metonymical Extension Example #4

Saying “stop” as the result of seeing a red octagonal sign with no letters on it is another example of metonymical extension. The shape and color are irrelevant stimulus features that frequently accompany the written word “stop.”

Metonymical Extension

An instance of verbal behavior with the following features:

The response form has already been acquired in one or more of the elementary verbal relationships

The stimulus must be novel

The novel stimulus must have none of the relevant features of the class of stimuli that previously controlled the response

The type of elementary verbal relationship

Formal and dynamic characteristics of both the stimulus and the response

Whether or not the current response is followed by reinforcement

A speech bubble on a stop sign.
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Wouldn’t this be considered metaphorical extension instead of metonymical because it has many features of a stop sign which is what elicits the verbal response of “stop”?

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