2006-12-23 13:19:52 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
This depends upon what you mean- is the inanimate object taking on physical features of a human? In that case, we're talking anthropomorphism.
If you're speaking in a sense of an inanimate object embodying a personality, that's personification or humanisation.
2006-12-23 13:28:23 · answer #1 · answered by the_dude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that personification really answers your question rather than anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs and/or facial features. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification.)
The King and Queen of Hearts and their playing-card courtiers comprise only one example of Carroll’s extensive use of anthropomorphism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Personification (I) Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions and perceptions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism.)
Malamud personifies Hobbs’ bat, giving it a name, Wonderboy, referring to it using personal pronouns, and stating that "he went hungry" during Hobbs’ batting slump.
Personification (II) Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person.
The Greeks personified natural forces as gods; for example, the god Poseidon was the personification of the sea and its power over man.
2006-12-23 21:49:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personification
2006-12-24 11:50:05 · answer #3 · answered by Rubber * Duckie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personification
2006-12-23 21:45:46 · answer #4 · answered by Bubbles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In literature and poetry it is known as "the pathetic fallacy".
Correction (I should have read the question properly before answering) the above is when human characteristics are bestowed on animate (not IN-animate) so I haven't answered your question at all. I guess I'm a bit bleary-eyed sitting up waiting for Santa. Sorry.
2006-12-24 19:45:03 · answer #5 · answered by PAUL H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anthropomorphism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism
2006-12-23 21:22:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Anyone seen the Personification Band Wagon?
Oh there it is......I'm on.
2006-12-24 05:08:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The word for this, most commonly, is "personification".
2006-12-23 21:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by barjesse37 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
personification
2006-12-27 14:14:02 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
personification
2006-12-24 07:57:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋