10. English phraseology.

Free word-groups and set phrases. Criteria of stability and idiomaticity of phraseological units. The definition of a phraseological unit. Classification of phraseological units suggested by V.V. Vinogradov, A.I. Smirnitsky, N.N. Amosova, A.V. Kunin.

Phraseology is the most discussed and controversial problem. The term phraseological unit is accepted in our country. Foreign linguists use such terms as idioms, set expressions, word equivalents.

Phraseological units are defined as non-motivated word-groups that cannot be freely made up in speech but are reproduced as readymade.

It assumed that unlike components of free word-groups components of PU are reproduced as single unchangeable collocations.

E.g red in a free word-group red flower may be substituted by any adjective denoting colour. In the PU red tape no such substitution is possible. It is semantically non-motivated.

Most linguists base their research work on the definition of the PU offered by professor Kunin: a PU is a stable word-group characterized by a completely or partially transferred meaning.

Taking into account the degree of idiomaticity academician Vinogradov classified PU into 3 groups:

1) phraseological fusions completely non-motivated word-groups.

E.g. red tape, to keep the bucket

2) phraseological unities – partially motivated units, their meaning can be easily understood through the metaphoric meaning of the whole PU.

E.g. to wash one’s dirty linen in public.

3) phraseological combinations which are motivated but are made up of words having specific lexical valency.

E.g. to take a liking or fancy but not hatred.

Prof Smirnitsky applies the functional approach to his classification which means that each PU functions as a word equivalent. He distinguishes 3 types of stable phrases:

1) idioms – combinations of words which have a metaphorical meaning.

E.g. to fish in troubled waters.

2) phraseological units which are subdivided into 3 groups:

- one summit PU: to give up, for good;

- two-summit PU: husband’s tea.

- many summit units: to see how the land lies.

3) traditional phrases are not equivalent to words, each of the components has its meaning. Still they are stable as they are traditional.

E.g. subtle humour, to take an exam.

They do not belong to phraseology.

Prof Amosova based her classification on the contextual principle. PU are subdivided into phrasemes and idioms.

Phrasemes are usually two-member units in which one of the members has a specialized meaning dependent on the 2d element.

E.g. a pipe dream.

An idiom forms a semantic whole & has an integral sense. Idioms are semantically & grammatically inseparable.

E.g. to pay through the nose.

Prof Kunin subdivides the PUs acc to their function in communication:

1) nominative PU: birds of a feather;

2) nominative-communicative PU: to break eyes = the eyes is broken;

3) interjectional PU: by joke, oh my God;

4) communicative PU represented by proverbs and sayings: It’s no use crying over spilt milk.