English phraseology

1. English phraseology. Characteristics of phraseological units.

1.1. Semantic unity.

1.2. Structural stability.

1.3. Phraseology and free word-combinations.

2. Types of English phraseologisms.

   1. Thematic classification.

   2. Etymological classification.

   3. Functional types.

   4. Structural types.

   5. Semantic types.

3. Use of idioms.

3.1 Stylistics features

3.2 Rhetoric features:

3.2.1. Phonetic manipulation:

3.2.2. Lexical manipulation:

3.2.3. Figures of speech:

4. Variations of idioms.

5. Semantic relations in phraseology.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Arnold, Irina. The English Word. - Moscow: Vyshaja Shkola. 1966. – Chapter 1 “Introduction” P. 11 – 50.; Chapter 8 “Set Expressions” P.181-208.

Антрушина Г.Б., Афанасьева О.В., Морозова Н.Н. Лексикология английского языка: Учебник для пед. вузов. – 3-е изд-е. - – М.: Дрофа, 2001. – C. 225 - 258.

Rayevskaya N.M. English Lexicology. – Kiev: “Vysca Scola”, 1979. – Chapter 13 “English Phraseology” P. 265-283.

Квеселевич Д.І., Сасіна В.П. Практикум з лексикології сучасної англійської мови: Навч. пос.- Вінниця: Вид-во “Нова книга”, 2001. – С. 84 - 94.

Кунин А.В. Курс фразеологии современного английского языка: Учебник для инст-тов и фак. иностр. яз. – 2-е изд., перер. – М.: Высш. шк. , 1996. (Разделы: «Устойчивость фразеологических единиц» С. 46 – 98; «Системность фразеологии и семантическая структура фразеологических единиц» С. 101 – 198; «Происхождение фразеологических единиц современного английского языка» С. 212-241.)

Main concepts of the theme:

functional types of phraseological units;

fusion;

half-fusion;

half-unity;

homophrase;

idiom;

nominative phraseological unit;

nominative-communicative phraseological unit;

non-separability (inseparability);

phraseological expression;

phraseological antonym;

phraseological homonym;

phraseological synonym;

phraseological unit ;

phraseological variant;

proverb;

reproducibility;

saying;

separability;

stable idiomatic simile;

structural types of phraseological units;

English idioms

Characteristics: semantic unity and structural stability.

Gradable idiomaticity: “true” idioms - “semi-idioms” - regular combinations.

Classification of idioms

criteria	types	subtypes	examples
grammatical function (part of speech)	nominal /substantive function as nouns		white elephant. Grass widow
	adjectival function as adjectives		wide of the mark, beyond the pale.
	verbal function as verbs	phrasal verbs V + Prep and/or Particle	look into, get away with
		verb phrases	call it a day, come back to earth, make ends meet.
	adverbial function as adverbs		tooth and nail, in nothing flat, in color
	interjectional function as interjections		Good heaves! My eye!
communicative function	nominative correlate with different parts of speech		When pigs fly; a dark horse
	communicative proverbs and sayings		Don’t count your chickens until they are hatched.
	nominative-communicative can be transformed into sentences		to break the ice – the ice is broken
	pragmatic: responsives		My Lord! Bless you!
structure	‘to give up’ type		to nose out; to buy into; to sandwich in
	‘to be tired’ type		to be interested in; to be fond of
	prepositional-nominal		on the doorstep; on the nose
	sentence type	declarative sentences	There is no use crying over the spilt milk.
		interrogative sentences	Could leopard change its spots?
		imperative sentences	First think, then speak.
		exclamatory sentences
theme	e.g. associated with sea, or including ‘marine’ element		to be in low waters; to be all at sea; to be in the wrong boat; to be in the same boat
etymology	native
	borrowed		to take the bull by the horns (It.)
semantic type	fusion non-motivated word-group		white elephant; to pull smb’s leg
	half-fusion word group with leading literal component and idiomatically fused components		to buy for a song; to rain cats and dogs
	unity metaphorically motivated		to make a mountain of a molehill “to exaggerate trifles” ;
	half-unity binary word-group with one literal component		husband’s tea “weak tea”; French leave “to leave without saying good-bye”
	phraseological collocation standardized phrases with limited valency		to make friends, to do one’s hair
	phraseological expression proverbs, sayings, quotations		No pains, no gains