Лекция 9

Phraseology
1. General problems of phraseology.
Phraseology is a branch of Lexicology which studies and describes various kinds of
phrases characterized by different degree of stability and idiomacity in a given language.
Phraseological Units are non-motivated word-groups that can’t be freely made up in speech but
are reproduced as ready-made units.
The main problems;
- to define what a phraseological unit is;
- to find criteria to distinguish phraseological units from words and free word groups;
- to classify phraseological units;
- to determine the functions of phraseological units.

2. Phraseological units and free word-groups.

The largest 2-facet lexical unit comprising more than one word is free word-group observed on
syntagmatic level. The degree of structural and semantic cohesion of free word-groups may be
changed (a week ago, to be kind to people). Some word-groups which functionally and
semantically inseparable are called Phraseological Units (at least, by means of).
Phraseological Units are non-motivated word-groups that can’t be freely made up in
speech but are reproduced as ready-made units.
 The essential features of Phraseological Units are:
1. The criterion of stability (to shrug shoulders, to cast look)
2. The criterion of idiomaticity (red tape)
3. The criterion of function:
a) semantic inseparability:
heavy weight — free word-group,
heavy metal — phraseological unit;
b) grammatical inseparability:
long time — free word-group,
in the long run — phr - al unit.
4. The criterion of context. Free word-groups make up variable context, the essential feature of
phraseological units is a non-variable (fixed) context:
small town — free word-group,
small hours — phraseological unit
 Qualities of phraseological units are:
- euphonic (rhythm, rhyme, alliteration);
- imaginative;
- connotative (safe and sound, rack and ruin, far and wide, fair and square).

3. Classifications of Phraseological Units.

1. The classification was made by ac. Vinogradov V.V. It is based on the semantic principle.
- phraseological fusions – non-motivated (to kick the bucket);
- phraseological unities – partially motivated (to show one’s teeth);
- phraseological combinations – motivated (to bear a grudge).
2. Kunin’s classification is based on the structural-semantic principles.
- nominating phraseological units
 nominal (a tower of strength)
 adjectival (alive and kicking)
 adverbial (with all one’s heart)
  prepositional (by dint of sword)
- interjectional phraseological units (Sakes alive!)
- communicative phraseological units (Good health is above wealth)
- nominating-communicative phraseological units
 verbal (to cut and come again)
3. A. M. Smirnitsky’s classification.
a) Traditional phrases (motivated, not words equivalents, stylistically neutral: clench fists, to
take the chair, to shrug one’s shoulders).
b) Phraseological combinations;
- one summit (to be tired, by heart);
- two summit (first night, common sense).
c) Idioms – stylistically coloured (to fish in troubled waters).
4. Logan Smith classified phraseological units according to their sources of origin: in deep
water, in full sail (sea); to stand one’s ground, bag and baggage, like a shot (army); etc.

4. Proverbs.
A proverb is a short familiar saying, expressing popular wisdom, a truth or a moral lesson in a
concise and imaginative way. (We never know the value of water till the well is dry).