Баяндама: Идиома әлемінде

Content

1. Introduction

а) The aim of research work

b) History of the development of phraseology

c) The hypothesis

2. Main body

a) The definition of the term “idiom”

b) The origin of the word “idiom”

c) The Structure of Idioms

d) Idioms groups

3. Conclusion

4. Used literature

1. Introduction

I’ll start by saying that I got acquainted with idioms last year. I was greatly surprised when I learnt that idioms can’t be translated word by word, because their meanings depend on the meaning of the whole expression.

More over idioms are widely used in the oral speech, in the magazines’ articles, dialogues adding to the language bright and colorful shades of meaning. Obviously without knowing the meaning of the idiom you won’t be able to get the essence of the joke, because as a rule every joke is based on the variety of their meanings.

The English language is full of idioms (over 15,000). Native speakers of English use idioms all the time, often without realizing that they are doing so. This means that communication with native speakers of English can be quite a confusing experience.

We use idioms to express something that other words do not express as clearly or as cleverly. We often use an image or symbol to describe something as clearly as possible and thus make our point as effectively as possible. For example, "in a nutshell" suggests the idea of having all the information contained within very few words. Idioms tend to be informal and are best used in spoken rather than written English.

The field for my research is the idiomatic similes. To my mind they are widely used in all spheres of our life and if you know their translation exactly you will use them just in the right place and time.

The aim of research work is to learn more about the world of the English idioms and attract my classmates’ attention to them, proving that using idioms in our speech makes it brighter and more intelligent.

Phraseology is the study of set or fixed expressions, such as idioms, phrasal verbs, and other types of multi-word lexical units (often collectively referred to as phrasemes), in which the component parts of the expression take on a meaning more specific than or otherwise not predictable from the sum of their meanings when used independently.

The study of phraseological figurativeness is one of the main and perspective aspects of modern phraseology development. World vision through the phraseological images is specific for each nationality and can be observed as one of characteristics of language system specificity. In this case the great interest is presented with comparative phraseologisms as one of the more efficient means of figurativeness and expressiveness.

“The figurativeness as real peculiarity of various levels’ language units is manifested in their ability to call in our consciousness visual images, bright pictures on the basis of which we accept objectively real and definitely logical content of these units…”.

By phraseological figurativeness we mean “combined vision of two pictures” out of which the third one, new, appears absorbing all the necessary significant features of the previous ones. In other words, we may say about the image as ‘the form of new idea’s embodiment.

As the result of combinability of these features new structures are formed in our consciousness, so called ‘concepts’. The concept is “mental representation which determines the way things associate with each other and how they refer to definite categories… ”. The main role which concepts play in our thinking is categorization; it is the ability to group all the objects possessing definite similarities into corresponding classes.

No doubt, phraseologisms bear the “pictorial” character, among which we mark out the following types: “pictures”, concept-schemes, concept-frames and concept-sceneries.

1.2 History of the development of phraseology

Phraseology is a scholarly approach to a language which developed in the twentieth century. It took its start when Charles Bally's notion of locutions

phraseologiques entered Russian lexicology and lexicography in the 1930s and 1940s and was subsequently developed in the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. From the late 1960s it established itself in (East) German linguistics but was also sporadically approached in English linguistics. The earliest English adaptations of phraseology are by Weinreich (1969) within the approach of  transformational grammar, Arnold (1973), and Lipka (1992 [1974]). In Great Britain as well as other Western European countries, phraseology has steadily been developed over the last twenty years. The activities of the European Society of Phraseology (EUROPHRAS) and the European Association for Lexicography (EURALEX) with their regular conventions and publications attest to the prolific European interest in phraseology. Bibliographies of recent studies on English and general phraseology are included in Welte (1990) and specially collected in Cowie & Howarth (1996) whose bibliography is reproduced and continued on the internet and provides a rich source of the most recent publications in the field.

The hypothesis is that by using idioms you can distinguish a native speaker from the advanced learner and the beginner in studying the English language.

The methods of research used:

analysis

comparison

questionnair

2. Main part

The definition of the term “idiom”

An idiom is a set expression, the meaning of which is different from the literal meanings of its components. It refers to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use. Idioms present a great variety of structures and combinations that are mostly unchangeable and often not logical and may not follow basic rules of grammar.

The Webster dictionary gives following definition: Idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent element as kick the bucket, hang one's head etc., or from the general grammatical rules of language, as the table round for the round table, and which is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics.

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of English Idioms gives us definition of “idiom”. The word ‘idiom’ is used to describe the ‘special phrases’ that are an essential part of a language. Idioms may be ‘special’ in different ways: for example, the expression to kick the bucket seems to follow the normal rules of grammar, although we cannot say ‘kick a bucket’ or ‘kick the buckets’ , but it is impossible to guess that it means ‘to die’. Phrases like all right, on second thoughts, and same here, which are used in everyday English, and especially in spoken English, are ‘special’ because they are fixed units of language that clearly do not follow the normal rules of grammar.

Another formulation of “idiom (Dubrovin M., 'Russian-English Idioms) is set phraseological units which meaning does not result from the meaning of its components.

The definition by Dean Curry is “the assigning of a new meaning to a group of words which already have their own meaning”. Idioms are informal in nature and although they appear in literature, they are not necessary considered to be “literary”. They are often colloquial, often slang, and through overuse can become cliches. Idioms may be adjectival, adverbial, verbal, or nominal. They also may take the form of traditional saying and proverbs.

The origin of the word “idiom”

In fact, the word idiom comes from the Greek root idio, meaning a unique signature. Thus, each language contains expressions that make no sense when translated literally into another tongue.

Some idioms of the "worldwide English" have first been seen in the works of writers like Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Lewis Carroll or even in the paperbacks of contemporary novelists. An example of Shakespearian quotation can be found in the following sentence:"As a social worker, you certainly see the seamy side of life." Biblical references are also the source of many idioms. Sports terms, technical terms,

legal terms, military slang and even nautical expressions have found their way to the everyday use of English language.

Many idioms are similar to expressions in other languages and can be easy for a learner to understand. Other idioms come from older phrases which have changed over time.
To hold one's horses means to stop and wait patiently for someone or something. It comes from a time when people rode horses and would have to hold their horses while waiting for someone or something.
"Hold your horses," I said when my friend started to leave the store.
Other idioms come from such things as sports that are common in the United Kingdom or the United States and may require some special cultural knowledge to easily understand them.
To cover all of one's bases means to thoroughly prepare for or deal with a situation. It comes from the American game of baseball where you must cover or protect the bases.
I tried to cover all of my bases when I went to the job interview.

What for do we use idioms?

1. For emphasis, e.g. The singer’s second album sank like a stone, [failed completely]

2. To agree with a previous speaker, e.g.

A: Did you notice how Lisa started listening when you said her name?

B: Yes, that certainly made her prick her ears up. [start listening carefully]

3. To comment on people, e.g. Did you hear Tom has been invited for dinner with the prime minister? He’s certainly gone up in the world! [gained a better social position - or more money - than before]

4. To comment on a situation, e.g. The new finance minister wants to knock the economy into shape, [take action to get something into a good condition]

5. To make an anecdote more interesting, e.g. It was just one disaster after another today, a sort of domino effect, [when something, usually bad, happens and causes a series of other things to happen]

6. To catch the reader’s eye. Idioms - particularly those with strong images - are often used in headlines, advertising slogans and the names of small businesses. The writer may play with the idiom or make a pun (a joke involving a play on words) in order to create a special effect, e.g. a debt of dishonour instead of the usual debt of honour, [a debt that you owe someone for moral rather than financial reasons]

7. To indicate membership of a particular group, e.g. surfers drop in on someone, meaning to get on a wave another surfer is already on.

We will see and hear idioms in all sorts of speaking and writing. They are particularly common in everyday conversation and in popular journalism. For example, they are often found in magazine horoscopes, e.g. You’ll spend much of this week licking your wounds [trying to recover from a bad experience], or in problem pages, e.g. Do you think that my relationship has run its course? [come to a natural end] However, idioms are also used in more formal contexts, such as lectures, academic essays and business reports, e.g. It is hoped the regulations will open the door to better management, [let something new start].

Common metaphors in idioms. What is a metaphor?

Metaphors describe a person, object or situation by comparing it to something else with similar characteristics. They are often used in poetry and literature. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for example, Romeo says ‘Juliet is my sun’, suggesting that she is the most important force in his life, bringing him light and warmth.

Many idioms are based on metaphors. However, idioms are expressions that are used so frequently and are so fixed in the language that people often do not think about the metaphors behind them. The metaphors used in idioms are therefore much less original and thought-provoking than those used in literary contexts. People say, for example, ‘The new president was / took centre stage at the meeting’ [was the most important or noticeable thing or person], without thinking of the original image of a theatre.

Why idioms and metaphors are so important?

Firstly, they are important because they are very common. It is impossible to speak, read, or listen to English without meeting idiomatic language.

The second reason is that very often the metaphorical use of a word is more common today than its literal use. For example, we know that farmers plough their field, but we can plough through a long novel or report; we can plough on with our work; we can plough money into a business; profits can be ploughed back into a company; a lorry can plough into a row of parked cars. Using plough in its literal farming meaning is now much rarer than all its other non-literal uses.

Types of idioms

Binominals

Binomials are a type of idiom in which two words are joined by a conjunction (linking word), usually and. The order of the two words is fixed. For example, we always say black and white, NOT white and black: Managing climate change isn't a black and white issue, [separate and clear]

The words can be:

1. synonyms (words which mean the same): Sara’s work is always very neat and tidy;

2. opposites: If you go for cheaper speakers, the sound quality may be a bit hit and miss, [sometimes good, sometimes had (informal)];

3. the same word: They finished the race neck and neck, [equal];

4. rhyming: Tables in the canteen take a lot of wear and tear, [damage through everyday use];

5. alliterative: After the match the players’ legs were black and blue, [very bruised];

6. joined by words other than and: The traffic was bumper to bumper all the way to the coast, [very heavy] Little by little, Vera gained the horse’s confidence, [gradually] The house must be worth a quarter of a million, give or take a few thousand, [plus or minus (informal)];

Trinomials are a similar type of idiom, in which three words are joined, e.g. I’ve looked here, there and everywhere for my glasses but can’t find them, [everywhere]

Euphemisms

Euphemisms are a type of idiom used to avoid saying words which may offend or be considered unpleasant. They are useful to learn, as they will help to communicate using language which is appropriate for the situation.

Euphemisms are used:

1. To talk about subjects which may upset or offend, such as death.

It was obvious he was not long for this world, but he never lost his sense of humour. [going to die soon]

To avoid using direct words for body functions

I’m just going to spend a penny. [use the toilet (UK public toilets used to charge a penny.)]

2. For humorous effect when telling anecdotes.

My boss was effing and blinding because he had lost a confidential report. [swearing (some common English swear words begin with f or b) (informal)]

3. By the media or political instructions to tone down unpleasant situations.

Many soldiers have made a supreme / ultimate sacrifice for their country. [died]

He died in a friendly fire accident. [killed by his own side, not by the enemy]

Comparing and analyzing English and Russian idioms

There is a plenty of Russian phraseologisms that don’t have any analogs in the English language. For example, «повесить нос», «один как перст», «без царя в голове», «душа в пятки ушла», «губа не дура», «на лбу написано», «а Васька слушает да ест», «слона-то я и не приметил», «рыльце в пуху», «мартышкин труд», «медвежья услуга». 

While comparing and analyzing English and Russian idioms, I noticed a similarity in their structure, figure of speech and style:

Russian idiom	English idiom
Играть с огнем	to play with fire
сжигать мосты	to burn bridges
нет дыма без огня	there is no smoke without fire
трудолюбивый 770 ₸ - Сатып алу Материал ұнаса әріптестеріңізбен бөлісіңіз Ватсапта бөлісу Телеграммда бөлісу Фейсбукта бөлісу Сілтемені көшіру Ашық сабақ, ҚМЖ, көрнекілік, презентация жариялап табыс табыңыз! Материалдарыңызды сатып, ақша табыңыз. (kaspi Gold, Halyk bank) Соңғы бір жылда: 45 000 000 ₸ Авторлар тапқан ақша Толығырақ Ресми байқаулар тізімі Республикалық байқауларға қатысып жарамды дипломдар алып санатыңызды көтеріңіз! Тізімді көру Материал іздеу Сіз үшін 400 000 ұстаздардың еңбегі мен тәжірибесін біріктіріп, ең үлкен материалдар базасын жасадық. Төменде пәніңізді белгілеп, керек материалды алып сабағыңызға қолдана аласыз Барлығы 663 959 материал жиналған Пән Жүктелуде... Бағыт Жүктелуде... Сынып Жүктелуде... Іздеу Ұқсас материалдар Дайын ҚМЖ. Барлық пәндерден 2024-2025 оқу жылына, жаңа бұйрыққа сай жасалған Сертификатталған тренер жасаған 01.01.2023 17 863 13 694 ҚР Білім және Ғылым министірлігінің стандарты бойынша жасалған. Барлық пәндер Барлық материалдар Барлық сыныптар Шет тілі пәні бойынша барлық материалдарды көру Аттестацияда (ПББ) 100% келетін тақырыптармен дайындаймыз Аттестацияда (ПББ) келетін тақырыптар бойынша жасалған тесттермен дайындалып, бізбен бірге тестілеуден оңай өтесіз Өткен жылы бізбен дайындалған ұстаздар 50/50 жинап рекорд жасады Толығырақ