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Contextual classification of phraseological units

This approach was suggested by prof. N. N. Amosova. She considers phraseological units to be units of fixed context. Fixed context is characterized by a specific and unchanging sequence of definite lexical components and peculiar relationship between them. Units of fixed context are subdivided into two types: phrasemes and idioms.

Phrasemes are, as a rule, two-member word-groups in which one of the members has a particular meaning dependent on the second component as it is found only in the given context e.g. in small hours the second component (hours) serves as the only clue to this particular meaning of the first component. Phrasemes are always binary, e.g. in small talk; husband's tea, pleasant hours, one of the components has a phraseologically bound meaning, the other serves as the distinguishing context.

Idioms are distinguished from phrasemes by the idiomaticity of the whole word-group. They are semantically and grammatically inseparable units, e.g. red tape - 'bureaucratic methods'. The new meaning, the meaning of the idiom, is created by the unit as a whole: a mare's nest - a false discovery, illusion, or deliberate hoax ('a mare' a female horse has no nest), to let the cat out of the bag - to divulge a secret.

The difference between phrasemes and idioms is based on semantic relationship without accepting the structural approach, and the demarcation line between the two groups seems rather subjective.

All the approaches discussed above are sufficient to single out the extreme cases: highly idiomatic phraseological units and free word-groups. The status of the bulk of word-groups possessing different degrees of idiomaticity cannot be decided with certainty. There is still another approach to the problems of phraseology suggested and worked out by prof. A. V. Kunin.

2.5. Prof. Kunin's classification for phraseological units (structural-semantic classification of phraseological units)

A detailed functional, semantic and structural classification is developed by prof. A.V. Kunin. He thinks that phraseology is an independent branch of linguistics and not a part of lexicology and it deals with all types of set expressions. A.V. Kunin divides them into three classes: phraseological units, phraseomatic units and borderline (mixed) cases. The main distinction between the first and the second classes is semantic: phraseological units have fully or partly transferred meaning while phraseomatic units are used in their literal meaning. Phraseological and phraseomatic units are characterized by phraseological stability that distinguishes them from free phrases and compound words. Professor A. V. Kunin develops the theory of stability.

Prof. Kunin considers stability a complex notion that consists of the following aspects:

(1) Stability of usage. It means that phraseological units are reproduced ready-made, they are not created in speech.

(2) Lexical stability means that the components of phraseological units are either irreplaceable (e.g. red tape, mare's nest) or partly replaceable within the bounds of phraseological variance: lexical (a skeleton in the cupboard - a skeleton in the closet a blind pig - a blind tiger), grammatical (to be in deep water - to be in deep waters, a stony heart - a heart of stone), positional (a square peg in a round hole - a round peg in a square hole, to dot the i's and cross the t's - to cross one's t's and dot one's i's), quantitative (Tom, Dick and Harry - every Tom, Dick and Harry), mixed variants (raise/stir up a hornets' nest about one's ears - to arouse/stir up the nest of hornets).



(3) Semantic stability is based on the lexical stability of phraseological units. In spite of all occasional changes the meaning of a phraseological unit is preserved. It may only be specified, made more precise, weakened or strengthened.

(4) Syntactic stability.

Prof. Kunin considers that any set expression that lacks one of these aspects of stability cannot be regarded as a phraseological unit. A. V. Kunin gives the following definition of a phraseological unit: a phraseological unit is a stable word group with wholly or partly transferred meaning. Phraseological units are subdivided into four classes according to the function in communication determined by structural-semantic characteristics:

1) nominative phraseological units, standing for certain notions, e.g. a bull in a china shop;

2) nominative-communicative phraseological units, standing for certain notions in the Active voice, and may be used in Passive constructions: to cross the Rubicon - the Rubicon is crossed;

3) interjectional phraseological units, standing for certain interjections, e.g. a pretty (nice) kettle offish! For crying out loud!

4) Communicative phraseological units, standing for certain sentences (proverbs and sayings): Still waters run deep. The world is a small place.

Further subdivision treats phraseological units as changeable (?open?) and unchangeable (?closed?). The four classes of phraseological units are divided into subgroups according to the relationships between the meaning of the constituents and the meaning of the set expression. Much attention is devoted to different types of variation of phraseological units. A. V. Kunin in his book gives an up-to- date survey of fundamental and special problems of phraseology.


Date: 2016-06-12; view: 1964


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