Word-group and phraseological units

Phrases in English can be of 2 types: free and phraseological. Free phrases are changeable, their word are used in their direct meaning. Eg.: to pay money, dollar, pounds, roubles, euros, etc.

Phraseological unit in general are stable and some of their components are metaphorical: Eg.: to paya visit, respect, attention, etc.

The lexical meaning of free phrases is a combined meaning of all its components. Their meaning are always motivated, i.e. they are derived from the lexical meaning of their constituents. Eg.: to go to school (theatre, cinema, park abroad, etc.).

The picture on phraseological units is different, as they have different types of metaphor and thus are non-motivated (to different degrees). Non-motivation can be partial or complete.

Phraseological units are non-motivated (partially or completely) phrases that cannot be freely made up in speech but are reproduced as ready-made units; the other important features of phraseological units are stability of the lexical components and grammatical structure.

Academician V.V. Vinogradov divided all phraseological units into 3 types: phraseological fusions (сращения), phraseological unities (единства) and phraseological collocations (словосочетания).

Phraseological fusionsare completely non-motivated word-groups. The meaning of the components has no connection at least synchronically with the meaning of the whole phrase. Idiomaticity (completenon-motivation) is combined with completestability of the lexical components and complete grammatical structure of the fusion. Eg.: skeleton in the cupboard - семейная тайна at sixes and sevens - в беспорядке a mare's nest - вздор to talk through one's hat - говорить вздор

 

Phraseological unitiesare partially non-motivated word-groups as their meaning can usually be understood (derived) through the metaphoric meaning of the whole phraseological unit.They have comparatively high degree of lexical components and grammatical structure. There must be less than 2 notional words in metaphorical meanings.

Phraseological unities can have homonymous free phrases, used in direct meanings. Eg.: to skate on thin ice —» to risk to play the first fiddle -* to play the first role as hungry as a wolf (a hunter) -* very hungry green light —> you may do what you can

Phraseological collocationsare partially non-motivated but they are made up of words having special lexical valency (the power to combine with other words) which is marked by a certaindegree of stability. In them variability of components is strictly limited. They differ from the phraseological unities by the fact that one of the components is used in its direct meaning, the other - in indirect meaning. Eg.: to break (Mt) a promise, a rule, news, silence to meet (Mt) demands, requirements, needs to fall (Mt) ill, in love, in despair

The structure V + N₂ (дополнение) is the largest group of phraseological collocations.

The sources of phraseological units are different spheres of life: medicine: to sweaten the draught - подсластить лекарство, пилюлю sea life: tell that to the marine! - вздор! - ври больше!; in low waters - сесть на мель, быть без денег; to be at sea - быть в недоумении

fishing: to fish in troubled water - ловить рыбу в мутной воде; to feed the fishes -утонуть, страдать морской болезнью; to drink like a fish (a Lord) - пить запоем sport: to hit below the belt - применить запрещенный прием; the ball is with you! -слово за вами!; to have the ball at one's feet - быть хозяином положения

army: to stick to one's guns - не сдавать позиций, твердо проводить свою линию;

to mask one's batteries - скрывать, маскировать свое (враждебное) настроение

hunting: to turn tail - обратиться в бегство, пуститься наутек

theatre: to play to the gallery - разводить демагогию, искать дешевой

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technic: to get up steam - развести пары, дать волю чувствам; to greese the wheels - смазать колеса, дать взятку

agriculture: to sow one's wild oats - отдаваться влечениям юности; to put the plough before the oxen - начинать не с того конца, делать все наоборот; to get smb's goat - разозлить кого-либо

historical events, customs: by hook or by crook - любыми средствами, не мытьем так катаньем; peeping Tom - чересчур любопытный человек trade: to talk shop - говорить по делу; into the bargain - в придачу

In medical texts phraseological fusions and units are extremely rare, and phraseological collocations prevail in them.