现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料

1、精选优质文档-倾情为你奉上Chapter10 English Idiomsn 10.1 Introductory Remarksn 10.2 Sources of English Idioms n 10.3 Classification of Idioms n 10.4 Syntactic, structural and stylistic analysis of idioms10.1 Introductory Remarksw Idiom: is a combination of two or more words which are usually structurally fixed a

2、nd semantically opaque, and function as a single unit of meaning.w English idiom: is a group of words with a special meaning different from the meanings of its constituent words.eg. a feather in sb.s cap an honour ,success ,of which one can be proud draw a blank to fail to discover or find out about

3、 sth. after searching hard and asking many questions .* Idioms are usually semantically opaque, i.e. metaphorical rather than literal. An idiom functions as a unit of meaning.w Features: a. semantic opaqueness; b. structural invariability.w English idioms form an essential part of the general vocabu

4、lary. Idioms reflect the environment, life, history and culture of the native speakers, and are closely associated with their innermost spirit and feeling.10.2 Sources of English IdiomsMany idiomatic expressions come from:1) Everyday life of the English people;eg. to keep ones shirt on要有耐心 ; 别紧张 ; 指

5、不要紧张 to give sb. the cold shoulder冷落某人2) Agricultural life;eg. to go to seed花谢结子 ; 走下坡路 ; 花谢结籽 to lead sb. up the garden path迷惑某人,使某人产生错觉,花言巧语3) Nautical and military life;eg. be in the same boat with同舟共济 to be in deep waters陷入困境4) Business life;eg. to come under the hammer将要落锤 to talk shop三句不离本行5)

6、Student life;eg. to speak by the book引经据典 to turn over a new leaf重新开始(改过自新,过新生活)6) Food and cooking;eg. to keep the pot boiling仅足糊口;苟延残喘 to be in the soup陷入困境7) Sports and cad-playing;eg. to keep the ball rolling不使中断 to reach first base取得初步成就8) The Bible;eg. a thorn in the flesh肉中刺,眼中钉,烦恼的根源 to turn

7、 the other cheek忍气吞声 the apple of ones eyes掌上明珠9) Shakespeares plays;eg. to flutter the dovecotes扰乱鸽棚 to give the Devil his due勿掩恶人善，平心而论10) fables, myths or legends.eg. sour grapes（指某人因得不到某物而称该事物不好）酸葡萄 the lions share（最大份额或最大的一份）狮子的份额10.3 Classification of IdiomsThere are several criteria of classi

8、fication of idioms. We classify them by structural criterion.A. Phrase idioms 短语成语According to the central word , they may subdivided into:1.Verb phrase idiom*a)All common English verbs, most of which are of native Anglo-Saxon origin, can combine with adverbs and prepositions to form phrasal verbs.b

9、)Most of the verb phrase idioms are often nearly synonymous with loan words of Roman origin.c)Verb phrase idioms can form noun compounds.d)Phrasal verbs usually more lively and expressive than single verbs.eg. fall flat 大失所望; 残败 bite the hand that feeds one 以怨报德2. Noun phrase idiom The commonest fun

10、ctions of noun phrase idioms:a)As the direct object of a clause;b)As the complement of a clause;c)As the object of a preposition.eg. a bakers dozen 十三个Jack of all trades 万事通; 万金油3. Adjective phrase idiomThe commonest function of adjective phrase idioms is as complement of a clause.eg. high and might

11、y 盛气凌人;趾高气扬 wide of the mark 毫不沾边4. Prepositional phrase idiomFunctions of prepositional phrase idioms are:a)As an adjunct modifying a verb; 附属修饰语b)As a complement;补语c)As a complement or adjunct;d)As a disjunct; 分离判断语，附加语e)As a connecting phrase.B.Clause idioms 无主语从句成语Most of these idioms are terse,

12、 colloquial, vivid and changed with life.1.Verb + complement pattern2.Verb + direct object pattern3.Verb + direct object + complement pattern4.Verb + indirect object + direct object pattern5.Verb + direct object + adjunct patternC.Sentence idioms句子成语1.Proverbs;2.Typical conversational expressionseg.

13、 Upon my word! 我敢担保! Well begun is half done. 半途而废 Kill the goose that laid the golden egg. 毁掉财路; 杀鸡取卵 10.4 Syntactic, structural and stylistic analysis of idiomsA. syntactic function 句法的功能1.The syntactic function of most phrase idioms usually corresponds with the central word or components.2.The sy

14、ntactic function of some phrase idioms can vary.3.Prepositional phrase idioms have very diverse functions.4.noun + noun phrases have diverse functions. eg. He has a gift of the gab.(the ability to talk readily and easily )B. transformational restrictions 结构转换的限制性 Transformation is a matter of struct

15、ural change, and the change may be of various kinds.1.Some verb phrases may change word order.2.Some cannot change their word order.3.Some verb phrases may be passivized, but some can not.4.Most of the clause idioms cannot be put into the passive voice, while some of them can be used either way.5.Th

16、e direct object usually does not undergo passive transformation; only the indirect object can be passivized.6.Some clause idioms may be made passive with a meaning quite different from what it had in the active form.C. Collocative restrictions 搭配限制 1. Words collocate with idioms as the subjects, obj

17、ects, predicates etc. of different types of phrase and clause idioms. 2. Some idioms have a wide range of collocates while some have a limited choice. 3. For some idioms, one has to consider which collocates will serve as adjuncts.D. Structural variability结构变化 Idioms are structurally fixed, and as a

18、 rule one are not supposed to change any element in an idiomatic expression. But it is not unusual for writers to give a new twist to an old saying by making slight changes for rhetorical effect.Some ways of alteration in idioms:1. The replacement of one element by another without affecting the meaning of the whole.2. Insertion of one or more