Lecture 12 Collocations and Idioms

1、Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Yan ChenEmail: Major contents12.1 Collocation (搭配搭配)12.1.1 Association and collocation12.1.2 Two perspectives to approach collocation12.2 Idioms12.2.1 Idiom: definition and characteristics12.2.2 Types of English idioms12.2.3 Variations of idioms12.1.1 Association (联联想想) and collo

2、cationDefinition: the process of conscious association of two or more aspects of the imaginationassociative rules temporal contiguity spatial contiguity similarity contrast Syntagmatic relations (横组合关系)Elements which combine to form a larger unit are said to be in syntagmatic relationship.She will a

3、rrive today.Paradigmatic relationship (纵聚合关系)Sets of elements which can be substituted one for another in a given context are said to be in paradigmatic relationship.She will arrive today.She will arrive tomorrow. He speaks slowly. walks quickly cries loudly says clearlysyntagmatic relationship(sequ

4、ence) paradigmatic relationship (substitution)collocation & collocationsCollocation: collocate, to go together the tendency for certain words to occur together clear skyclear conscienceclear roadCollocations: lexical items consisting of lexical words from different word classes which co-occur habitu

5、ally12.1.2 Two perspectives to approach collocation Co-occurrence (共现共现)Selectional restrictions (选择限制选择限制)Co-occurrence (共现共现)Co-occurrence refers to the permitted syntagmatic combinations of words, i.e. the usual occurrence of one word with another. createget aroundovercomepresentraiserelievesolve

6、sweep awaydifficultySelectional restrictions (选择限制选择限制)Selectional restrictions are the semantic-syntactic restrictions on compatibility between lexical elements which prevent the derivation of agrammatical sentences.In other words, collocation can be dealt with according to the grammatical rules an

7、d the semantic features of lexical items. Semantic restrictionsThe stone thinks.Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.syntactic restrictionsHe elapsed the man.elapse: vi. (intransitive verb that does not take any object)He frightened that he was coming.frighten:+that-clauseCollocational competenceLe

8、arners need to develop a habit of paying attention to how words are collocated instead of merely memorizing isolated words.make a study of/ do a research on (into)make an analysis of/give an introduction tofor this purpose/to this endby this method/in this waythe method for/the way ofbe able to do/b

9、e capable of doingbe different from/the difference betweenandbe dependent on/be independent ofthe passage of A _ B the departure of A _ B the reaction of A _ B the interaction of A _ B the dependence of A _ B throughfromtowithonlanguage skillsbad/foul ordinary/plain spoken/written strong common watc

10、h/mind your speak a speak/talk the same 12.2 Idioms12.2.1 Idiom: definition and characteristics12.2.2 Types of English idioms12.2.3 Variations of idioms12.2.1 Idiom: definition and characteristicsDefinition: An idiom (习语) is a group of words with a meaning of its own that is different from the meani

11、ngs of each separate word put together. Characteristics: semantic unity structural stabilityCompare! 19 excessive official formalityred strips of material used for tying up parcelsred tape idiomred tapesfree phraseCollocations vs. idiomsEach word in a collocation contributes its own meaning to the w

12、hole in a distinguishable way. For this reason, collocations are transparent in meaning, i.e. the meaning of the whole can be worked out from the meaning of each of the words in it.heavy smokerheavy drinkerSemantic unity (语义的统一性语义的统一性)Each idiom is a semantic unity. That is, the words in an idiom ha

13、s developed a specialized meaning as a whole.Though the various words which make up the idiom have their respective literal meanings, in the idiom they have lost their individual identity, i.e. their meanings are not often recognizable in the meaning of the whole idiom.Examples of semantic unitytill

14、 the cows come home (forever)keep in mind (remember)to no avail (useless)like a breeze (easily)How do you dorain cats and dogs make hasteDual meaninga rainy day (“雨天”与“艰难时刻”)under water (“在水下”与“负债”) miss the boat (“误船”与“失去机会”) there is no love lost between them (“他们彼此相爱” /“他们之间没有好感”) a storm in a te

15、acup (茶杯里掀起的大风波；大惊小怪；小题大做)against the logic of thinking and lifeto face the music (勇于承担后果或批评；临危不惧)to marry with the left hand (取非贵族女子为妻) to get on like a house on fire (情投意合) to eat ones head off (吃得太多) wear ones heart on ones sleeve (流露自己的感情)Structural stability (结构的稳定性结构的稳定性)Idioms are more or les

16、s invariable or fixed in form or order in a way that makes them different from literal expressions.The structure of an idiom is to a large extent unchangeable.Constituents of idioms: unchangeablesee red (非常生气) *see scarlet, smell a rat (怀疑其中有诈)*smell a mouse, kick the bucket *kick the pail. make has

17、te (古时用语赶快，赶紧) *make hurry or do hastedark horse (黑马，深藏不露的人) black horseConstituents of an idiom: cannot be deleted or added tomake a scene (大吵大闹) make the scene (露面；到场)rush season (旺季/忙季) rush the season (赶季节)off the hook (脱身/摆脱困境) off the hooks (立即，马上)in a mood (心情不好) in the mood (有兴趣，想做)take a st

18、and (采取某立场) take the stand (出庭作证)out of the question (不可能) out of question (可能)before long long beforein a state (乱七八糟) in state (隆重)go to a show (去看演出) go to show (证明，说明)off the hook (脱身，摆脱困境) off the hooks (立即，马上)hard line (强硬路线) hard lines（倒霉，恶运）join forces (联合起来) join the forces (参军)Restrictions

19、 on numberspill the beans /*spill the bean,kick the bucket /*kick the buckets. blow ones tops (俚发脾气；勃然大怒) /*blow ones top carry coals to Newcastle (多此一举；徒劳无功)/ *carry coal to Newcastleleave sb to his own devices (听人某人自行其是) / *leave sb to his own device behind closed doors (与外界隔绝地；秘密地)/*behind closed

20、 doorWord order of an idiomby twos and threes (两三个一次；三三两两) tit for tat (针锋相对)the lions share (*the share of the lion)Idioms: grammatically unanalysablediamond cut diamond (two parties are equally matched), like cures like (以毒攻毒), (as) sure as eggs is eggs (quite certainly千真万确),at large (逍遥法外)go the

21、whole hog (干到底)to trip the light fantastic (跳舞)12.2.2 Types of English idiomsphrase idioms (短语型习语短语型习语)clause idioms (分句型习语分句型习语)sentence idioms (句子型习语句子型习语)phrase idioms (短语型习语短语型习语)verb phrase idiom noun phrase idiomadjective phrase idiomprepositional phrase idiomadverbial phrase idiomVerb phrase

22、idiomverb + adverbverb + prepositionverb + adverb + prepositionExamples of verb phrase idiomswork out (the salaries) /calculateturn down (an offer) /rejectdo away with (the death penalty) /abolishstep up (supplies) /increaselay on (transport) providetake up (the story) /continueThe most common verbs

23、 in verb phrase idioms blow, break, bring, call, catch, come, fall, get, give, go, hold, keep, lay, look, make, put, run, set, stand, take, turn, and workNoun phrase idiomNoun phrase idioms are idioms that have a noun as the key word in each and function as a noun in sentenceswhite elephant (somethi

24、ng useless and unwanted but big and costly),brain trust (a group of people with special knowledge who answer questions or give advice),flesh and blood (relatives or family), an apple of discord (cause of disagreement or argument, etc.), Jack of all trades (a person who can do many different kinds of

25、 work but may not be good at any of them), fly in the ointment (something that spoils the perfection of something).Grammatical functions of noun phrase idiomsHe hated red tape.After nine months of school, summer camp seemed like a bed of roses.I dont have that much money on me not in hard cash anywa

26、y.Adjective phrase idiomAdjective phrase idioms are idioms that function as adjectives but the constituents are not necessarily adjectives.Examples of Adjective phrase idioms cut and dried (already settled and unlikely to be changed)as poor as a church mouse (having, or earning, barely enough money

27、for ones needs)wide of the mark (not at all suitable, correct, etc.)up in the air (uncertain)Prepositional phrase idiomphrase idioms introduced by prepositions in a word in that case in ones cups in one piece at ones wits end by fits and startsAdverbial phrase idiomAdverbial phrase idioms are phrase

28、 idioms that function as adverbs. tooth and nail (with great violence and determination) in nothing flat (in a very little time; soon) through thick and thin (through all difficulties and troubles) as straight as an arrow (very straight)Clause idiomsClause idioms or subject-less clause patterns cont

29、ain objects and/or complements.There are five most commonly occurring clause idiom patters.Pattern 1: verb + complementcome cleanget even (with)go brokePattern 2: verb + direct object eat ones wordsto show ones cardsto spare no effortto shed crocodile tearsPattern 3: verb + direct object + complemen

30、tcatch sb. red-handedcall sb. namesmake sb. a laughing stockPattern 4: verb + indirect object +direct objectdrop sb. a linedeal sb. a heavy blowdo sb. goodPattern 5: verb + direct object + adjunct (修饰成分)make bricks without strawtake sth. seriouslyplay things safeSentence idiomscomplete sentences, ma

31、inly proverbs sayings colloquialisms catchphrasesSpeak of angels, and you will hear their wings.Dont count your chickens before theyre hatched.Nothing ventured, nothing gained.A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.All is not gold that glitters.Typical conversational expressions (习惯性口语习惯性口语)You can

32、 say that again. (to express strong agreement with an opinion just stated)Lets call it a day and go home. (to finish or stop doing something, esp. to stop working)Dear me! (an expression of distress, disappointment, worried surprise, etc.)Its been very hot today. And how! (very much so)12.2.3 Variations of idioms (习语的变异习语的变异)Addition or deletion (习语的增减习语的增减)Replacement (替换替换) Position-shifting (位移位移)Shortening (缩略缩略)Dismembering (分解分解)Addition or deletion (习语的增减习语的增减)come of ageforce /drive to the walljump the queuekeep companyfor good and allfrom the bottom of ones heartcom