Idioms. Idioms. Idioms

Transcription

1 Idioms complex lexical item which is longer than a word form but shorter than a sentence, and which has a [unitary] meaning that cannot be derived from a knowledge of its component parts (Gramley & Patzold 1992: 71) red herring Idioms They show different degrees of semantic opacity give somebody the green light red herring Idioms Many idioms have two meanings: literal and idiomatic How to recognize idioms? Knowledge of world Context clues Common sense 1

2 Idioms Many idioms [e.g. red tape] have two meanings: literal and idiomatic How to recognize idioms? Knowledge of world Context clues Common sense Idioms and context clues Lexical repetition around the idiom: a state of affairs is described the sender refers to it with an idiom it is picked up again by a non-idiomatic, literal lexical item Cf. The detectives were following a red herring, but they're on the right track now Can you guess? Wear (have) one's heart on one's sleeve 2

3 Can you guess? wear one's heart on one's sleeve Cf. John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings. I showed my feelings and wore my heart on my sleeve. Can you guess? wear one's heart on one's sleeve Cf. John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings. I showed my feelings and wore my heart on my sleeve. >>> make one s feelings apparent; to display one's feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private. 3

4 > to become very angry > in debt, having net losses > to feel sad or unwell, depressed 4

5 > unexpectedly > to become unconscious suddenly, but for a short period of time > in very good health/condition 5

6 > grant someone permission to proceed with some action or task Proverbs and commonplaces Free utterances or self-contained statements Can be a complete sentence are concerned with general rather than specific meanings Commonplaces an idea, expression, remark, etc., that is not new or interesting (Merriam Webster) E.g. If I am for it, I am for it 6

7 Proverbs Not completely frozen Tolerate variations (shortening/addition) Marked by specific expressions ( as they say ) Irregular syntax ( Like father, like son ) Anglo-Saxon vocabulary Present tense (deal with timeless meanings) Have no known author Show non-literal meaning E.g. A friend in need is a friend indeed Better late than never A stitch in time saves nine It takes two to tango Proverbs Sound patterns/prosodic features rhyme alliteration assonance Structural repetition/parallelism Two part structure Proverbs 1. A friend in need is a friend indeed 2. Better to live well than to live long 3. A barking dog never bites 4. Actions speak louder than words 5. A stitch in time saves nine 6. Better late than never 7. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth 8. Every rose has its thorns 9. One does not wash dirty linen in public 10.Out of mind out of sight 11.It takes two to tango 12.What never had never missed 13.Absence (distance) makes the heart grow fonder 14.Better safe than sorry 15.Too many cooks spoil the broth 16.When in Rome, do as the Romans do 7

8 Readings: Gramley, S., and Patzold K.-M. (1992). A Survey of Modern English. London: Routledge > Words in combination Leaney, C. (2005). In the know. Understanding and using idioms. Cambridge: CUP. > Introduction > Units 2, 8, 9, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 36, 38, 39 8