现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料chapter10

Chapter10 English Idioms

?10.1 Introductory Remarks

?10.2 Sources of English Idioms

?10.3 Classification of Idioms

?10.4 Syntactic, structural and stylistic analysis of idioms

10.1 Introductory Remarks

?Idiom: is a combination of two or more words which are usually structurally fixed and semantically opaque, and function as a single unit of meaning.

?Englishidiom: 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 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.

?Features: a. semantic opaqueness; b. structural invariability.

?English idioms form an essential part of the general vocabulary.

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 Idioms

Many idiomatic expressions come from:

1)Everyday life of the English people;

eg. to keep one’s shirt on要有耐心; 别紧张; 指不要紧张t o 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)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 the other cheek忍气吞声t he apple of one’s eyes掌上明珠

9)Shakespeare’s 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 lion’s share（最大份额或最大的一份）狮子的份额

10.3 Classification of Idioms

There are several criteria of classification 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) 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 functions 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 baker’s dozen 十三个

Jack of all trades 万事通; 万金油

3. Adjective phrase idiom

The commonest function of adjective phrase idioms is as complement of a clause. eg. high and mighty盛气凌人;趾高气扬

wide of the mark毫不沾边

4. Prepositional phrase idiom

Functions 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, colloquial, vivid and changed with life.

1. Verb + complement pattern

2. Verb + direct object pattern

3. Verb + direct object + complement pattern

4. Verb + indirect object + direct object pattern

5. Verb + direct object + adjunct pattern

C. Sentence idioms句子成语

1. Proverbs;

2. Typical conversational expressions

eg. 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 idioms

A. 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 syntactic 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 structural 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. The 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, objects, 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 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 words into an idiomatic expression without changing its basic meaning.

3. Deletion of one or more words, especially articles.

E. Stylistic features文体特征

1. Most idioms are stylistically neutral;

2. But some of them belong to informal spoken English;

3. Some idiom phrases are slangy.