DETERMINING THE CONSISTENCY OF PHRASEOLOGICAL COMPOSITION
Xadjiyeva Nodira
Qoraqalpoq davlat universiteti
Filologiya va tillarni o’qitish:
Ingliz tili 4-bosqich talabasi
Annotation: This article looks at how stable or consistent fixed expressions—like idioms, collocations, and set phrases—are in everyday language. It explains why some expressions stay the same in form and meaning, while others can change a little without losing their sense. The paper breaks down different types of stability, such as structure, word choice, and meaning, and shows how they help these phrases keep their original form. The author uses examples from real texts (corpus linguistics) and simple tests to understand how fixed these expressions really are. The article also talks about how these phrases can be different in other languages and how culture affects them. In the end, the study shows why understanding fixed expressions is important in language learning, translation, and even computer programs that work with language. This work is useful for students, teachers, and anyone interested in how language really works.
Key words: phraseological units, fixed expressions, consistency, stability, idioms, collocations, semantic cohesion, linguistic analysis
Abstract: Phraseological units are a fundamental part of any language’s lexicon, reflecting cultural values, cognitive patterns, and stylistic tendencies. This paper investigates the internal consistency of phraseological composition in the English language. It explores the criteria that govern the structure, stability, and usage of phraseological expressions, focusing on idioms, collocations, and fixed expressions. The study adopts a corpus-based approach to identify recurring phraseological patterns and their syntactic and semantic behavior in different contexts. The findings aim to enhance the theoretical understanding of phraseology and offer practical insights for language teaching and computational applications.
Introduction Phraseology is a branch of linguistics that deals with fixed or semi-fixed combinations of words, known as phraseological units (PUs). These units include idioms (e.g., kick the bucket), collocations (e.g., make a decision), proverbs, and other set expressions. Their importance lies in the way they enrich language, express abstract ideas succinctly, and reflect social and cultural norms.
However, not all phraseological units exhibit the same degree of consistency. Some are fixed and unchangeable, while others allow variation. Determining the consistency of phraseological composition helps linguists and language users understand which parts of the expression are stable and which can be modified without altering meaning. This consistency also impacts how PUs are processed cognitively, how they are learned by non-native speakers, and how they are represented in dictionaries and language technologies.
This paper explores the concept of phraseological consistency from multiple dimensions: structural (grammatical), semantic (meaning-related), and contextual (pragmatic). By examining authentic examples from corpora, the study identifies patterns that signal phraseological stability and variation. The term “phraseological unit” was first formalized in Russian and European linguistic traditions, particularly by scholars such as Vinogradov and Kunin. In English linguistics, similar concepts have been discussed under terms like “idioms,” “collocations,” and “fixed expressions.”
A phraseological unit can be broadly defined as a multi-word expression that functions as a single semantic unit. These units often have non-literal meanings, especially in idioms, and are stored in the mental lexicon as prefabricated chunks. Linguists typically categorize phraseological units into:
Idioms – expressions with non-compositional meaning (spill the beans).
Collocations – predictable word combinations (strong tea, commit a crime).
Phrasal verbs – verbs with particles whose meaning is not deducible from the parts (look after).
Clichés and fixed expressions – stereotypical phrases used in social contexts (Nice to meet you, Best regards).
Structural consistency refers to the fixedness of the grammatical structure in a phraseological unit. For example, kick the bucket cannot be changed to kick a bucket or kicked the buckets without losing its idiomatic meaning. Some collocations, however, are more flexible (make/made/makes a decision), though they still exhibit a preferred structure. This refers to the stability of the lexical components within a PU. In highly consistent units, specific words cannot be replaced without altering meaning (break the ice, not shatter the ice). In less consistent units, some variability is permitted (give/take/have a look).
Phraseological units vary in terms of how transparent their meaning is. Fully idiomatic expressions like kick the bucket are semantically opaque and highly consistent. In contrast, semi-transparent expressions such as make a choice are more flexible and their meaning is derivable from the parts. Certain phraseological units appear consistently in specific genres or registers. Legal language, for instance, uses fixed phrases like null and void, while everyday conversation prefers idioms like hit the sack. The consistency of usage across contexts also determines how recognizable and fixed a PU is perceived. To analyze phraseological consistency empirically, this study examined data from the British National Corpus (BNC) and Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The method involved identifying frequently occurring phraseological units and observing their patterns of usage.
Methodology: Selection of 50 common phraseological expressions. Examination of frequency, structural variation, and lexical substitution. Categorization based on idiomatically and contextual flexibility. About 60% of the expressions were structurally fixed. Highly idiomatic units showed minimal variation. Some collocations, though semantically transparent, were preferred in particular forms. Contextual data confirmed that genre plays a role in preserving phraseological consistency. Understanding phraseological consistency has practical benefits:
Language Teaching: Teachers can prioritize fixed PUs for memorization and teach flexible ones through pattern recognition.
Lexicography: Dictionaries can mark degrees of variability to aid learners.
Computational Linguistics: NLP systems benefit from clear data on phraseological units for better parsing, machine translation, and sentiment analysis.
In conclusion, phraseological composition in English demonstrates varying degrees of consistency. Fixed idioms maintain high structural and lexical rigidity, while collocations and semi-fixed expressions allow some flexibility. Corpus analysis confirms that consistency is influenced by grammatical form, lexical selection, semantic opacity, and contextual use. Understanding these patterns not only deepens linguistic knowledge but also enhances applications in education and technology.
List of used literature:
1. Glaser, R. (1984). The Stylistic Potential of Phraseological Units in the Light of Genre Analysis.
2. Cowie, A. P. (1998). Phraseology: Theory, Analysis, and Applications. Oxford University Press.
3. Mel’cuk, I. A. (1995). Phrasemes in Language and Phraseology in Linguistics.
4. Fernando, C. (1996). Idioms and Idiomaticity. Oxford University Press.
5. Moon, R. (1998). Fixed Expressions and Idioms in English: A Corpus-Based Approach. Oxford University Press.
Articles:
6. Wray, A. (2002). Formulaic Language and the Lexicon. Cambridge University Press.
7. Granger, S., & Meunier, F. (2008). Phraseology: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. John Benjamins.
8. Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Cortes, V. (2004). If you look at…: Lexical Bundles in University Teaching and Textbooks. Applied Linguistics.