2025
APRIL
NEW RENAISSANCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
VOLUME 2
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ISSUE 4
335
COMMUNICATIVE AND PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS
IN SPEECH
Azimova Sayyora Xusanboyevna
Fergana state university, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Philology.
Abdulhakimova Mahliyoxon Rustamjon qizi
Fergana state university, Master’s student in Linguistics.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15276920
Abstract. The pragmatic and communicative aspects of phraseological units in dialogic
speech are examined in this study. The research determines how these units work to regulate
interpersonal relationships, represent social context, and communicate speaker purpose through
qualitative examination of real English dialogic texts, such as literary conversations, film scripts,
and interviews. The results demonstrate that phraseological units play crucial pragmatic roles
such indirectness, humor, politeness, and emphasis in addition to enhancing communication. This
study emphasizes how crucial phraseological proficiency is to successful and culturally relevant
communication.
Keywords: phraseological units, communicative function, pragmatic meaning, idioms,
dialogic speech, interpersonal communication, cultural context.
INTRODUCTION
Phraseological units (PUs), sometimes referred to as fixed phrases, idioms, or set
expressions, are essential to language's expressive and cultural diversity. These units are made up
of word combinations whose meanings aren't always clear from their constituent parts.
Phraseological units are more than just stylistic choices in casual conversation; they have
important communicative and pragmatic roles, particularly in dialogic speech. The dual roles of
PUs in dialogic speech are examined in this study, with particular attention paid to how they
operate in everyday discussions and what their use indicates about interpersonal communication.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
In order to investigate the pragmatic and communicative functions of phraseological units,
this study used a qualitative methodology to analyze real dialogic texts. Information was gathered
from a variety of English-language sources, such as screenplays for movies and television shows,
interviews, podcasts, and discussions of current literature. These sources were chosen due to their
realistic language usage and conversational style. Frequency of use, metaphorical meaning, and
obvious application context were the main selection factors.
2025
APRIL
NEW RENAISSANCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
VOLUME 2
|
ISSUE 4
336
Every PU was examined in light of:
1. Communicative Function – What message or emotion the PU conveys; how it
contributes to the overall meaning of the utterance.
2. Pragmatic Function – What the PU reveals about speaker intention, relationship
dynamics, politeness, humor, irony, or indirectness.
3. Contextual Relevance – How the meaning of the PU changes depending on social,
cultural, and context.
RESULTS
The analysis revealed that phraseological units serve a wide range of communicative
purposes. They often help speakers convey emotions, attitudes, or evaluations in a compact and
memorable way. For example, the PU “I’m walking on air” expresses a strong sense of happiness
in a way that is more vivid than simply saying “I’m happy.” Likewise, “hit the nail on the head”
communicates precise understanding or correctness, often in problem-solving contexts.
In terms of pragmatic function, many PUs were used to manage interpersonal relationships.
For instance, expressions such as “let the cat out of the bag” or “spill the beans” were often
used in informal, friendly contexts, signaling a relaxed tone. In contrast, PUs like “bite the bullet”
or “cut to the chase” often indicated urgency, seriousness, or encouragement to act decisively.
DISCUSSION
The results show that phraseological units are far more than just ornamental speech
components; they are useful instruments that support effective communication. Their capacity to
effectively convey complex emotional states, invoke common experiences, and conjure up vivid
imagery is what gives them communication value.
On the other hand, their pragmatic worth is found in the way they assist in managing social
relationships through humor, indirectness, politeness techniques, and context-sensitive meaning.
Because PUs are idiomatic and culturally distinctive, they can be difficult for English language
learners to grasp and use effectively.
However, obtaining fluency and sociolinguistic competency requires understanding these
expressions. Since PUs are frequently used instinctively and subconsciously by native speakers,
non-native speakers may overlook them, which could result in misunderstandings or a breakdown
in communication.
CONCLUSION
Phraseological units are key components of natural speech, contributing to the
communicative efficiency and pragmatic richness of conversation.
2025
APRIL
NEW RENAISSANCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
VOLUME 2
|
ISSUE 4
337
By analyzing their use in dialogic contexts, this study has shown how PUs function to
express meaning, build rapport, reflect culture, and manage interpersonal dynamics. For both
linguists and language learners, a deeper understanding of phraseological units offers valuable
insight into the real workings of language in use.
REFERENCES
1.
Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Leech, G. (2002). Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and
Written English. London: Pearson Education.
2.
Gläser, R. (1998). The Stylistic Potential of Phraseological Units in the Light of Genre
Analysis. In A. P. Cowie (Ed.), Phraseology: Theory, Analysis, and Applications (pp. 125–
143). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3.
Kecskes, I. (2014). Intercultural Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
4.
Moon, R. (1998). Fixed Expressions and Idioms in English: A Corpus-Based Approach.
Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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Xojayev, O. (2008). “Til va madaniyat: Frazeologik birliklarning kommunikativ
ahamiyati.” Tilshunoslik jurnali, 2, 45-57.
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Davronov, A. (2015). “Pragmatika va frazeologiya: Nutqning amaliy jihatlari.” O’zbek
tilshunosligi risolasi, 1, 22-34.
