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Pragmatic functions of modern english phraseology
Feruza ALIMOVA
1
Uzbekistan State World Languages University
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received March 2021
Received in revised form
20 March 2021
Accepted 15 April 2021
Available online
20 May 2021
Phraseological units – there is one of the most controversial
problems in modern phraseology. This article presents the
results of studying the main pragmatic functions of
phraseological units in modern English. The relevance of the
research lies in the urgent need to differentiate regular
pragmatic functions in English phraseology. The aim of the work
is to analyze the functions of phraseological units based on the
British National Corpus (BNC) and assess their quantitative
ratios. The theoretical basis of the research is the phraseological
concept of A.V. Kunin.
2181-1415/© 2021 in Science LLC.
This is an open access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru)
Keywords:
phraseological concept of
A.V. Kunin,
phraseology,
phraseological
identification,
branch of linguistics.
Zamonaviy ingliz frazeologiyasining pragmatik vazifalari
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar:
A.V. Kuninning frazeologik
tushunchasi,
frazeologiya,
frazeologik identifikatsiya,
tilshunoslik sohasi.
Frazeologik birliklar – zamonaviy frazeologizmda eng
munozarali muammolardan biri hisoblanadi. Ushbu maqolada
zamonaviy ingliz tilidagi frazeologik birliklarning asosiy
pragmatik funktsiyalarini o‘rganish natijalari keltirilgan.
Tadqiqotning dolzarbligi ingliz frazeologiyasidagi muntazam
pragmatik funktsiyalarni farqlash zarurati bilan bog‘liq. Ishning
maqsadi – British National Corpus (BNC) asosidagi frazeologik
birliklarning funktsiyalarini tahlil qilish va ularning miqdoriy
nisbatlarini baholash. Tadqiqotning nazariy asosini A.V. Kunin-
ning frazeologik tushunchalari tashkil etadi.
1
Lecturer, Uzbekistan State World Languages University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
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Прагматические функции современной английской фразеологии
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
фразеологическая
концепция А.В. Кунина,
фразеология,
фразеологическая
идентификация,
отрасли лингвистики.
Фразеологизмы – одна из самых спорных проблем в
современной фразеологии. В данной статье излагаются
результаты изучения основных прагматических функций
фразеологизмов
в
современном
английском
языке.
Актуальность исследования состоит в насущной потребности
дифференцирования регулярных прагматических функций в
английской фразеологии. Целью работы является анализ
функций ФЕ на основе Британского национального корпуса
(BNC) и оценка их количественных соотношений. Теоретическая
база исследования – фразеологическая концепция А.В. Кунина.
The research was carried out on linguistic material extracted from modern
lexicographic sources. The main method of sampling phraseological units from the
linguistic continuum and their semantic analysis is the method of phraseological
identification, which was proposed by the founder of English phraseology as a branch of
linguistics and as an independent scientific discipline, Professor A.V. Kunin. The point is
that the problem of functioning of phraseological units is considered to be one of the most
discussed problems in modern phraseology. The problem is of great importance for any
language, and it is especially urgent for English as phraseological units present one of the
intensive means of the development of the nominative system in that language, as having
turned into an analytical one. The research is carried out on the language material
extracted from modern lexicographic sources and from the British National Corpus. The
main method of extraction of phraseological units out of the language continuum and their
semantic analysis is the method of phraseological identification that was introduced by
professor A.V. Kunin (1970: 38), an outstanding Soviet linguist, founder of the English
phraseology as a branch of linguistic and as a self-contained linguistic discipline. A set of
non-paradigmal methods and techniques of linguistics is employed as additional methods
of the research, including a descriptive method with its procedures, methods of the
definitional, phraseological and contextual analysis (Komarova, 2018: 564). In modern
linguistic studies, the pragmatic function of any language sign (idioms and phraseologisms
inclusive) is considered to be the basic one. It generally implies an intended sway, bringing
about a change in another’s actions or thoughts. Practically, any text is characterized by its
inborn pragmatic function, which, in its turn, has an irresistible impact on the phraseology
employed by the author. On the other hand, phraseological units themselves are
characterized by their powerful inborn influential value which cannot but intensify the
pragmatic force of the text and of the context as part of the text. Bearing that in mind, one
may formulate a hypothesis: the varieties of the PU pragmatic function, belonging to
regular functions (Kunin, 1996: 115), may be classified into stylistic, cumulative, directive,
evaluative, summarizing, text-building functions and their sub-types.
The Cumulative Function The cumulative function presents one of the main
instances and mechanisms in the economy of language means [1-3]. And that function
appears to be one of the leading functions that are inherent in such communicative
phraseological units as proverbs, because they generalize the life and cultural memory of
people: Art is long, life is short; Life is not all beer and skittles; Evil communications corrupt
good manners; Distance lends enchantment to the view; A stitch in time saves nine,
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etc., e.g.: (a) My aunt said I’d be wanting to go to the coal merchant’s next, and my uncle
said: ‘Evil communications corrupt good manners’. (W.S. Maugham, Cakes and Ale) (b) Tis
distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue (Th.
Campbell, The Pleasures of Hope). (c) Even with fees added on, the final bill would still be
500,000 less than anticipated. Plans to install new mortar in inside walls and to alter air
conditioning equipment had to be abandoned but the move would save taxpayers’ money.
But Conservative Coun. Peter Jones said the bill would have only been a fraction of that if
the controlling Labour group had taken action when defects in the building were detailed
in reports in 1985 and 1986. ‘A stitch in time saves nine’, he said. (BNC: [Northern Echo].
World affairs material, 1998: 5-43.). The Directive Function One more function is closely
connected with the cumulative function: “directly managing, directing, influencing, and, in
a certain way, bringing up, forming a person. We named it directive” (Vereshchagin,
Kostomarov, 1990: 98). The following proverbs can serve as an illustration of the directive
function: Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs; Don’t take your harp to the party; You
must lose a fly to catch a trout; Don’t make a rod for your own back; Let the cobbler stick
to his last; Let bygones be bygones; Strike while the iron is hot; Never say die; Get off your
high horse; cf.: (a) ‘Peggy? Adam here. Level Five. I need to see Franklin D. When can he fit
me in?’ ‘That could be difficult. He has a tight schedule.’. Damn! Adam had a date with a
promising Finnish brunette for that evening. He was confident he’d brought her to the
stage where he could lay her. Strike while the iron is hot’. He asked me to check data on a
recent employee. I’ve checked. He wants me to take action [4]. There are queries before
I can do that’. ‘Which employee?’ Peggy’s American voice was a whiplash. (BNC: Whirlpool.
Forbes, Colin. London: Pan Books Ltd, 1991: 1-120.). (b) <…> Nuffin’ wrong with poofters.
Monica’s got one at home and he’s brilliant’. I smiled weakly at the line of eyes fixed on me
and Jan. Miracle of miracles, a bus hove in sight. ‘Give us a kiss then, Monica. And you and
Basil come up my place one day’. Jan Indian-striped my cheek with lipstick and hopped on
to the platform, turning to shout: ‘They’ll think I’m one too, Monica! Never say die, eh?’
I took the long cut home. (BNC: I believe in angels. Cooper, Fiona. London: Serpent's Tail,
1993: 1-128.). (c) …that this may have been one small way in which I had a slight
advantage over Gittel. But that was long after the moment when my pathetic attempt to
enlist the so-called forces of darkness on my behalf had backfired [5]. ‘I’m getting vexed’.
‘You watch your mouth out there, Apostate!’ ‘Why don’t you just climb back into your tree?’
‘Rainbow speaks up’. ‘Could you both stop squabbling?’ ‘That... ghoul out there has no right
to impugn my professional abilities. Get off your high horse, Kokos’. (BNC: The dyke & the
dybbuk. Galford, Ellen. London: Virago Press Ltd, 1993: 98-245.). The Evaluative Function
The pragmatic character of phraseology is also seen in the evaluative function of
phraseological units which may be positive or negative, intellectual or connotative.
Phraseological units having a positive evaluative function are as follows: on top of the
world – elated by one’s own success (Cowie, 2000: 183), be as gentle as a dove – to behave
in a peace-loving, tender manner (Gulland, 1994: 67), keep oneself unspotted from the
world – keep oneself morally and spiritually uncorrupted by worldly practices and
pleasures (Cowie, 2000: 332), beat one’s sword into a ploughshare – to turn from war to
peaceful pursuits (Gulland, 1994: 208), bear/ carry the palm – to signal one’s triumph
(Gulland, 1994: 50), go with a swing – be very successful (Longman, 1997: 326), be born
with a silver spoon in the mouth – to have wealthy parents (Longman, 1997: 310), etc. Cf.:
(a) However, his new design was arranged so that it could be retained. He then said: as to
cheerfulness of character, I really think that any unprejudiced person would come to the
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conclusion that, if compared with the Post-office, the Museum, the Palace, or even the
Board of Trade or Whitehall Chapel, my design would carry the palm in this respect. He
asked MPs for fair in riotous living. (BNC: Black sheep of the family: seminar (Edu/inf).
Rec. on 2 Feb 1994.). For further details on evaluative function of phraseological units, see
also S. Bashiyeva (1995), T. Fedulenkova (2014, 37-43) et al [6]. The Summarizing
Function The summarizing function of an idiom and any other phraseological unit may be
interpreted as the ability of that language sign to fulfil the role of a brisk resultative
description, a kind of an outline or a digest of the statement going before, e.g.: That’s that
with the meaning of “it is permanently settled and need not to be dealt with again” (Spears,
1991: 327); That’s the ticket with the meaning of “that is exactly what is needed” (Ibid.);
That ain’t hay with the meaning of “that is not a small amount of money” (Ibid.); The fat is
in the fire meaning “serious trouble has broken out” (Ibid.); The coast is clear meaning
“there is no visible danger” (Ibid.); for instance: <…> try and persuade him. Good luck
with the new arrival. See you all’. The two men left. Sarah looked at her sons’ faces and
smiled. ‘It’s a girl!’ All the boys grinned at her. ‘A daughter for me old age’. She hugged the
child to her. ‘I’m going to call her Maura. Maura Ryan. I like that. ‘Shall I go and get Mickey,
Mum? I saved him some chips’. ‘Yeah, Geoff. Tell him the coast is clear’. The doctor stopped
packing away his instruments and looked at Sarah sternly. (BNC: Dangerous lady. Cole,
Martina. 1992. Headline Books: 3-123.). Many proverbial phraseological units proved to
realize their summarizing function in the context: Keep it for a rainy day; Don’t tell tales
out of school; Put the saddle on the right horse; Two blacks do not make a white; You
cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs; cf.: (a) Jack often travels on the train
without a ticket, so why shouldn’t I?’ ‘Just because he does it, that’s no reason why you
should. Two blacks don’t make a white. (Ridout, Witting, 2009: 166). (b) ‘We shall be much
more comfortable in our new house, but I’m afraid it’s not going to be so cheap to run as
this one’. ‘You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs’. (Ridout, Witting, 2009: 182).
That summarizing effect is evidently felt even when the context turns the proverb into a
verbal, i.e. a nominal-communicative phraseological unit: Keep it for a rainy day > to keep
it for a rainy day; Don’t tell tales out of school > not to tell tales out of school, Put the saddle
on the right horse > to put the saddle on the right horse; cf.: (c) And obviously we would
want to take money out of reserves, our original amendment took one point three million
pounds out of reserves and it’s interesting to see now that you’re suggesting almost that
figure again and yet for years you’ve been telling us you can’t take this money out of the
reserves, <…> you know we had tokeep it for a rainy day. (BNC: St. Lukes School Council
meeting (Pub/instit). 5 partics). (d) Fowler-Troon had the grace to look embarrassed.
‘I must admit I have an ulterior motive. Not that one was necessary, of course. Always a
pleasure to entertain a charming young lady’. He fiddled with the handle of his cup. ‘Oh
dear. I don't quite know how to put this’. Celia took pity on him. ‘Is it something to do with
Ivor Newley?’ ‘You guessed?’ Fowler-Troon dabbed his mouth with his napkin. ‘It’s all
rather delicate [7]. I don’t wantto tell tales out of school. (Freelance death. Taylor, Andrew.
London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1993: 52-175.). (e) An author’s new book had been reviewed
unfavourably in a literary weekly. He said to an acquaintance: ‘I’ll concede that a critic has
a right to give an honest opinion but I think John Cartright went a bit too far this time’.
‘How do you know it was Cartright? The article wasn’t signed’. ‘I’d recognize his style
anywhere, confound him!’ ‘You are putting the saddle on the right horse, old man. John
Cartright didn’t right that review. I did’. (Ridout, Witting, 2009: 143).
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