词汇学第九章.ppt

英语词汇学课程课件
课件名称:英语习语
制作人:于海江
单位:运城学院外语系
Chapter 9
English Idiom
Objectives:
To discuss the characteristics of idioms;
To explain their classification and uses.
Teaching focus:
The characteristics of idioms
The classification of ideoms
The uses of idioms
Definition
Idiom is a set expression made up of two or more words; it functions as a unit of meaning which cannot be predicted from its literal meaning of ponent words. 作为一个意义单位使用的,意义不能从其独立的组成部分得出的一种表达法。
For example, the idiom “show the white feather” means “to show fear”, and the meaning of this idiom has nothing to do with “feather”.
1. Characteristics of idioms
1. Semantic unity语义的整体性
    Each idiom is a semantic unity. The semantic unity can be reflected by the fact that the meaning of an idiom is very often not the total sum of the meanings of the constituent words.
The semantic unity can also be shown in the illogical relations between the literal meanings of the constituent words and the meaning of the idiom.
2. Structural stability结构的固定性
    Structural stability means that the structure of an idiom usually remains unchangeable. In other words, the ponents of an idiom can not, generally speaking, be replaced.
The constituents of idioms cannot be changed or replaced. 习语的成分不能替换。
The word order cannot be inverted or changed. 习语的词序不可更换。
The constituents of an idiom cannot be deleted or added to, not even an ,即使是冠词也不行。
Many idioms are grammatically unanalysable. 很多习语在语法上是不可分析的。
9. 2 Classification of idioms
According to grammatical function, idioms can be divided into 5 types:
1) Idioms nominal in nature名词性习语: 
    They function as nouns in a sentence:
white elephant
brain trust
Jack of all trades
2) Idioms adjectival in nature形容词性习语:
   They function as adjectives in a sentence.
.: cut and dried
wide of the mark
up in the air
3) Idioms verbal in nature动词性习语:
   They function as verbs in a sentence.
.: put down to
turn on
get away with