I Phraseology as a science

To be akin to; 

To be aware of. 

The difference between them is that the adjective “young” can be used as an attribute and as a predicative in a sentence, while the nominal component in such units can act only as a predicative. In these units the verb is the grammar centre and the second component is the semantic centre:  

c) prepositional-nominal phraseological units: 

On the doorstep - quite near;  

On the nose – exactly.

These units are equivalents of unchangeable words: prepositions, conjunctions, adverbs, that is why they have no grammar centre, their semantic centre is the nominal part.  

Among two-top units A.I. Smirnitsky points out the following structural types:

            a) attributive-nominal such as: 

A month of Sundays;

A millstone round one’s neck.  

Units of this type are noun equivalents and can be partly or perfectly idiomatic (if the expression is idiomatic, then we must consider its components in the aggregate, not separately). In partly idiomatic units (phrasisms) sometimes the first component is idiomatic: high road; in other cases the second component is idiomatic: first night.

             In many cases both components are idiomatic: red tape, blind alley, bed of nail, shot in the arm and many others.

            b) verb-nominal phraseological units: 

To read between the lines;

To sweep under the carpet.  

The grammar centre of such units is the verb, the semantic centre in many cases is the nominal component: to fall in love. In some units the verb is both the grammar and the semantic centre: not to know the ropes.  These units can be perfectly idiomatic as well: to burn one’s boats, to vote with one’s feet, to take to the cleaners’ etc.

   c) phraseological repetitions, such as:  

Now or never; 

Part and parcel (integral part).

Such units can be built on antonyms: ups and downs, back and forth; often they are formed by means of alliteration: cakes and ale, as busy as a bee. Components in repetitions are joined by means of conjunctions. These units are equivalents of adverbs or adjectives and have no grammar centre. They can also be partly or perfectly idiomatic: cool as a cucumber (partly), bread and butter (perfectly).   

Phraseological units the same as compound words can have more than two tops (stems in compound words):

                 To be a shadow of one’s own self,

                  At one’s own sweet will.

Phraseological units can be classified as parts of speech. This classification was suggested by I.V. Arnold. Here we have the following groups:  

a) nominal phrases or noun phraseologisms denoting an object, a person or a living being: 

            Bullet train;

          The root of the trouble.  

b) verbal phrases or verb phraseologisms denoting an action, a state or a feeling: 

          To sing like a lark;   

         To put one’s best foot forward.  

c) adjectival phrases or adjective phraseologisms denoting a quality:  

           As good as gold;             

Red as a cherry.  

d) adverbial phrases or adverb phraseological units, such as:   

From head to foot;   

Like a dog with two tails.  

e) prepositional phrases or preposition phraseological units:   

In the course of;   

On the stroke of.  

f) conjunctional phrases or conjunction phraseological units:    

As long as;   

On the other hand.  

g) interjectional phrases or interjection phraseological units:    

Catch me!;    

Well, I never!

In I.V.Arnold’s classification there are also sentence equivalents, proverbs, sayings and quotations: “The sky is the limit”, “What makes him tick”, “I am easy”. Proverbs are usually metaphorical: “Too many cooks spoil the broth”, while sayings are as a rule non-metaphorical: “Where there is a will there is a way”

Phraseological units and their distinguishing features

 
  Phraseological unit possess phraseological s t a b i l i t y which may be called macrostability; it is made up of several microstabilities. 
The stability of use. Ph.u. is reproduced ready-made; it is not based on a grammatical and semantic pattern of a free word-group. They are registered in dictionaries and handed down from generation to generation; they are public property, not private. 
 
          Stability of meaning. The meaning of phraseological unit is fully or partially transferred. Metaphor and metonymy are the common types of the complication of meaning. E.g., fully transferred meaning: a bull in a china shop, to make a mountain out of a molehill, like a fish out of water; Wall Street, Fleet Street; time and tide wait for no man; Ten Commandments, to be or not to be, десять заповідей, бути чи не бути, Jack Ketch (hangman), Tom Pepper(great Her), Tom Tailor (tailor), Tom Thumb (a small man, a Lilipntian),  
 
          Partially transferred meaning: as brave as a lion, as sly as a fox, to drink like a fish. 
 
        The stability of meaning does not mean that the meaning of phraseological unit doesn't change. E.g., to give up the ghost (to die), now it's applied to trains, cars, etc. (stopped functioning).  
 
            Lexical stability. 1) Phraseological unit with no lexical replacement possible, e.g., to pay through the nose (to pay a very large sum of money), Tomy Atkins (American soldier), a bloody Mary (a drink). But they may have grammatical forms, e.g., He kicked the bucket (He died);

2) Certain, limited replacements are possible, e.g., close (near) at hand, not to stir (raise, lift, turn) a finger, to close (shut) one's eyes to smth. Variants are fixed, their number is determined, they must be learned. 
 
              Phraseological stability might roughly correspond to another term idiomaticity, used by English and American linguists and some of the Soviet ones (Ginzburg R.A., e.g.). By idiomaticity they mean two essential features of phraseological units – stability of lexical components and lack of motivation. Mainly on the basis of the second feature the definition of an idiom given in the Concise Oxford Dictionary is formed: "Idiom ... peculiarity of phraseology approved by usage, though having meaning not deducible from those of the separate words" (Sixth edition, 1376). 
 
               Besides phraseological stability phraseological unities are characterized by s t r u c t u r a l 
s e p a r a b i l i t y (the term of A.I. Smirnitsky). Phraseological unities are made up of words which have grammatical forms. The markers of structural separability are: a) morphological – changes of the verb, e.g., to burn one's finger (burnt, has burnt, will burn); changes of the noun, e.g., he is pulling my leg (our legs); changes of adjectives, e.g., he is poorer than a church mouse; b) morphological and syntactical, e.g., the formation of the Passive Voice – Don't you see that our legs are being pulled? c) The structure of the phraseological unities as a whole is different from that of compound words, e.g., my God! Good Heavens

 

II Phraseologisms in Mass Media

The headline is an integral part of newspaper publication. The first things with what the reader faces – a name of publication. Headline is the first signal, spurring you to read the material or postpone the newspaper aside. Anticipating text, headline carries certain information on contents of publicity work.

What is the particularity of the headline of the text? This is an element of the work, having twofold nature.

On the one hand, this is a language structure, anticipating text, standing before it. So headline is preserved as speech element, residing outside of the text and having definite independence. On the one hand, headline – is a complete component of the text. Failing into it and connected with the other components of colorant work. Alongside with beginning, the medium, with the ending, headline forms definite plan of the text. The possibility of the title in influencing the reader is defined that, alongside with the beginning and ending of the text, it occupies the stylistic strong position.

The newspaper title can express any semantic structure of the text, about which went the speech above.

In the first classification of the title is differed depending on the one or several elements of the semantic scheme of the text express the headline. The unidirectional complex titles stand out on this sign.

The unidirectional titles match up with as elements semantic structure of the text. Majority of the headlines express the theme of the text. Theme of the text included in its central idea. This is a thesis, which opens the systems of the thesis, forming the text. The main idea includes the theme of the text. One of the main purposes of the headline is to reporter the reader about the subject of the text, which newspaper offer.

The headline of the newspaper text actualizes the analytical estimation of situations, reflected in it. Such nature has a significant number of selected headlines.

The idea of the text is formed in whole interpretation. Such titles before reading the newspaper material prepare the reader to perception of ideological meaning; publication is understood immediately in determined key. Ideological meaning is perceived twice: the first, before acquaintance with text, than after reading the whole text.

The headline actualized one of the themes, developing idea of the text. This is an element of the text pertaining to its general contents. Except the main elements of the general contents of the text, the headline can actualized its secondary elements.

Appearing “optional” or secondary which is the expressed in name, being expressive, and headline attracts reader’s attention.

The newspaper title much often expresses evaluation background, which present in every elements of its profound scheme. The evaluation headline adjusts the reader on definite perception of the message. Forecasts the attitude to that, what is spoken about.

The complex headlines match up with several elements of the structural scheme of the text simultaneously. They will transfer complicated information. The complex headline actualizes simultaneously the idea and gives estimation to situation, characters, events and etc. the second classification of the title is based on that, completely or not or another element of the text is reflected in. the text represents itself as a system of bilabial structure consists of idea and its sign. In expressing some semantic element of the text, the titles are divided into fully informative and in partially informative types, actualizing semantic component of the text.

Fully informative headline can reflect either theme of the whole text, or central idea, or any element, developing central idea. Fully informative headline can be nominative or predicative. Nominative titles name is the theme of the whole text.

They play the role of the sign on the text similarly to personal names, which names geographical object, plant, steamship, living being and etc. The predicative headline represent itself unrolled theme, containing central or main idea. Such titles are more informative and can give the fullest production about the text. The second type of headlines is a partially informative one. They express not whole theme, consisting of subject and predicate, but only one of its part – as logical theme. The partially informative turtles are rather widespread in newspaper. They meet even in brief items.

Compositional elements of the text (the beginning, ending) are one of the aspects of the connection of the headline with text. The title of the text enters in especially close connections with these elements of the text exactly. The headline, beginning, and the ending – these are the three strong elements of the text in perception. The addressee of information – a reader – in the first place pays attention to these elements of the text.

The main way of the reading, perception any text lays – from beginning to the ending. “Text are perceived by reader (or listener) not instantly, but gradually, usually by reading the text from beginning to the ending”¹.

The expressive correlation of the analyzed components on the text appears then when they enter in direct connection. The headline by some means is repeated in initial lines of the text, it is brought forth onward, specially occupies stylistic strong position. Herewith reader’s attention is pointed on idea, comprised in title.

Finally all this promotes to the active perception of the text.

Words of one lexical- semantic field are repeated. The lexical repetition of the word from headline at the beginning can be accompanied by the question that arouses the reader’s interest and forces the reader to address to text.

The close semantic connection of the title and rented idea appears then, when at the beginning referring element is used, the reader is goes back to the headline and direct perception of the text.

The newspaper –style is a system interconnected lexical, phraseological and grammatical means, special linguistically phenomena, executing informative function. Organization of the language elements of style depends on extra linguistic factors.

The specifics soft the newspaper as public phenomena and general specifics of mass communication confess newspaper is more specifics. The newspaper is a media and faculty of the belief. It is indented for mass and besides much not uniform auditorium, which she must hold, forces to read. Thence necessity to organize newspaper and to transfer information quickly, briefly, report main even through article (text) will not be read up to the end, and have on reader definite emotional influence. Text must not require from reader a preliminary preparation; dependency from context must be minimum.

Together with usual, constantly relocated themes in newspaper appear any themes, which are actual. Then these new situation and arguments begin be repeated. Journalists usually have no time for careful processing the material, conducts to quotient to use stamp. All this and creates the peculiar features factors of the newspaper text.

The structure of the text, referring to newspaper style, is characterized by the following general sentences:

1. Small length of the text under headline;

2. Unevenness of the sharing the semantic load between headline and remaining part of the text, under which headline possesses higher predictability.

The features of the newspaper style on lexical - phraseological level are also conditioned by functional tasks of the newspaper. Some linguistics define following features of newspaper style:

1. Abundance of the firm word - combination which are not of phraseological nature;

2. Presence of newspaper lexicon and phraseological units, possessing notions of political and economic nature;

3. Absence of modality in elements of newspaper language;

4. The communication task of the newspaper is to impact upon

Public opinion, force to read the newspaper, - showing extra linguistics stimulus, under influence that, on page of the newspapers appear non- standard for newspaper language expressive and emotional phraseological units. The particularities of meaning of phraseological units define specifics of their functioning in language of the newspaper.

The newspaper articles as any communicative activity, differs with it’s purpose. The purpose of the article defines the language means of its expression.

The communicative effect¹ can influence on receptor:

1) In purely information sphere;

2) In motivation;

3) In behaviour and in combinations of all these effects.

It is obvious, that process of communication is not only transmission of information. It associated with definite influence on different spheres of activity and consciousnesses of the person.¹ Headline expresses estimation to the event, character or event to anything described or informed in the newspaper text.

 

II Phraseological unit as a newspaper title and its functions

 

The role of the title in capturing reader’s attention is great. Studding, the role the title we came to the conclusion that the title has the following functions:

1) Estimating function, this can be divided into two subgroups:

a) Positive estimation:

Good blood. The Economist. Feb. 3^rd - 9^th, 2001.

Seal of approval. The Economist. Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2000.

b) Negative estimation

The headlines, certainly, informs on positive facts. Using phraseological units in headline can realize negative estimation, hereunder prepares the reader to receive corresponding information.

Bad Blood Newsweek. Nov. 22^nd, 1993.

On the rocks. The Economist. Aug. 26^th – Sept. 1^st, 2000.

So many leaders, so little point. The Wall Street Journal. Sep. 8-9, 2000.

Banks and buildings societies stand to take your money. The Times. Nov. 15 2002. What went wrong in Oldham,, The week. Jun. 23, 2001.

But some linguists emphasize one more type of estimation: zero or neutral estimation.

2) Advertising function.

Informative function of the headline consists in giving the short information of the entitled text.

Israel on its own hook. The economist. Jan. 30 –  Feb. 5, 1993.

Meet the man trying to Sell the Freedom party. The Wall Street. Sep. 8-9, 2000.

Formula One in crisis as backers hit the brackers. The Wall Street. Sep. 8-9, 2000.

Willliam gets help to find the ahead. The Times . Nov. 15,

2002.

A little Jaz, a litlle blues. The Times. Nov. 15, 2002.

How mergers go wrong. The Economist. July 22² - 28, 2000.

3) Expressive function.

The headline leads the reader in situation, gives him a landmark, about the article, influences upon reader.

Using phraseological units in headline gives expressiveness.

The Bank¢s new brooms. The Economist. Jan.30 ~Feb. 5, 1993.

Man with ¢troubling¢ties hold USA Today, Nov. 30, 2001

Blair in a spin. The Economist. July 22^nd - 28¢, 2000

Dell on wheels. The Economist. Aug. 26 – Sept. 1^st, 2000.

Phraseological units in headline cause advertising function of the headline. Such headline attracts attention of the reader, does not contain information, allowing beforehand judge about contents of the article.

In the shadows. The Economist. Aug. 26^th –Sept. 1^st, 2000. The worn

Turns. The Economists. Feb. 3^rd - 9^th, 2001.

Double life. The Economists. Jan. 30 th –  Feb. 5^th, 1993.

According to I.V. Arnold one of the style forming features of the newspaper lexicon, is the use of the proper names: toponyms, anthroponomy, names of the instructions, organization and etc. the use of the proper names (the name of the politicians, organization and etc), has the neglect occurrence.

 

2. Expressive coloring of newspaper articles with the help of phrase units

 

Newspaper is a publication that appears regularly and frequently, and carries news about a wide variety of current events. Organizations such as trade unions, religious groups, corporations or clubs may have their own newspapers, but the term is more commonly used to refer to daily or weekly publications that bring news of general interest to large portions of the public in a specific geographic area.

General circulations newspapers play a role in commerce through the advertisements they carry; they provide readers with information of practical value, such as television schedules weather maps and listings of stock prices; and these newspapers provide a course of entertainment through their stories and through such features as comic strips and crossword puzzles. However one of the most important functions of the general- circulation newspaper (a crucial function in a democracy) is to provide citizens with information on government and politics.

The printing press was used to disseminate news in Europe shortly after Johann Gutenberg invented the letter press, employing movable type in the 1450s. in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries thousands of printed news books short pamphlets reporting on a news event ballads accounts of news events written in verse and usually printed on one side of a single sheet of paper, circulated in Europe and in the new European colonies in America. The first news report printed in the America described an earthquake in Guatemala and was printed in Mexico in 1541.

The oldest surviving newspaper written in English appears to have been published in Amsterdam in 1620 by Pieter van de Keere, a Dutch and print engraver who had lived in London for a few years.

According to the historian Joseph Frank along with their political coverage newspapers in England in the 1640s, were among the first in the world to use headlines, to print advertisements, to illustrate stories with woodcuts, to employ a woman «a she –intelligencer»  to collect news and to have newsboys, or more commonly newsgirls, sell papers in the streets. They are also among the first newspapers to complete with news books and news ballads in coverage of sensational events like bloody crimes.