The classification of idioms

Аннотация

This article aims at investigating the significance of idioms in linguistic research. The paper tries to shed light on the definition and importance of idioms by a number of scholars, their relations to the issue, its characteristics, functions and comprehension. Analyzed idioms reflect life style of the Karakalpak and the English nation, the investigated expressions either coincide in some basic categories or express polar points of view and attitudes. Key words: Idioms, composition, structure, meaning, translate. Introduction Nowadays around the world, in literary books most of the poets and the writers use figurative language, phrasal verbs in order to impress the readers, of course Idioms are not excepted. The term « Idiom» is coined in 1580s, « formal peculiar to a people or place;» meaning «phrase or expression peculiar to a language» is from 1620s; from French idiome (16 century) and directly from Late Latin idioma «a peculiarity in language,» from Greek idioma «peculiarity, peculiar phraseology» (Fowler writes that «A manifestation of the peculiar» is «the closest possible translation of the Greek word») [2:17], from idioumai «to appropriate to oneself» from idios «personal, private» properly «particular to oneself». Main Body Idiom – a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. We divided Idioms into 3 categories according to the relation between the composite words of Idioms and their meanings. First Category. Idiomatic expressions that the meaning and the structural words are the same, and we can directly translate into other languages, for example Karakalpak language. Let’s see some examples: 1. A drop in the ocean — it means that a very small amount compared with what is needed or expected [1: 5]. When we translate to Karakalpak language, we can directly translate word by word, like «Teńizden tamshı» [3: 318]. 2. Actions speak louder than words — it means that people’s action show their real attitudes, rather than what they say [1: 12]. In Karakalpak language it sounds like «Is gapte emes hárekette bilinedi» [3: 128]. Second Category. The composite words of Idioms and their meanings are related to each other. It means that we cannot translate straight away, but structural words of Idioms are generally close to the overall meaning. 187 XXI CENTURY RENAISSANCE IN THE PARADIGM OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS 3. Early bird — it describes a person who gets up early in the morning. In this expression, the word «bird» helps us to guess the meaning before finding the exact answer, because typically most of birds wake up early [1: 57]. 4. Be like a fish out of water — means feel uncomfortable because you are in an unfamiliar situation. In this example, general meaning is close to the exact meaning of the Idiom. As a matter of the fact that usually fishes are likely to die without water or become a half dead, it means that people might feel inconvenience under unfamiliar circumstance [1: 33]. Third Category. The composite words of Idioms and their meanings are completely different. In other words, we cannot directly translate word by word, because parts of the Idiom is totally different from its meaning. 5. Raining cats and dogs — it means that it is raining heavily [1: 182]. When we translate it to Karakalpak language its meaning is changed, it seems like «Nóser jawın». [3: 221]. 6. Somebody’s cup of tea — someone’s taste, somebody’s favorite or well-suited thing, activity, etc. Usually used in negative statements, for instance I am afraid of bungee jumping since it is not my cup of tea [1: 201]. Conclusion Idioms are mostly used in literary books and daily life in order to add variety of color to speech, to make statement more impressive. They are important structures in all languages of the world and they play important role in both literature and linguistic studies. However, more and more people do not prefer to use idiomatic expressions in academic writing. Since using this types of phrases could be distracting for readers who expect formal tone. Actually idioms are incredibly useful and give decoration to represent ideas of author when they are used in their works. In conclusion, it is not difficult to explain something to the audience when there are used Idiomatic expressions, since they give power to your discourse.