The structure of word combinations

A
word-combination is a compound nominative unit of speech, which is
semantically both global and articulated. There are some differences
in the terminology in the Russian- and the English-speaking
linguistic tradition. In the Russian terminological system the term
словосочетание
is
used
to
denote the unit mentioned above, Englishmen use it to denote any
combination of words, but the usual term, which corresponds to our
approach to словосочетание,
is
collocation.

Word-combinations
— are the «building material» for syntax. Syntax as a
science of ordered speech deals with two basic problems:

the
first one -> what are those ultimate units that constitute
speech,

the
second one -> how these units are organized in actual speech.

To
understand the division of the sentence into the parts, it is
important to first see the syntagmatic relationships between the
elements. Word-combination is a unit of both, syntagmatics and
syntax.

Thus,
the interdependence between the syntactic and the syntagmatic
analysis is the main stumbling block for understanding. To fully
convey the purport of an utterance, it is necessary to penetrate into
the lexical-phraseological connections between the ultimate
meaningful units of the language.

The
difference between the syntagmatic and the syntactic analysis of
speech may be explained by means of the following example:

Simon
had become to look for himself at the family foto.

If
one analyses this sentence syntagmatically, it is clear that here to
become to look for oneself
and
family
foto

are word-combinations, functionally, they are equivalent to a word.
From the point of view of syntax, had
become
is
a predicate, to
look for

an adverb, foto
an
object, family
an
attribute.

The
unity of colligation and collocation which is so important for
syntactic study in general, has no less importance for the study of
word-combinations.

Syntactic
relationships may restrict the collocability of one word with
another. Thus, the word much
may
be used before prefer
in
a sentence like In
international political arena Mr. Bush much prefer the position of
power.
But
it is a mistake if the word much
is
used at the end of the sentence. Colligation and collocation may put
intralinguistic restriction upon the freedom with which the speaker
chooses the combination of words. First of all, a speaker while
bringing words together should follow some grammatical rules. At the
same time the process of combining words is restricted by the
lexical-phraseological valences of the words.

The
difference between a word-combination and a combination of words is
the following: a combination of words presupposes the possibility of
combining words together in the process of speech production; f
word-combination should be regarded as a free equivalent of a
phraseological unit.

The
«building material» for the construction of sentences
consists of

1)
word,

2)
phraseological unit,

3)
word-combination.

Thus,
to
pay a call
is
a phraseological unit, which is equivalent to the word to
visit. To go to see
is
a word-combination, which is a free equivalent of the phraseological
unit and of the word to
visit.

There
are some types of word-combinations in the English language:

nominal
word-combinations:
adjective
+ noun: pretty
woman;

noun
+ preposition + noun: brick
at the top;

noun
+ preposition + adjective + noun: a
man with small nose;

noun
+ preposition + verbal -ing:
difficulty
in understanding;

noun
+ infinitive: a
book to read;

verbal
word-combinations:
verb
+ noun: to
give a speech;
verb
+ infinitive: to
forget to post;
verb
+ verbal -ing:
to
stop doing;

verb
+ preposition + verbal -ing:
to
insist on going;

adverb
+ verb: completely
forgot;

verb
+ adverb: to
forget completely;

adjectival
word-combinations:
adjective
+ infinitive: nice
to meet;
adjective
+ preposition + noun: full
of water;
adjective
+ preposition + verbal -ing:
fond
of reading.

All
the above-mentioned word-combinations function as global wholes, as
«the prefabricated units» in speech. The syntactic bond
that connects the elements of word-combinations is very tight,
usually it is the attributive bond or the closest types of the
completive bond. A very important parameter in the study of the
expression plane of word-combinations is prosody.

There
exist different methods of study of word-combinations, but bearing in
mind the idea of the unity of collocation and colligation, the
categorial method seems to be most fruitful. This method is based on
the opposition of the marked and unmarked element of the category.

There
exist five categories of word-combinations in English:

1) The
category of connotativeness.

The
opposition here is connotative word-combinations vs non-connotative
word-combinations. Connotative word-combinations fulfil the function
of impact, they possess expressive-emotional-evaluative connotations.
Non-connotative word-combinations are neutral, they fulfil the
function of message. Thus, in the sentence In
her tone, she made the understanding clear

they
were of the same kind, he and she, a sort of diabolic free-masonry
subsisted between them
the
word-combination diabolic
free-masonry
is
connotative, while in the sentence He
speaks English fluently
the
word-combination to
speak fluently
is
non-connotative.

There
are two main parameters which help to understand the real meaning of
word-combinations — context and prosody. Thus, a word-combination
may be quite neutral, taken in isolation, for example, to
break the vessel.
But
within a context it becomes connotative: He
knew how near to breaking was the vessel that held his life.

In connection with the category of connotativeness it is important to
note that connotations may be inherent.

In
oral speech, connotative word-combinations are usually determined by
prosody.

  1. The
    category of reproducibility.

    (this category is also called the category of «clicheed
    expressions»)

The
opposition here is clicheed vs non-clicheed word-combinations or
usual vs occasional word-combinations. In ordinary speech people
hardly ever coin word-combinations of their own, usually they use the
already existing ones. For example, in the sentence: My
favourite book was written by the famous writer,
the
word-combinations favourite
book and famous writer
are
quite usual word-combinations for our speech.

As
for the non-clicheed word-combinations — they should be created
anew or for the nonce, usually they are not reproducible. For
example, in the sentence Nurse
placed her in my lap, a squiggling bundle of life
the
word-combination a
squiggling bundle of life
is
a creation of the writer of the book. This kind of word-combinations
is usually very connotative.

Word-combinations
that belong to this category are characterised by the non-idiomatic
globality. These word-combinations may be segmented into separate
words, but depending on the reproducibility they tend to fuse into a
global concept.

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  • Презентация: Topic 6: word combinations

    Слайд 1

    TOPIC 6: WORD COMBINATIONS

    Points for discussion:
    6.1.Word-combination as the minimal unit of syntax theory: the definition, its main characteristics, the main criteria for classifying.
    6.2 The main principals for structural classifying . The existing structural oppositions of word –combinations.
    The main principals for semantical classifying. The existing semantical oppositions of word-combinations.
    The main principals for semantical classifying. The existing semantical oppositions of word-combinations.

  • Слайд 2

    6.1. Syntax as part of grammar: the range problems to study, its main notions, historical review of syntax theory development

    The points to clarify….
    1) WHAT DOES SYNTAX STUDY?
    2) WHAT NOTIONS DOES IT INCLUDE?
    3) WHERE LIE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SYNTAX AND OTHER DISCIPLINES?

  • Слайд 3

    The first point for discussion

    Word-combination as the minimal unit of syntax theory: the definition, its main characteristics, the main criteria for classifying

  • Слайд 4

    The difinition to follow

    a word-combination is any syntactical group, consisting of at least two notional words which are combined either into free word-combinations, predicative or prepositional structures and based either on the coordinative or subordinate relations.

  • Слайд 5

    The main characteristics of word-combinations

    WORD-COMBINATION vsWORD
    WORD-COMBINATIONvsSENTENCE
    1. The meaning of the word-combination doesn’t equal the sum of meanings of the words it includes.
    2. the word –combination is supposed to have some syntactical function in a sentence what the separate words can’t .

    word- combinations don’t have both communicative purpose and phrase stress.
    The word-combination cant consist of one word but sentence can
    The word –combination just name but doesn’t reflect some situation, correlated with the reality. It doest have the categories of voice, tense and aspect.

  • Слайд 6

    The main criteria for word-combination defining

    POSITIONAL (any changes within the structure of the word-combination)

    SEMANTICAL (context connections)

    SYNTACTCAL (connections within the word-combinations, the origin )

  • Слайд 7

    POSITIONAL CRITERION INCLUDES
    The behavior of the elements in the combination
    (adnocentrical– exocentirical)

    the hierarchy in the combination
    (nuclear –nuclear free)

    the position of the dependant towards the nucleus (nuclear only)
    ( regressive — nucleus centered –progressive)

    morphological structure (nuclear free only)
    ( morphologically-similar morphologically diversed)

  • Слайд 8

    SEMANTICAL CRITERION INCLUDES

    the degree of stylistic determination presented
    (connotative — non-connotative)

    The degree of semantical connection presented
    (idiomatic phraseological units- neutral(free) word-combinations

    The degree of contextual determination
    (typical word-combinations -isolated)

    The degree of social determination
    (sociolinguistically determined — sociolinguisticallyundetermined)
    The degree of frequent usagingin speech (clicheed — non-clicheed)

  • Слайд 9

    SYNTACTICAL CRITERION INCLUDES

    The syntactical connections
    (subordinate — coordinate)

    The degree of the origin presented
    ( originally made — derivatively made)

    The degree of nominalisation presented
    (fully nominalized — partly nominalized )

  • Слайд 10

    THE SECOND POINT FOR DISCUSSION

    The main principals for classifying the word-combinations on their structure.
    The existing structural oppositions.
    The existing structural classifications.

  • Слайд 11

    THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR STRUCTURAL CLASSIFYING

    The POSIBILITY TO REPLACE other elements
    (possible to replace non possible to replace )

    The NUCLEUS of the word-combination
    ( nuclear- nuclear free)

    The POSITION TOWARDS NUCLEUS (before- around –after)

    The degree of MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSION (diversed non diversed)

  • Слайд 12

    THE THIRD POINT FOR DISCUSSION

    The main principals for semantical classifying the word-combinations
    The existing semantical oppositions.
    The existing semantical classifications.

  • Слайд 13

    THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SEMANTICAL CLASSIFYING

    1. CONNOTATIVENESS
    (connotative non-connotative)

    2. REPRODUCUBILITY
    (clicheed non-clicheed)

    3. IDIOMACITY (idioms neutral)

    4. CONCEPTUAL DETERMINATION (typical word-combinations isolated)

    5. SOCIOLINGUISTIC DETERMINATION (sociolinguisticallydetermined undetermined

  • Слайд 14

    THE LAST POINT FOR DISCUSSION

    The main principals for syntactical classifying the word-combinations
    The existing syntactical oppositions.
    The existing syntactical classifications.

  • Слайд 15

    THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SYNTACTICAL CLASSIFYING

    1. SYNTACTICAL CONNECTIONS in the word-combination
    (subordinate connected coordinate connected)

    2. ORIGIN (connection to the sentence expressing the same situation)
    ( originally made- derivatively made)

    3. NOMINALISATION ( the degree of being presented)
    (fully nominalized partly nominalized)

  • Слайд 16

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Слайд 1
TOPIC 6: WORD COMBINATIONS
Points for discussion:
6.1.Word-combination as the minimal unit

of syntax theory: the definition, its main characteristics, the main criteria for classifying.
6.2 The main principals for structural classifying . The existing structural oppositions of word –combinations.
The main principals for semantical classifying. The existing semantical oppositions of word-combinations.
The main principals for semantical classifying. The existing semantical oppositions of word-combinations.

TOPIC 6: WORD COMBINATIONSPoints for discussion:6.1.Word-combination as the minimal unit of


Слайд 2
6.1. Syntax as part of grammar: the range problems to

study, its main notions, historical review of syntax theory development

The points to clarify….
1) WHAT DOES SYNTAX STUDY?
2) WHAT NOTIONS DOES IT INCLUDE?
3) WHERE LIE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SYNTAX AND OTHER DISCIPLINES?
6.1. Syntax as part of grammar: the range problems to study,


Слайд 3
The first point for discussion
Word-combination as the minimal unit

of syntax theory: the definition, its main characteristics, the main criteria for classifying
The first point for discussion Word-combination as the minimal unit of


Слайд 4
The difinition to follow
a word-combination is any syntactical group, consisting

of at least two notional words which are combined either into free word-combinations, predicative or prepositional structures and based either on the coordinative or subordinate relations.
The difinition to followa word-combination is any syntactical group, consisting of


Слайд 5
The main characteristics of word-combinations

WORD-COMBINATION vsWORD
WORD-COMBINATIONvsSENTENCE
1. The meaning of the

word-combination doesn’t equal the sum of meanings of the words it includes.
2. the word –combination is supposed to have some syntactical function in a sentence what the separate words can’t .

word- combinations don’t have both communicative purpose and phrase stress.
The word-combination cant consist of one word but sentence can
The word –combination just name but doesn’t reflect some situation, correlated with the reality. It doest have the categories of voice, tense and aspect.
The main characteristics of word-combinations WORD-COMBINATION vsWORDWORD-COMBINATIONvsSENTENCE1. The meaning of the


Слайд 6
The main criteria for word-combination defining

POSITIONAL (any changes within

the structure of the word-combination)

SEMANTICAL (context connections)

SYNTACTCAL (connections within the word-combinations, the origin )

The main criteria for word-combination defining  POSITIONAL (any changes within


Слайд 7
POSITIONAL CRITERION INCLUDES
The behavior of the elements in the combination

(adnocentrical – exocentirical)

the hierarchy in the combination
(nuclear – nuclear free)

the position of the dependant towards the nucleus (nuclear only)
( regressive — nucleus centered – progressive)

morphological structure (nuclear free only)
( morphologically-similar morphologically diversed )

POSITIONAL CRITERION INCLUDESThe behavior of the elements in the combination (adnocentrical


Слайд 8
SEMANTICAL CRITERION INCLUDES

the degree of stylistic determination presented
(connotative —

non-connotative)

The degree of semantical connection presented
(idiomatic phraseological units — neutral(free) word-combinations

The degree of contextual determination
(typical word-combinations — isolated)

The degree of social determination
(sociolinguistically determined — sociolinguistically undetermined)
The degree of frequent usaging in speech (clicheed — non-clicheed)

SEMANTICAL CRITERION INCLUDES the degree of stylistic determination presented(connotative - non-connotative)


Слайд 9
SYNTACTICAL CRITERION INCLUDES

The syntactical connections
(subordinate — coordinate)

The degree of

the origin presented
( originally made — derivatively made)

The degree of nominalisation presented
(fully nominalized — partly nominalized )

SYNTACTICAL CRITERION INCLUDESThe syntactical connections(subordinate - coordinate) The degree of the


Слайд 10
THE SECOND POINT FOR DISCUSSION
The main principals for classifying the

word-combinations on their structure.
The existing structural oppositions.
The existing structural classifications.

THE SECOND POINT FOR DISCUSSIONThe main principals for classifying the word-combinations


Слайд 11
THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR STRUCTURAL CLASSIFYING

The POSIBILITY TO REPLACE other

elements
(possible to replace non possible to replace )

The NUCLEUS of the word-combination
( nuclear- nuclear free)

The POSITION TOWARDS NUCLEUS (before- around –after)

The degree of MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSION (diversed non diversed)

THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR STRUCTURAL CLASSIFYINGThe POSIBILITY TO REPLACE other elements(possible


Слайд 12
THE THIRD POINT FOR DISCUSSION
The main principals for semantical classifying

the word-combinations
The existing semantical oppositions.
The existing semantical classifications.

THE THIRD POINT FOR DISCUSSIONThe main principals for semantical classifying the


Слайд 13
THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SEMANTICAL CLASSIFYING

1. CONNOTATIVENESS
(connotative non-connotative)

2.

REPRODUCUBILITY
(clicheed non-clicheed)

3. IDIOMACITY (idioms neutral)

4. CONCEPTUAL DETERMINATION (typical word-combinations isolated)

5. SOCIOLINGUISTIC DETERMINATION (sociolinguistically determined undetermined

THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SEMANTICAL CLASSIFYING1. CONNOTATIVENESS(connotative  non-connotative) 2. REPRODUCUBILITY


Слайд 14
THE LAST POINT FOR DISCUSSION
The main principals for syntactical classifying

the word-combinations
The existing syntactical oppositions.
The existing syntactical classifications.

THE LAST POINT FOR DISCUSSIONThe main principals for syntactical classifying the


Слайд 15
THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SYNTACTICAL CLASSIFYING

1. SYNTACTICAL CONNECTIONS in the

word-combination
(subordinate connected coordinate connected)

2. ORIGIN (connection to the sentence expressing the same situation)
( originally made- derivatively made)

3. NOMINALISATION ( the degree of being presented)
(fully nominalized partly nominalized)

THE MAIN PRINCIPALS FOR SYNTACTICAL CLASSIFYING1. SYNTACTICAL CONNECTIONS in the word-combination(subordinate


Слайд 16
Thanks for cooperation!!!

Thanks for cooperation!!!



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Семинар 6 Combinability. Word Groups

KEY TERMS

Syntagmatics — linear (simultaneous) relationship of words in speech as distinct from associative (non-simultaneous) relationship of words in language (paradigmatics). Syntagmatic relations specify the combination of elements into complex forms and sentences.

Distribution — The set of elements with which an item can cooccur

Combinability — the ability of linguistic elements to combine in speech.

Valency — the potential ability of words to occur with other words

Context — the semantically complete passage of written speech sufficient to establish the meaning of a given word (phrase).

Clichе´ — an overused expression that is considered trite, boring

Word combination — a combination of two or more notional words serving to express one concept. It is produced, not reproduced in speech.

Collocation — such a combination of words which conditions the realization of a certain meaning
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND EXERCISES
1. Syntagmatic relations and the concept of combinability of words. Define combinability.
Syntagmatic relation defines the relationship between words that co-occur in the same sentence. It focuses on two main parts: how the position and the word order affect the meaning of a sentence.

The syntagmatic relation explains:

The word position and order.

The relationship between words gives a particular meaning to the sentence.

The syntagmatic relation can also explain why specific words are often paired together (collocations)

Syntagmatic relations are linear relations between words

The adjective yellow:

1. color: a yellow dress;

2. envious, suspicious: a yellow look;

3. corrupt: the yellow press
TYPES OF SEMANTIC RELATIONS

Because syntagmatic relations have to do with the relationship between words, the syntagms can result in collocations and idioms.
Collocations
Collocations are word combinations that frequently occur together.

Some examples of collocations:

  • Verb + noun: do homework, take a risk, catch a cold.
  • Noun + noun: office hours, interest group, kitchen cabinet.
  • Adjective + adverb: good enough, close together, crystal clear.
  • Verb + preposition: protect from, angry at, advantage of.
  • Adverb + verb: strongly suggest, deeply sorry, highly successful.
  • Adjective + noun: handsome man, quick shower, fast food.

Idioms

Idioms are expressions that have a meaning other than their literal one.

Idioms are distinct from collocations:

  • The word combination is not interchangeable (fixed expressions).
  • The meaning of each component is not equal to the meaning of the idiom

It is difficult to find the meaning of an idiom based on the definition of the words alone. For example, red herring. If you define the idiom word by word, it means ‘red fish’, not ‘something that misleads’, which is the real meaning.

Because of this, idioms can’t be translated to or from another language because the word definition isn’t equivalent to the idiom interpretation.
Some examples of popular idioms:

  • Break a leg.
  • Miss the boat.
  • Call it a day.
  • It’s raining cats and dogs.
  • Kill two birds with one stone.

Combinability (occurrence-range) — the ability of linguistic elements to combine in speech.

The combinability of words is as a rule determined by their meanings, not their forms. Therefore not every sequence of words may be regarded as a combination of words.
In the sentence Frankly, father, I have been a fool neither frankly, father nor father, I … are combinations of words since their meanings are detached and do not unite them, which is marked orally by intonation and often graphically by punctuation marks.
On the other hand, some words may be inserted between the components of a word-combination without breaking it.

Compare,

a) read books

b) read many books

c) read very many books.

In case (a) the combination read books is uninterrupted.In cases (b) and (c) it is interrupted, or discontinuous(read… books).

The combinability of words depends on their lexical, grammatical and lexico-grammatical meanings. It is owing to the lexical meanings of the corresponding lexemes that the word wise can be combined with the words man, act, saying and is hardly combinable with the words milk, area, outline.

The lexico-grammatical meanings of -er in singer (a noun) and -ly in beautifully (an adverb) do not go together and prevent these words from forming a combination, whereas beautiful singer and sing beautifully are regular word-combinations.

The combination * students sings is impossible owing to the grammatical meanings of the corresponding grammemes.

Thus one may speak of lexical, grammatical and lexico-grammatical combinability, or the combinability of lexemes, grammemes and parts of speech.
The mechanism of combinability is very complicated. One has to take into consideration not only the combinability of homogeneous units, e. g. the words of one lexeme with those of another lexeme. A lexeme is often not combinable with a whole class of lexemes or with certain grammemes.
For instance, the lexeme few, fewer, fewest is not combinable with a class of nouns called uncountables, such as milk, information, hatred, etc., or with members of ‘singular’ grammemes (i. e. grammemes containing the meaning of ‘singularity’, such as book, table, man, boy, etc.).
The ‘possessive case’ grammemes are rarely combined with verbs, barring the gerund. Some words are regularly combined with sentences, others are not.

It is convenient to distinguish right-hand and left-hand connections. In the combination my hand (when written down) the word my has a right-hand connection with the word hand and the latter has a left-hand connection with the word my.

With analytical forms inside and outside connections are also possible. In the combination has often written the verb has an inside connection with the adverb and the latter has an outside connection with the verb.

It will also be expedient to distinguish unilateral, bilateral and multilateral connections. By way of illustration we may say that the articles in English have unilateral right-hand connections with nouns: a book, the child. Such linking words as prepositions, conjunctions, link-verbs, and modal verbs are characterized by bilateral connections: love of life, John and Mary, this is John, he must come. Most verbs may have zero

(Come!), unilateral (birds fly), bilateral (I saw him) and multilateral (Yesterday I saw him there) connections. In other words, the combinability of verbs is variable.

One should also distinguish direct and indirect connections. In the combination Look at John the connection between look and at, between at and John are direct, whereas the connection between look and John is indirect, through the preposition at.
2. Lexical and grammatical valency. Valency and collocability. Relationships between valency and collocability. Distribution.
The appearance of words in a certain syntagmatic succession with particular logical, semantic, morphological and syntactic relations is called collocability or valency.

Valency is viewed as an aptness or potential of a word to have relations with other words in language. Valency can be grammatical and lexical.

Collocability is an actual use of words in particular word-groups in communication.
The range of the Lexical valency of words is linguistically restricted by the inner structure of the English word-stock. Though the verbs ‘lift’ and ‘raise’ are synonyms, only ‘to raise’ is collocated with the noun ‘question’.

The lexical valency of correlated words in different languages is different, cf. English ‘pot plants’ vs. Russian ‘комнатные цветы’.
The interrelation of lexical valency and polysemy:

the restrictions of lexical valency of words may manifest themselves in the lexical meanings of the polysemantic members of word-groups, e.g. heavy, adj. in the meaning ‘rich and difficult to digest’ is combined with the words food, meals, supper, etc., but one cannot say *heavy cheese or *heavy sausage;

different meanings of a word may be described through its lexical valency, e.g. the different meanings of heavy, adj. may be described through the word-groups heavy weight / book / table; heavy snow / storm / rain; heavy drinker / eater; heavy sleep / disappointment / sorrow; heavy industry / tanks, and so on.

From this point of view word-groups may be regarded as the characteristic minimal lexical sets that operate as distinguishing clues for each of the multiple meanings of the word.
Grammatical valency is the aptness of a word to appear in specific grammatical (or rather syntactic) structures. Its range is delimited by the part of speech the word belongs to. This is not to imply that grammatical valency of words belonging to the same part of speech is necessarily identical, e.g.:

the verbs suggest and propose can be followed by a noun (to propose or suggest a plan / a resolution); however, it is only propose that can be followed by the infinitive of a verb (to propose to do smth.);

the adjectives clever and intelligent are seen to possess different grammatical valency as clever can be used in word-groups having the pattern: Adj. + Prep. at +Noun(clever at mathematics), whereas intelligent can never be found in exactly the same word-group pattern.

The individual meanings of a polysemantic word may be described through its grammatical valency, e.g. keen + Nas in keen sight ‘sharp’; keen + on + Nas in keen on sports ‘fond of’; keen + V(inf)as in keen to know ‘eager’.
Lexical context determines lexically bound meaning; collocations with the polysemantic words are of primary importance, e.g. a dramatic change / increase / fall / improvement; dramatic events / scenery; dramatic society; a dramatic gesture.
In grammatical context the grammatical (syntactic) structure of the context serves to determine the meanings of a polysemantic word, e.g. 1) She will make a good teacher. 2) She will make some tea. 3) She will make him obey.
Distribution is understood as the whole complex of contexts in which the given lexical unit(word) can be used. Есть даже словари, по которым можно найти валентные слова для нужного нам слова — так и называются дистрибьюшн дикшенери
3. What is a word combination? Types of word combinations. Classifications of word-groups.
Word combination — a combination of two or more notional words serving to express one concept. It is produced, not reproduced in speech.

Types of word combinations:

  1. Semantically:
    1. free word groups (collocations) a year ago, a girl of beauty, take lessons;
    2. set expressions (at last, point of view, take part).
  2. Morphologically (L.S. Barkhudarov):
    1. noun word combinations, e.g.: nice apples (BBC London Course);
    2. verb word combinations, e.g.: saw him (E. Blyton);
    3. adjective word combinations, e.g.: perfectly delightful (O. Wilde);
    4. adverb word combinations, e.g.: perfectly well (O, Wilde);
    5. pronoun word combinations, e.g.: something nice (BBC London Course).
  3. According to the number of the components:
    1. simple the head and an adjunct, e.g.: told me (A. Ayckbourn)
    2. Complex, e.g.: terribly cold weather (O. Jespersen), where the adjunct cold is expanded by means of terribly.

Classifications of word-groups:

  1. through the order and arrangement of the components:

a verbal — nominal group (to sew a dress);

a verbal — prepositional — nominal group (look at something);

  1. by the criterion of distribution, which is the sum of contexts of the language unit usage:

endocentric, i.e. having one central member functionally equivalent to the whole word-group (blue sky);

exocentric, i.e. having no central member (become older, side by side);

  1. according to the headword:

nominal (beautiful garden);

verbal (to fly high);

adjectival (lucky from birth);

  1. according to the syntactic pattern:

predicative (Russian linguists do not consider them to be word-groups);

non-predicative — according to the type of syntactic relations between the components:

(a) subordinative (modern technology);

(b) coordinative (husband and wife).

4. What is “a free word combination”? To what extent is what we call a free word combination actually free? What are the restrictions imposed on it?
A free word combination is a combination in which any element can be substituted by another.

The general meaning of an ordinary free word combination is derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements

Ex. To come to one’s sense –to change one’s mind;

To fall into a rage – to get angry.

Free word-combinations are word-groups that have a greater semantic and structural independence and freely composed by the speaker in his speech according to his purpose.

A free word combination or a free phrase permits substitution of any of its elements without any semantic change in the other components.
5. Clichе´s (traditional word combinations).
A cliché is an expression that is trite, worn-out, and overused. As a result, clichés have lost their original vitality, freshness, and significance in expressing meaning. A cliché is a phrase or idea that has become a “universal” device to describe abstract concepts such as time (Better Late Than Never), anger (madder than a wet hen), love (love is blind), and even hope (Tomorrow is Another Day). However, such expressions are too commonplace and unoriginal to leave any significant impression.

Of course, any expression that has become a cliché was original and innovative at one time. However, overuse of such an expression results in a loss of novelty, significance, and even original meaning. For example, the proverbial phrase “when it rains it pours” indicates the idea that difficult or inconvenient circumstances closely follow each other or take place all at the same time. This phrase originally referred to a weather pattern in which a dry spell would be followed by heavy, prolonged rain. However, the original meaning is distanced from the overuse of the phrase, making it a cliché.

Some common examples of cliché in everyday speech:

  • My dog is dumb as a doorknob. (тупой как пробка)
  • The laundry came out as fresh as a daisy.
  • If you hide the toy it will be out of sight, out of mind. (с глаз долой, из сердца вон)

Examples of Movie Lines that Have Become Cliché:

  • Luke, I am your father. (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)
  • i am Groot. (Guardians of the Galaxy)
  • I’ll be back. (The Terminator)
  • Houston, we have a problem. (Apollo 13)

Some famous examples of cliché in creative writing:

  • It was a dark and stormy night
  • Once upon a time
  • There I was
  • All’s well that ends well
  • They lived happily ever after

6. The sociolinguistic aspect of word combinations.
Lexical valency is the possibility of lexicosemantic connections of a word with other word

Some researchers suggested that the functioning of a word in speech is determined by the environment in which it occurs, by its grammatical peculiarities (part of speech it belongs to, categories, functions in the sentence, etc.), and by the type and character of meaning included into the semantic structure of a word.

Words are used in certain lexical contexts, i.e. in combinations with other words. The words that surround a particular word in a sentence or paragraph are called the verbal context of that word.
7. Norms of lexical valency and collocability in different languages.
The aptness of a word to appear in various combinations is described as its lexical valency or collocability. The lexical valency of correlated words in different languages is not identical. This is only natural since every language has its syntagmatic norms and patterns of lexical valency. Words, habitually collocated, tend to constitute a cliché, e.g. bad mistake, high hopes, heavy sea (rain, snow), etc. The translator is obliged to seek similar cliches, traditional collocations in the target-language: грубая ошибка, большие надежды, бурное море, сильный дождь /снег/.

The key word in such collocations is usually preserved but the collocated one is rendered by a word of a somewhat different referential meaning in accordance with the valency norms of the target-language:

  • trains run — поезда ходят;
  • a fly stands on the ceiling — на потолке сидит муха;
  • It was the worst earthquake on the African continent (D.W.) — Это было самое сильное землетрясение в Африке.
  • Labour Party pretest followed sharply on the Tory deal with Spain (M.S.1973) — За сообщением о сделке консервативного правительства с Испанией немедленно последовал протест лейбористской партии.

Different collocability often calls for lexical and grammatical transformations in translation though each component of the collocation may have its equivalent in Russian, e.g. the collocation «the most controversial Prime Minister» cannot be translated as «самый противоречивый премьер-министр».

«Britain will tomorrow be welcoming on an official visit one of the most controversial and youngest Prime Ministers in Europe» (The Times, 1970). «Завтра в Англию прибывает с официальным визитом один из самых молодых премьер-министров Европы, который вызывает самые противоречивые мнения».

«Sweden’s neutral faith ought not to be in doubt» (Ib.) «Верность Швеции нейтралитету не подлежит сомнению».

The collocation «documentary bombshell» is rather uncommon and individual, but evidently it does not violate English collocational patterns, while the corresponding Russian collocation — документальная бомба — impossible. Therefore its translation requires a number of transformations:

«A teacher who leaves a documentary bombshell lying around by negligence is as culpable as the top civil servant who leaves his classified secrets in a taxi» (The Daily Mirror, 1950) «Преподаватель, по небрежности оставивший на столе бумаги, которые могут вызвать большой скандал, не менее виновен, чем ответственный государственный служащий, забывший секретные документы в такси».
8. Using the data of various dictionaries compare the grammatical valency of the words worth and worthy; ensure, insure, assure; observance and observation; go and walk; influence and влияние; hold and держать.

Worth & Worthy
Worth is used to say that something has a value:

Something that is worth a certain amount of money has that value;

Something that is worth doing or worth an effort, a visit, etc. is so attractive or rewarding that the effort etc. should be made.

Valency:

  1. Worth + N: worth a lot of money;
  2. Worth + Ving: worth making;
  3. [it] + V-ing: it would be worth asking him
  4. [it] + Ν V-ing: it’s not really worth me voting
  5. Worth + N + to N: worth money to me
  6. [it] + Ν + for Ν to-INF (rare): it would be worth for you to know
Worthy:

If someone or something is worthv of something, they deserve it because they have the qualities required;

If you say that a person is worthy of another person you are saying that you approve of them as a partner for that person.

Valency:

  1. Attributive: worthy candidate, worthy cause;
  2. Predicative: equally worthy
  3. + to-INF: worthy to be
  4. + of N/V-ing: worthy of closer examination.
Ensure, insure, assure
Ensure means ‘make certain that something happens’.

Valency:

  1. + Np: ensure fairness
  2. + (that)-CLp.it: Ensure that there is adequate humidity in heated rooms
  3. + Np + Ν: does not ensure women a place at center stage
  4. + Np + for Ν: to ensure good fishing for everyone.
Insure — make sure

Valency:

  1. + Np: insure continuation;
  2. + (that)-CLp.it: insure that future generations;
  3. + Np + Νp: They will not insure us victory;
  4. + Np + for Ν: insure items for replacement.
Assure:

to tell someone confidently that something is true, especially so that they do not worry;

to cause something to be certain.

Valency:

  1. +N: assure the owner;
  2. + (that)-CL: assure him (that) the car will be ready;
  3. + by N: has been assured by the reviews
Observance & Observation
Observance:

the act of obeying a law or following a religious custom:

religious observances such as fasting

a ceremony or action to celebrate a holiday or a religious or other important event:

[ C ] Memorial Day observances

[ U ] Financial markets will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

Observation:

the act of observing something or someone;

the fact that you notice or see something;

a remark about something that you have noticed.

Valency:

  1. + of: observation of human behaviour;
  2. Under +: keeping under observation;
  3. For +: to be admitted for observation;
  4. + on/about: interesting observations on the nature;
  5. to make +: may I make an observation.
Go & Walk

Walk can mean ‘move along on foot’:

A person can walk an animal, i.e. exercise them by walking.

A person can walk another person somewhere , i.e. take them there,

A person can walk a particular distance or walk the streets.

Valency:

  1. + Np: walk the dog;
  2. +ADJ: made us walk tall again;
  3. + into Np: to walk into a controversy;
  4. +over Np: to walk over me;
  5. ADVP-prep: to walk away/through/away
  6. N + ADV: We had to walk three kilometers to the river.
  7. Np + ADV: Can I walk you home?
  8. ADJ + ADV: it was like walking barefoot in the sand
Influence & Влияние
Influence:

A person can have influence (a) over another person or a group, i.e. be able to directly guide the way they behave, (b) with a person, i.e. be able to influence them because they know them well.

Someone or something can have or be an influence on or upon something or someone, i.e. be able to affect their character or behaviour in some way

Valency:

  1. the UN is having difficulty exerting its influence;
  2. [the] + to-INF: the influence to lead the world
  3. + on N/wh-CL: influence on the work of the late 19th-century French avant-garde.
  4. + over Ν: Union influence over Labour
  5. + upon Ν: Its influence upon female physiology
  6. + with Ν: to use their influence with the PLO leadership
Влияние — Действие, оказываемое кем-, чем-либо на кого-, что-либо.

Сочетаемость:

  1. Прил +: значительное влияние
  2. + сущ: влияние среды
  3. Сущ +: сферы влияния;
  4. Гл +: оказывать влияние.
Hold & Держать
Hold:

to take and keep something in your hand or arms;

to support something;

to contain or be able to contain something;

to keep someone in a place so that they cannot leave.

Valency:

  1. ADJ +: tight hold;
  2. V +: take/keep hold;
  3. + on: his hold on her;
  4. + OBJ + ADJ: hold the door open;
  5. + OBJ + N: hold him hostage
Держать — взять в руки/рот/зубы и т.д. и не давать выпасть

Сочетаемость:

  1. Сущ +: ноги держат
  2. + сущ: держать себя в руках, держать дистанцию.
  1. Contrastive Analysis. Give words of the same root in Russian; compare their valency:
Chance Шанс
  1. + to-INF: a chance to win;
  2. + (that)-CL: a chance that BA might co-operate;
  3. + for N/V-ing: chance for peace/regaining;
  4. + of N/V-ing /of Ν V-ing: no chance of her accepting;
  5. + for Ν + to-INF: a chance for me to show
  1. Прил +: большой шанс;
  2. + сущ: шанс спасения;
  3. Сущ +: множество шансов;
  4. + гл: шанс даётся
  5. Гл +: дать шанс, оценить свой шанс
Situation Ситуация
  1. As a noun: bland situation, sort of situation;
  2. + that-CL: the situation that I was pregnant;
  3. + wh-CL: the situation when you open the door;
  4. + of N/V-ing: a situation of anarchy;
  5. + with Ν: situation with your husband.
  1. Прил +: чрезвычайная ситуация;
  2. + сущ: ситуация общения;
  3. Сущ +: изменение ситуации;
  4. Гл +: оценить ситуацию;
  5. + гл: ситуация повторилась.
Partner Партнёр
  1. с глаголом be, become, create: to become a partner
  2. существительным live, business: business partner
  1. Прил +: деловой партнёр;
  2. + сущ: партнёр фирмы;
  3. Сущ +: смена партнёра;
  4. Гл +: найти партнёра;
  5. + гл: партнёр решает.
Surprise Сюрприз
  1. to experience surprise (сочетаемость существительных:)
  2. to show surprise (сочетаемость существительных:)
  3. to cause no surprise (сочетаемость существительных:)
  4. to surprise smb (Глагольные словосочетания)
  5. to take smb by surprise (Глагольные словосочетания)
  1. Прил +: небольшой сюрприз;
  2. Сущ +: масса сюрпризов;
  3. Гл +: сделать сюрприз;
  4. + гл: сюрприз удался.
Risk Риск
  1. As a noun: good risk;
  2. + that-CL: the risk that goods go;
  3. + for Ν/[at] + for N/V-ing: the risk for the investor;
  4. + from N/V-ing: risk from pets;
  5. + in N/V-ing: risk in flying south;
  6. + of N/V-ing / of Ν V-ing: the risk of crushing;
  7. + to Ν: a risk to our health;
  8. +for N + to-INF: a risk for Jim to bury Mary there.
  1. Прил +: большой риск;
  2. + сущ: риск заражения;
  3. Сущ +: группа риска;
  4. Гл +: учитывать риск;
  5. + гл: риск возрастает.
Instruction Инструкция
  1. on the instruction of smb (сочетаемость существительных:)
  2. сочетаемость глаголов to make, to create.
  1. Прил +: подробная инструкция;
  2. + сущ: инструкция пользователя;
  3. Сущ +: получение инструкции;
  4. Гл +: следовать инструкции;
  5. + гл: инструкция требовала.
Satisfaction Сатисфакция
  1. with satisfaction (сочетаемость существительных:)
  2. to cause satisfaction (сочетаемость существительных:)
  3. unique satisfaction (сочетаемость существительных:)
  4. total satisfaction (сочетаемость существительных:)
  5. personal satisfaction (сочетаемость существительных:)
  1. Прил +: полная сатисфакция;
  2. Гл +: получить сатисфакцию;
Business Бизнес
  1. [it/no] + to-INF: He’ll make it his business to find out;
  2. [it/no] + V-ing: no business poking their noses;
  3. + of N/V-ing: the business of intervention;
  4. + with Ν: business with the players
  1. Прил +: семейный бизнес;
  2. + сущ: бизнес отца;
  3. Сущ +: развитие бизнеса;
  4. Гл +: вести бизнес;
  5. + гл: бизнес растёт.
Manager Менеджер
  1. to see the manager (Глагольные словосочетания)
  2. He was promoted to manager. (Глагольные словосочетания)
  3. to apply to the manager (Глагольные словосочетания)
  4. to approach the manager about this matter (Глагольные словосочетания)
  5. The guests asked for the manager. (Глагольные словосочетания)
  1. Прил +: старший менеджер;
  2. + сущ: менеджер группы;
  3. Сущ +: должность менеджера;
  4. Гл +: стать менеджером;
  5. + гл: менеджер сообщил.
Challenge Челлендж
  1. challenge to smb (фразеологические сочетания прилагательных с предлогами: господство/ подчинение/давление)
  2. challenge to smb (фразеологические сочетания прилагательных с предлогами:угрозы/насмешка/донос)
  3. challenge to a fight (фразеологические сочетания прилагательных с предлогами:список глаголов, требующих за собой предлог)
  4. to accept smb’s challenge (Глагольные словосочетания)
  5. to challenge a report (сочетаемость существительных:)
  1. Прил +: новый челлендж;
  2. Гл +: продолжить челлендж;
  3. Сущ +: день челленджа.

10. From the lexemes in brackets choose the correct one to go with each of the synonyms given below:

  1. acute, keen, sharp (knife, mind, sight):

acute mind;

keen sight;

sharp knife;

  1. abysmal, deep, profound (ignorance, river, sleep);

abysmal ignorance;

deep river;

profound sleep;

  1. unconditional, unqualified (success, surrender):

unconditional surrender;

unqualified success;

  1. diminutive, miniature, petite, petty, small, tiny (camera, house, speck, spite, suffix, woman):

diminutive suffix;

miniature camera/house;

petite woman;

petty spite;

small speck/camera/house;

tiny house/camera/speck;

  1. brisk, nimble, quick, swift (mind, revenge, train, walk):

brisk walk;

nimble mind;

quick train;

swift revenge.

11. Collocate deletion: One word in each group does not make a strong word partnership with the word on Capitals. Which one is Odd One Out?

1) BRIGHT idea green

smell

child day room

2) CLEAR

attitude

need instruction alternative day conscience

3) LIGHT traffic

work

day entertainment suitcase rain green lunch

4) NEW experience job

food

potatoes baby situation year

5) HIGH season price opinion spirits

house

time priority

6) MAIN point reason effect entrance

speed

road meal course

7) STRONG possibility doubt smell influence

views

coffee language

8) SERIOUS

advantage

situation relationship illness crime matter

  1. Write a short definition based on the clues you find in context for the italicized words in the sentence. Check your definitions with the dictionary.
Sentence Meaning
The method of reasoning from the particular to the general — the inductive method — has played an important role in science since the time of Francis Bacon. The way of learning or investigating from the particular to the general that played an important role in the time of Francis Bacon
Most snakes are meat eaters, or carnivores. Animals whose main diet is meat
A person on a reducing diet is expected to eschew most fatty or greasy foods. deliberately avoid
After a hectic year in the city, he was glad to return to the peace and quiet of the country. full of incessant or frantic activity.
Darius was speaking so quickly and waving his arms around so wildly, it was impossible to comprehend what he was trying to say. grasp mentally; understand.to perceive
The babysitter tried rocking, feeding, chanting, and burping the crying baby, but nothing would appease him. to calm down someone
It behooves young ladies and gentlemen not to use bad language unless they are very, very angry. necessary
The Academy Award is an honor coveted by most Hollywood actors. The dream about some achievements
In the George Orwell book 1984, the people’s lives are ruled by an omnipotent dictator named “Big Brother.” The person who have a lot of power
After a good deal of coaxing, the father finally acceded to his children’s request. to Agree with some request
He is devoid of human feelings. Someone have the lack of something
This year, my garden yielded several baskets full of tomatoes. produce or provide
It is important for a teacher to develop a rapport with his or her students. good relationship

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