a study on structural and semantic components of idioms in english and vietnamese

The study undertakes an investigation of idioms in English and Vietnamese in terms of structural and semantic components. There are three foci: (1) similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms in terms of structural components; (2) similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms in terms of semantic components; and (3) similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of main factors behind the formation of semantic components of idioms. In order to collect the data, we have conducted a hand search approach of the two dictionaries, which has enabled the establishing of a corpus of more than 6,000 entries in English and more than 4,000 entries in Vietnamese. In the present study, we establish a theoretical frame for canonical structural components and noncanonical structural components of idioms in both English and Vietnamese. The canonical structural components involve three types of idioms existing in our data: symmetrical, similized, and ordinary (Đức 1995; Hành 2008). The structural components of these idioms are coded in A, B, M, X, etc, which are then realized, described and analyzed according to grammatical rules (Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, Svartvik 1985). The noncanonical structural components involve two types of idioms: idiom variants and synonymous idioms (Giang 2009). The structural components of idiom variants in English are divided into morphosyntactic variation (verb inflection, flexible use of determiners, and noun inflection), lexical variation (substitution, modification, and partial deletion), and syntactic variation (constituent reversal and dative shift). The structural components of idiom variants in Vietnamese are also divided into three types: phonological orthographic variation (substitution of initial consonant or initial vowel of a word), lexical variation (substitution, modification, and partial deletion), and syntactic variation (constituent reversal, and truncated reversal). The structural components of synonymous idioms in English are classified under two general headings: lexical synonymy and syntactic synonymy. The lexical synonymy heading involves the substitution, i.e. a constituent part of an idiom can be replaced with alternatives belonging to different fields of meaning (Giang 2009). The syntactic synonymy heading refers to the change of grammatical structures including pattern changing and passivization. In Vietnamese, the structural components of synonymous idioms can also be classified under two general headings: lexical synonymy (including substitution, literalized transformation, and language transformation) and syntactic synonymy. In the light of the findings, the study has shown that a high level of canonicity is observed in the idioms in both languages. As regards the semantic components, the study is substantially reliant on the cognitive theory of idioms (Gibbs 1990, 1995; Nunberg et al. 1994; Kövecses Szabo 1996; Fernando 1996) to analyze the data. The semantic components of idioms in both languages appear from totally transparent to the totally opaque: transparent, semitransparent, semiopaque, and opaque. The semantic components are investigated under two categories: canonical (symmetrical idioms, similized idioms, and ordinary idioms), and noncanonical (idiom variants and synonymous idioms). In the present study, we once again suppose that the idiom formation in both English and Vietnamese lies in diachronic evolution (Fernando Flavell 1981). In addition, the idiomatic meaning formation in both languages is closely associated with the process of human cognition about the world around them through images. It is a natural process implicitly affected by several different factors. The differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of the formation of semantic components of idioms are dominated by different living circumstance (geographical environment, climate) different historical allusion (historical events, fables and mythologies, literary works), different religions and beliefs, different traditions and customs (food and cooking, animals). This leads to a fact that the components forming idioms in the two languages are different although they denote similar concepts. The dissertation also presents the implications for language teaching and translation of idioms. Keywords: idioms, idiomaticity, symmetrical idioms, similized idioms, ordinary idioms, idiom variants, synonymous idioms, structural components, semantic components, underlying factors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration by Author………………………………………………………….…… i Published Works by the Author Relevant to the Dissertation……………….…… ii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………….… iii Abstract…………………………………………………………….…………….…… viii List of Exposures………………………………………………………………….… x List of Figures…………………………………………………………………….…… xi List of Tables……………………………………………………………………….… xiv List of Abbreviation and Symbols Used in the Dissertation………………….…… xv List of Vietnamese – English Terms…………………………………………….…… xvii PART A: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………….… 1 Rationale…………………………………………………………………….……… Aims and Objectives of the Study………………………………….…………… 3 Research Questions……………………………………………………….……… Scope of the Study………………………………………………………………… Contributions of the Study……………………………………………….……… Methodology……………………………………………………………….……… 6.1 Analytical Framework………………………………………………….…… 6.2 Data Collection………………………………………………………….…… 6.3 Data Analysis………………………………………………………….……… 11 6.4 Procedure……………………………………………………………….…… 12 Structure of the Study……………………………………………………….…… PART B: DEVELOPMENT………………………………………………….……… 13 15 CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………….……… 15 1.1 Theoretical Background………………………………………………….……… 15 1.1.1 Idioms Defined………………………………………………………….… 15 1.1.2 Fundamental Considerations…………………………………………….… 17 1.1.2.1 Idioms from Traditional View………………………………….…… 17 1.1.2.2 Idioms from Cognitive View…………………………………….… 18 1.1.2.3 Idioms from Taxonomic View………………………………….…… 20 1.1.2.4 Idioms from Cultural View…………………………………….…… 31 1.1.2.5 Functions of Idioms……………………………………………….… 32 1.1.3 Demarcation of Idioms………………………………………………….… 35 1.1.3.1 Idioms versus Words…………………………………………….… 35 i 1.1.3.2 Idioms versus Collocations…………………………………….…… 36 1.1.3.3 Idioms versus Clichés and Catchphrases…………………….……… 37 1.1.3.4 Idioms versus Proverbs and Sayings………………….…………… 39 1.1.3.5 Idioms versus Free Combinations………………………….……… 41 1.2 Previous Research…………………………………………………….………… 43 1.2.1 Previous Research Works on Idioms in English…………………….……… 43 1.2.2 Previous Research Works on Idioms in Vietnamese……………….……… 45 1.2.3 Previous Research Works on Idioms in English and Vietnamese under Comparison and Contrastive Analysis…………………………………… 48 1.3 Chapter Summary……………………………………………………….……… 50 CHAPTER II: STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE IDIOMS……………………………………………………………………………………… 52 2.1 Canonical Structural Components…………………………………………… 52 2.1.1 Symmetrical Idioms………………………………………………………… 52 2.1.1.1 Realization………………………………………………………… 52 2.1.1.2 Structural Patterns………………………………………….……… 53 2.1.1.3 Structural Components……………………………………………… 54 2.1.2 Similized Idioms…………………………………………………………… 61 2.1.2.1 Realization………………………………………………………… 61 2.1.2.2 Structural Patterns………………………………………………… 62 2.1.2.3 Structural Components……………………………………………… 63 2.1.3 Ordinary idioms…………………………………………………………… 69 2.1.3.1 Realization………………………………………………………… 69 2.1.3.2 Structural Patterns………………………………………………… 69 2.1.3.3 Structural Components……………………………………………… 70 2.2 Non-Canonical Structural Components……………………………………… 78 2.2.1 Idiom Variants…………………………………………………………… 78 2.2.1.1 Realization………………………………………………………… 78 2.2.1.2 Structural Components……………………………………………… 79 2.2.2 Synonymous Idioms………………………………………………………… 88 2.2.2.1 Realization………………………………………………………… 88 2.2.2.2 Structural Components……………………………………………… 89 2.3 Structural Components of English and Vietnamese Idioms Compared…… 94 2.3.1 Similarities………………………………………………………………… 94 ii 2.3.1.1 Canonical Structural Components Found in both Languages……… 94 2.3.1.2 Non-Canonical Structural Components Found in both Languages… 94 2.3.2 Differences………………………………………………………………… 95 2.3.2.1 Canonical Structural Components Unique to English……………… 97 2.3.2.2 Non-Canonical Structural Components Unique to English………… 98 2.3.2.3 Canonical Structural Components Unique to Vietnamese………… 98 2.3.2.4 Non-Canonical Structural Components Unique to Vietnamese…… 99 2.4 Chapter Summary……………………………………………………………… 100 CHAPTER III: SEMANTIC COMPONENTS OF ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE IDIOMS……………………………………………………………………………………… 101 3.1 Canonical Semantic Components……………………………………………… 101 3.1.1 Semantic Components of Symmetrical Idioms…………………………… 101 3.1.1.1 Transparent Symmetrical Idioms…………………………………… 101 3.1.1.2 Semi-opaque Symmetrical Idioms………………………………… 102 3.1.2 Semantic Components of Similized Idioms………………………………… 103 3.1.2.1 Semi-transparent Similized Idioms………………………………… 103 3.1.2.2 Semi-opaque Similized Idioms……………………………………… 104 3.1.3 Semantic Components of Ordinary Idioms………………………………… 105 3.1.3.1 Transparent Ordinary Idioms……………………………………… 105 3.1.3.2 Semi-Opaque Ordinary Idioms……………………………………… 106 3.1.3.3 Opaque Ordinary Idioms…………………………………………… 107 3.2 Non-Canonical Semantic Components………………………………………… 111 3.2.1 Semantic Components of Idiom Variants…………………………………… 113 3.2.2 Semantic Components of Synonymous Idioms…………………………… 114 3.3 Semantic Components and their Underlying Properties……………………… 116 3.3.1 Idiom Formation…………………………………………………………… 116 3.3.2 Idiomatic Meaning Formation……………………………………………… 120 3.3.3 Main Factors Affecting the Formation of Semantic Components………… 128 3.3.3.1 Living Circumstance……………………………………………… 128 3.3.3.2 Historical Allusion………………………………………………… 129 3.3.3.3 Religions and Beliefs……………………………………………… 132 3.3.3.4 Traditions and Customs…………………………………………… 132 3.4 Semantic Components of English and Vietnamese Idioms Compared……… 135 3.4.1 Similarities………………………………………………………………… 136 iii 3.4.1.1 Canonical Semantic Components Found in both Languages……… 136 3.4.1.2 Non-Canonical Semantic Components Found in both Languages… 136 3.4.1.3 Underlying Properties of Semantic Components Found in both Languages…………………………………………………………… 137 3.4.2 Differences………………………………………………………………… 139 3.4.2.1 Canonical Semantic Components Unique to English……………… 140 3.4.2.2 Non-Canonical Semantic Components Unique to Vietnamese…… 140 3.4.2.3 Differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of Main Factors that Affect the Shaping of Semantic Components………… 140 3.5 Chapter Summary……………………………………………………………… PART C: CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………… 145 146 Recapitulation……………………………………………………………………… 146 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………… 149 Implications for Language Teaching and Translation………………………… 153 Suggestions for Further Studies………………………………………………… 155 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………… 157 APPENDIX 1………………………………………………………………………… I APPENDIX 2………………………………………………………………………… VII APPENDIX 3………………………………………………………………………… XII APPENDIX 4………………………………………………………………………… XIV APPENDIX 5………………………………………………………………………… XVIII ABSTRACT The study undertakes an investigation of idioms in English and Vietnamese in terms of structural and semantic components There are three foci: (1) similarities and iv differences between English and Vietnamese idioms in terms of structural components; (2) similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms in terms of semantic components; and (3) similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of main factors behind the formation of semantic components of idioms In order to collect the data, we have conducted a hand search approach of the two dictionaries, which has enabled the establishing of a corpus of more than 6,000 entries in English and more than 4,000 entries in Vietnamese In the present study, we establish a theoretical frame for canonical structural components and non-canonical structural components of idioms in both English and Vietnamese The canonical structural components involve three types of idioms existing in our data: symmetrical, similized, and ordinary (Đức 1995; Hành 2008) The structural components of these idioms are coded in A, B, M, X, etc, which are then realized, described and analyzed according to grammatical rules (Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, & Svartvik 1985) The non-canonical structural components involve two types of idioms: idiom variants and synonymous idioms (Giang 2009) The structural components of idiom variants in English are divided into morphosyntactic variation (verb inflection, flexible use of determiners, and noun inflection), lexical variation (substitution, modification, and partial deletion), and syntactic variation (constituent reversal and dative shift) The structural components of idiom variants in Vietnamese are also divided into three types: phonological & orthographic variation (substitution of initial consonant or initial vowel of a word), lexical variation (substitution, modification, and partial deletion), and syntactic variation (constituent reversal, and truncated reversal) The structural components of synonymous idioms in English are classified under two general headings: lexical synonymy and syntactic synonymy The lexical synonymy heading involves the substitution, i.e a constituent part of an idiom can be replaced with alternatives belonging to different fields of meaning (Giang 2009) The syntactic synonymy heading refers to the change of grammatical structures including pattern changing and passivization In Vietnamese, the structural components of synonymous idioms can also be classified under two general headings: lexical synonymy (including substitution, literalized transformation, and language transformation) and syntactic synonymy In the light of the findings, the study has shown that a high level of canonicity is observed in the idioms in both languages v As regards the semantic components, the study is substantially reliant on the cognitive theory of idioms (Gibbs 1990, 1995; Nunberg et al 1994; Kövecses & Szabo 1996; Fernando 1996) to analyze the data The semantic components of idioms in both languages appear from totally transparent to the totally opaque: transparent, semitransparent, semi-opaque, and opaque The semantic components are investigated under two categories: canonical (symmetrical idioms, similized idioms, and ordinary idioms), and non-canonical (idiom variants and synonymous idioms) In the present study, we once again suppose that the idiom formation in both English and Vietnamese lies in diachronic evolution (Fernando & Flavell 1981) In addition, the idiomatic meaning formation in both languages is closely associated with the process of human cognition about the world around them through images It is a natural process implicitly affected by several different factors The differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of the formation of semantic components of idioms are dominated by different living circumstance (geographical environment, climate) different historical allusion (historical events, fables and mythologies, literary works), different religions and beliefs, different traditions and customs (food and cooking, animals) This leads to a fact that the components forming idioms in the two languages are different although they denote similar concepts The dissertation also presents the implications for language teaching and translation of idioms Keywords: idioms, idiomaticity, symmetrical idioms, similized idioms, ordinary idioms, idiom variants, synonymous idioms, structural components, semantic components, underlying factors LIST OF EXPOSURES Exposure 3.1: Spill the beans (give away information)………………………… vi 120 Exposure 3.2: Cưỡi ngựa xem hoa (do something summarily and perfunctorily) LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Classification of symmetrical figurative idioms in Vietnamese (Hành vii 120 2008: 76)…………………………………………………………… 29 Figure 1.2: Classification of non-symmetrical figurative idioms in Vietnamese (Hành 2008: 100)…………………………………………………… 30 Figure 1.3: Classification of similized idioms in Vietnamese (Hành 2008: 115)… 30 Figure 2.1: Structural patterns of symmetrical idioms in English………………… 53 Figure 2.2: Structural patterns of symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese…………… 54 Figure 2.3: Structural components of A and B symmetrical idioms in English… 55 Figure 2.4: Structural components of A or B symmetrical idioms in English…… 56 Figure 2.5: Structural components of A but B symmetrical idioms in English…… 56 Figure 2.6: Structural components of A to B symmetrical idioms in English…… 57 Figure 2.7: Structural components of A, B symmetrical idioms in English……… 57 Figure 2.8: Symmetrical relationship between A and B of mẹ trịn vng in Vietnamese…………………………………………………………… 59 Figure 2.9: Symmetrical relationship between A and B of chạy ngược chạy xuôi in Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 59 Figure 2.10: Canonical structural components of symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese……………… ……………………………………… … 61 Figure 2.11: Structural patterns of similized idioms in English……………… … 62 Figure 2.12: Structural patterns of similized idioms in Vietnamese……………… 63 Figure 2.13: Structural components of as A as B similized idioms in English…… 63 Figure 2.14: Structural components of A like B similized idioms in English…… 64 Figure 2.15: Structural components of […] like B similized idioms in English… 64 Figure 2.16: Structural components of […] as B similized idioms in English…… 65 Figure 2.17: Structural components of A B similized idioms in Vietnamese 66 Figure 2.18: Structural components of (A) B similized idioms in Vietnamese 67 Figure 2.19: Structural components of B similized idioms in Vietnamese… 68 Figure 2.20: Structural components of AB similized idioms in Vietnamese… … 68 Figure 2.21: Structural patterns of ordinary idioms in English………….…… … 70 Figure 2.22: Structural patterns of ordinary idioms in Vietnamese………….…… 70 Figure 2.23: Structural components of A HN (B) ordinary idioms as noun phrases in English…………………………………………………………… 71 Figure 2.24: Structural components of AB ordinary idioms as adjective phrases in English……………………………………………………………… Figure 2.25: Structural components of Prep B ordinary idioms as prepositional viii 72 phrases in English…………………………….……………………… Figure 2.26: 72 Structural components of A Adv ordinary idioms as adverbial phrases in English…………………………………………………… 73 Figure 2.27: Structural components of (A) V/PV B ordinary idioms as verb phrases in English…………………………………………………… 74 Figure 2.28: Structural components of ordinary idioms as sentences in English… 75 Figure 2.29: Structural components of AB ordinary idioms as noun phrases in Vietnamese…………………………………………………………… 75 Figure 2.30: Structural components of AB ordinary idioms as adjective phrases in Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 76 Figure 2.31: Structural components of AB ordinary idioms as verb phrases in Vietnamese…………………………………………………………… 77 Figure 2.32: Structural components of ordinary idioms as sentences in Vietnamese……………………………………… ………………… 77 Figure 2.33: Realization criteria of idiom variants in English and Vietnamese… 79 Figure 2.34: Realization criteria of synonymous idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………… ……………………… 89 Figure 2.35: Distribution of idiom types in English and Vietnamese…………… 96 Figure 3.1: Semantic components of transparent symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………………… 102 Figure 3.2: Transformation of quốc sắc thiên hương (from Sino-Vietnamese into Vietnamese)………………………………………………………… 102 Figure 3.3: Semantic components of semi-opaque symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………………… 10 Figure 3.4: Semantic components of semi-transparent similized idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………… Figure 3.5: Semantic components of semi-opaque similized idioms in English 10 and Vietnamese……………………………………………………… Figure 3.6: Semantic components of in any case in English………… ………… Figure 3.7: The relationship between the literal readings and idiomatic meanings 105 of throw a spanner into the works in English and cưa sừng làm nghé in 105 Vietnamese………………………… ………………………………… Figure 3.8: Semantic components of semi-opaque ordinary idioms in English and Vietnamese……………… …………………………………………… 10 ix Figure 3.9: The relationship between the literal readings and idiomatic meanings of kick the bucket in English and đẽo cày đường in Vietnamese… Figure 3.10: Semantic components of opaque ordinary idioms in English and 10 Vietnamese………………… ………………………………………… Figure 3.11: The formation of idiom in English and Vietnamese………………… Figure 3.12: Idiomatic meaning formation in English and Vietnamese…… …… 10 Figure 3.13: Main factors that affect the formation of semantic components of idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………… …… 11 11 127 13 x 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 lion, tiger bull a sore head iron boil snake in grass serpent’s tooth ukus zmee hiền angel skarpi ona angel khô mummy mumia bụt đất củ khoai mắm que củi ngói khéo léo kiêu, vênh munkey peacock indjuk bố vợ phải đấm/khố rợ lươn lẹo láu cá lạnh lùng lạnh lùng nói dối nói nhiều zmeja chjert syts baba, jaga phải lấm cóc (mọc lơng nách) turkey-cock licifer eel monkey ice iron steel gas-meter shot ngây thơ thô tham lam bags cat wolf fortune water thay đổi băng đồng, đá sivyi merin chicken kitten hare wax fox needle king thieves chạch ljed zhelezo sugar honey nghe lời nghịch nhát nhu nhược khôn ranh sắc sảo sung sướng thân thiết djavol ugor’ dove babe/ child hùm bà chằng rắn độc cuội súng liên máy khâu thỏ/ cừu/ nai non chim non tờ giấy trắng đường mật mía lùi ditja jagnjenok ovetrka mjed kotjenok zajats vosk litsa ten’ quỷ sứ thỏ/ đế chi chi chấy/ rận/ cáo dao cạo (mắt) vua hình với bóng mơi với chân với tay vợ chồng sam chó, gấu fortun III thời tiết 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 trung thành vô cảm vui vững lời dở hay quên steel nail, sticks grip lark cricket punch sand boy rock fencing fish mouse grave lamb oyster bandicoot bed-bug a sieve stal’ sukhap’ chó băng, ngói tết mở hội mở cờ bụng skala bàn thạch kiềng ba chân hến thóc ngậm hột thị nấm mồ bưng ryba/ rybka mush’ mogila resheto ngu donkey owl probka thơng thái giàu có nghèo owl Crousus church sova Krez tserkovnaja mouse rat job/ job’s turkey bandicoot fowl wood krysa mysh’ lov IV bã đậu nước đổ khoai củ chuối bị tót lợn chó nhà hiền triết (cây) vờ nhộng rớt mồng tơi tổ đỉa APPENDIX CLASSIFICATION OF ENGLISH IDIOMS (Cowie, Mackin & McCaig 1993) (1) Clause patterns [V + Comp] verb + complement pattern subject (aux +) verb Your measurements must be complement adjective phrase/ noun phrase dead right A friend would be good for her You would get high on this stuff The oil market has gone berserk The suspects should come clean about themselves Bill would get even with the gang was a dab hand at carpentry gone native Peter Their greatest had explorer V [V + O] verb + direct object patterns subject The police (aux +) have verb cleared direct object all our characters caught his attention An article The state should foot the bill The minister can’t blink the fact any longer You led a cat and dog life They play a tiresome cat-and-mouse game Fred must have dished the dirt George had spilled the beans [V + O + Comp] verb + direct object + complement pattern subject The children (aux +) verb drive direct object their mother complement mad I took Martin unawares David counts himself fortunate The Chancellor made his strategy plain The boss caught Steve napping His demands have bled the family white The crew had painted the town red John has made his colleagues a laughing-stock The matron made their lives a misery [V + IO + O] verb + indirect object + direct object pattern subject This exhibition (aux +) doesn't verb indirect object the artist direct object credit bore Bolshow little ill-will I You had better blow daddy a kiss The film has sold you a real pup You must show these guys who’s boss The old chap paid you a great compliment Mary sets us all a good example The salesman spun me a terrific yarn VI [V + O + A] verb + direct object + adjunct pattern subject (aux +) verb direct object The neighbours had taken our suggestion adjunct adjective/ adverb amiss Janet took everything too hard A doctor has to put his patients first You have cast your net wide The explanation blows the myth sky-high The writer sells his characters short The newspapers play it straight won’t (2) Possessive clause patterns [possess] possessive clause pattern (1) subject (aux +) direct object The leaders verb get got Everybody gets a fair share of the cake a taste of their own medicine That club is gettin a bad name The customer was g cold feet gettin a quick shot in the arm The economy g got [possess] possessive clause pattern (2) subject (aux +) indirect object direct object the leaders a taste of their own medicine The voters verb give gave The film gives everybody a fair share of the cake Drug pushers are givin that club a bad name The excess tariff was g the customer cold feet The Chancellor givin the economy a quick shot in the arm g VII gave (3) Phrase patterns [NP] noun phrase determiner a adjective blue noun fit his blue-eyed boy the common touch easy terms either way false alarm a a the prepositional phrase/ clause feather good in one’s cap things in life [AdjP] adjective phrase adverb determiner all adjective right prepositional phrase/ infinitive/ clause by me all too brief for me as big as saucers as happy as the day is long absolutely mad about football fast asleep far too full not of his own importance fit to wash his feet [PrepP] prepositional phrase preposition above object of preposition determiner adjective noun one’s station at one’s in somebody’ in s ordinary way in the same way of the good standing under under own discretion opinion nose his own your [AdvP] adverbial phrase VIII steam adv modifier all too adverb briefly prepositional phrase/ clause as fast as his legs could carry him far afield full none too in the face soon (4) Noun phrase patterns with repeated element [n + n] noun + noun pattern body and soul (the) deaf and dump day and night head to tail death or glory airs and graces [adj + adj] adjective + adjective pattern bright and early free and easy fair and square (all) hot and bothered slow but sure IX APPENDIX 18 TIỂU LOẠI CÂU ĐỒNG NGHĨA NGỮ NGHĨA HỌC [18 minor types of semantic synonymous sentences] (Chương 2002) Câu đồng nghĩa phép từ đồng nghĩa Thí dụ: Tôi mua cân gạo = Tôi mua ki lô gạo Câu đồng nghĩa phép dạng phủ định trái nghĩa Thí dụ: Ba khơng thơng minh = Ba tối Câu đồng nghĩa phép từ đảo nghĩa Thí dụ: Bốn cao Năm = Năm thấp Bốn Câu đồng nghĩa nối nói vịng Thí dụ: Anh đến làm người vui = Việc anh đến làm người vui Câu đồng nghĩa việc dùng danh từ cơng cụ Thí dụ: Ba dùng bút viết thư = Ba viết thư bút Câu đồng nghĩa lối nói có nghĩa bị động Thí dụ: Nam đánh Ba = Ba bị Nam đánh Câu đồng nghĩa phép phủ định kép Thí dụ: Ba khơng thể khơng làm = Ba không làm không Câu đồng nghĩa lối nói khẳng định dùng cấu trúc có từ phiếm dùng phủ định từ (nào, đâu, (mà) chẳng) Thí dụ: Phường mà chẳng có chợ = Phường có chợ Câu đồng nghĩa lối nói bác bỏ dùng cấu trúc có đại từ phiếm X Thí dụ: Bà biết chết = Bà khơng biết 10 Câu đồng nghĩa việc dùng vị từ (động từ, tính từ) có nghĩa đối xứng (như giống, khác, tương tự …) Thí dụ: Ba giống Nam = Nam giống Ba 11 Câu đồng nghĩa phép danh từ số lượng kèm danh từ đơn vị Thí dụ: Ba học lớp tiếng = Ba học lớp 60 phút 12 Câu đồng nghĩa phép đảo trật tự từ ngữ liên kết với qua liên từ và, hay, … Thí dụ: Tơi = Nó 13 Câu đồng nghĩa việc dùng đại từ tương hỗ Thí dụ: A ghét B B ghét A = B A ghét 14 Câu đồng nghĩa phép danh hố Thí dụ: Tôi cần học tiếng Anh = Việc học tiếng Anh cần 15 Câu đồng nghĩa việc tách phó động từ hướng khỏi động từ (các phó động từ hướng: ra, vào, lên, xuống Thí dụ: Cơ ta mang ba ghế = Cô ta mang ba ghế 16 Câu đồng nghĩa phép kết từ (liên từ, giới từ) Thí dụ: Nam khơng học giỏi mà cịn chăm = Nam học giỏi lại chăm 17 Câu đồng nghĩa phép phó từ thể Thí dụ: Anh ta = Rồi = Rồi (chỉ thì) Anh ta ăn cơm = Anh ta ăn cơm = Anh ta ăn cơm (thể hồn thành) Anh ta cịn ngủ = Anh ta ngủ = Anh ta ngủ (thể tiếp diễn) 18 Câu đồng nghĩa phép trạng từ cách thức Thí dụ: Anh ta viết nắn nót = Anh ta viết cách nắn nót XI APPENDIX 100 PAIRS OF ENGLISH IDIOMS HAVING SIMILAR CONTENTS (A random selection from Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms written by Cowie, Mackin & McCaig in 1993) I: Idiom variants S: Synonymous idioms Pairs of English idioms to wrap someone around one’s little finger – to have someone at one’s 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 beck and call to face the music – to wake up and smell the coffee a big fish in a little pond – a big fish in a small pond dead and buried – dead and gone with a high hand – in a high handed fashion to fall short of one’s hopes – to fall short of one’s expectations to lay it on thick – to pile it on thick to disappear into thin air – to vanish into thin air to get out of line – to step out of line to follow the line of least resistance – to choose the line of least resistance to come the point – to reach the point to teach someone a thing or two – to show someone a thing or two to give it to someone – to hand it to someone a leap in the dark – a shot in the dark money for jam – money for old rope not to turn a hair – without turning a hair a clean slate – a clean sheet a tight spot – a tight corner now and again – now and then on and off – off and on XII I/S S S I S S I I I I S I I I S S S S S S I 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 scrimp and save – scrimp and scrape against all – against the odds at a pinch – at a push by fits and starts – in fits and starts by leaps and bounds – in leaps and bounds in a fine pickle – in a pretty pickle in a fix – in a scrape to ask for trouble – to look for trouble to bend over backwards – to lean over backwards to break fresh ground – to break new ground to cost a bomb – to cost the earth to wonders with something – to miracles with something not to entertain the idea – not to entertain the suggestion to fall short of something – to come short of something to get cracking – to get weaving to get a grip one oneself – to get a hold on oneself to give the game away – to give the show away to hit the roof – to hit the ceiling to have designs on someone/ something – to have designs upon someone/ S S S S S I S S I I S I I S S I S I S 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 something to have everything going for me – to have a lot going for me to know something inside out – to know something backwards to know one’s onions – to know one’s stuff to know the ropes – to learn the ropes to make a mess of something – to make a hash of something to pick a quarrel – to pick a fight to get one’s blood up – to have one’s blood up to sugar the pill – to sweeten the pill to sweep something under the carpet – to brush something under the I S S I I S I I I 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 carpet to watch one’s step – to mind one’s step an old bird – an old fish to rain cats and dogs – to pour cats and dogs not to harm a fly – not to hurt a fly to horse about – to horse around a blue film – a blue movie to disappear into thin air – to disappear into the blue to scream blue murder – to cry blue murder as white as a sheet – as white as a ghost one in a thousand – one in a million two bites of the cherry – two bites at the cherry two a penny – ten a penny a hundred and one – a thousand and one to stand out a mile – to stick out a mile to keep someone at arm’s length – to hold someone at arm’s length to have one’s back to the wall – to have one’s back against the wall like getting blood from a stone – like getting blood out of a stone to hold one’s cards close to one’s chest – to keep one’s cards close to S S I S S I S I S I S I I I I S S I XIII 68 69 70 71 72 73 one’s chest under someone’s eye – before someone’s eye to put a bold face on it – to put a brave face on it to lay one’s finger on something – to put one’s finger on something to put a foot wrong – to set a foot wrong to fall one one’s feet – to land one one’s feet to pull the carpet from under someone’s feet – to pull the rug from under S S I I I I 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 someone’s feet to make someone’s hair curl – to make someone’s hair stand on end to give someone a hand – to lend someone a hand to have a hand in something – to take a hand in something to show one’s hand – to reveal one’s hand above someone’s head – over someone’s head to tread someone’s toes – to step on someone’s toe to win the day – to carry the day to time – to serve time to keep up with the times – to move with the times as black as coal – as black as soot as drunk as a lord – as drunk as a newt as easy as ABC – as easy as pie as happy as a king – as happy as a lark as mad as hatter – as mad as a March hare as sharp as a needle – as sharp as a razor as tough as leather – as tough as odd boots as weak as a baby – as weak as a kitten as white as a sheet – as white as a chalk to run like a hare – to run like a deer to shake like a leaf – to tremble like a leaf to sing like a bird – to sing like a lark as true as I’m standing here – as true as I’m sitting here as quick as lightning – as quick as a flash to die a dog’s death – to die like a dog to have a great mind to – to have a good mind to to escape by the skin of one’s teeth – to escape with the skin of one’s S I I I I I S S S S S S S S S S S S S I I I S S I S 10 teeth to welcome with open arms – to greet with open arms I XIV APPENDIX 100 PAIRS OF VIETNAMESE IDIOMS HAVING SIMILAR CONTENTS (A random selection from Thành ngữ tiếng Việt [Dictionary of Vietnamese Idioms] written by Lực and Đang in 1978) I: Idiom variants S: Synonymous idioms 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pairs of Vietnamese idioms chôn cắt rốn – chôn rau cắt rốn bày binh bố trận – binh bố trận buồn trấu cắn – buồn chấu cắn ân sâu nghĩa nặng – ơn sâu nghĩa nặng bắt mũi chưa – vắt mũi chưa năm châu bốn biển – năm châu bốn bể chậm rùa – chậm sên nhanh ăn cướp – nhanh cắt đen cột nhà cháy – đen củ súng vắt cổ chày nước – rán sành mỡ nước đổ đầu vịt – nước đổ khoai chuột gặm chân mèo – vuốt râu hùm đắp tai gài chốc – mũ ni che tai dưỡng hổ di hoạ - nuôi ong tay áo nếm mật nằm gai – nằm gai nếm mật da mồi tóc bạc – tóc bạc da mồi góc bể chân trời – chân trời góc bể dãi nắng dầm mưa – dầm mưa dãi nắng cày sâu cuốc bẫm – cuốc bẫm cày sâu cá chậu chim lồng – chim lồng cá chậu XV I/S I I I I I I S S S S S S S S I I I I I I 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 hùm – cọp cắn hạt cơm không vỡ - cắn hạt cơm không bể hội thuyền – đồng hội đồng thuyền binh hùng tướng mạnh – quân hùng tướng mạnh giả mù giả điếc – giả đui giả điếc vẽ đường cho hươu chạy – vạch đường cho hươu chay cơm dẻo canh – cơm ngon canh chúi mũi chúi tai – chúi đầu chúi tai dãi gió dầm mưa – dãi gió dầm sương dạn dày sương gió – dạn dày gió sương ngồi bụt mọc – ngồi tượng rối canh hẹ - rối gà mắc tóc gầy mắm – gầy que củi dở trăng dở đèn – dở dở đèn dở trăng dở đèn – nửa nạc nửa mỡ dốt có chi – dốt bị kẻ tám lạng người nửa cân – chin mười chuột gặm chân mèo – vuốt râu hùm nhát cáy – dát cáy biến hố thần thơng – thần thơng biến hố bia đá bảng vàng – bảng vàng bia đá bén tiếng quen – quen bén tiếng chén thù chén tạc – chén tạc chén thù chia phượng rẽ loan – chia loan rẽ phượng chức trọng quyền cao – quyền cao chức trọng chạy ngược chạy xuôi – chạy xuôi chạy ngực chung gối chung chăn – chung chăn chung gối trời cuối đất – cuối đất trời chim trời cá bể - cá bể chim trời chuyển đất long trời – long trời chuyển đất cơm no áo ấm – áo ấm cơm no cửa Khổng sân Trình – sân Trình cửa Khổng bể bạc rừng vàng – rừng vàng bể bạc ăn thừa nói thiếu – ăn gian nói dối ăn đơm nói đặt – ăn khơng nói có đầu đũa – có đầu có gần đất xa trời – gần kề miệng lỗ nhắm mắt bước bước qua – nhắm mắt làm ngơ nói hành nói tỏi – nói tỏi nói hành nở mặt nở mày – nở mày nở mặt chịu khó chịu thương – chịu thương chịu khó góp gió thành bão – tích tiểu thành đại tay hịm chìa khố – quyền thu quyền bổ sống mái – một quê cha đất tổ - quê hương quán quân hội vô phèng – quân hồi vô lệnh binh địa ba đào – đất sóng thệ hải minh sơn – non thề biển XVI I I I I I I I S S I S S S I S S S S I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I S S S S S I I I S S S S S S S 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 10 quốc sắc thiên hương – sắc nước hương trời uý tử tham sinh – tham sống sợ chết kinh thiên động địa – long trời lở đất bất công đại thiên – không đội trời chung mát lòng mát - mắt lòng mát ruột miệng hùm gan thỏ - miệng cọp gan thỏ thèm nhỏ dãi – thèm chảy nước miếng trẻ không tha già không thương – trẻ chẳng tha già chẳng thương ăn nói thật – ăn nói thẳng mặt ủ mày chau – mặt ủ mày ê hét lửa – thét lửa đường đứt gánh – nửa đường đứt gánh dây máu ăn phần - vây máu ăn phần rắn đầu – rắn không đầu lạy tế – van tế đất lành chim đậu – đất lành cò đậu mặt cắt khơng cịn hột máu – mặt tái ga cắt tiết bạn nối khố - bạn chấy cắn đôi ruột nóng lửa – ruột nóng cào lúng túng cú vào xiếc – lúng túng cú vào rọ áo rách quần manh – khố rách áo ôm lật đật ma vật ông vải – lật đật quai xa vật vải xuôi chèo mát mái – thuận buồm xi gió hình với bong – cá với nước lọt sàng xuống nia – xảy vai xuống cánh tay ghi xương khắc cốt – sống để bụng chết mang ruột để da – bụng để da trời đánh thánh vật – trời đánh thánh đâm cứu nhân độ - cứu dân độ chiêm khê mùa thối – chiêm khê mùa úng giật đầu cá vá đầu tôm – giật gấu vá vai XVII S S S S I I S I I I I I I I I S S S S S S S S S S S I S I S S ... for canonical structural components and non-canonical structural components of idioms in both English and Vietnamese The canonical structural components involve three types of idioms existing in. .. phonological & orthographic variation (substitution of initial consonant or initial vowel of a word), lexical variation (substitution, modification, and partial deletion), and syntactic variation (constituent... English into Vietnamese, and vice versa 6.2 Data Collection It is a matter of fact that we can make comparison of languages in various ways We may start from categories of traditional grammar, phrases,