CHAPTER 4: SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH
4.2. Semantic features of English collocations containing the word “FREE”
It is revealed from analyzing 263 English sentences containing the word
“FREE” that meanings of “FREE” in English are varied sentence by sentence. The following table describes which meanings are conveyed by “FREE” in English.
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Table 2: Semantic features of English collocations containing the word “FREE”
No. Meaning Frequenc
y
Percentage (%)
1 Costing nothing 69 26.24%
2 Not limited or not controlled 45 17.11%
3 Not held in a fixed position 6 2.28%
4 Not or no longer a prisoner or
an enslaved person 18 6.84%
5 Not doing anything planned or important,
or available to be used 34 12.93%
6 Not joined to anything 21 7.98%
7 Having unlimited movement 11 4.18%
8 Giving or using often or in large amounts 9 3.42%
9 Using something that belongs to someone else a
lot 6 2.28%
10 Used at the end of words to mean 'without' 37 14.07%
11 Idioms 7 2.66%
Total 263 100%
Results from Table 4.2 show that there are 11 meanings conveyed by the word
“FREE” which are identified in this current study, including costing nothing, not limited or not controlled, not held in a fixed position, not or no longer a prisoner or an enslaved person, not doing anything planned or important, or available to be used, not joined to anything, having unlimited movement, giving or using often or in large amounts, using something that belongs to someone else a lot, used at the end of words to mean “without”, and idioms. Among these conveyed meanings, “FREE” are mostly used to convey expressions of costing nothing, not limited or not controlled, and used at the end of words to mean “without”. Detailed results are described as follows.
4.2.1. Meaning of “FREE” as costing nothing
Firstly, “FREE” is used to convey the meaning of “costing nothing” which is significantly popular in English writing with a frequency of 69 times, representing
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26.24%. The following English sentences convey the meaning of “costing nothing”
of “FREE”:
(4.41) A poor person with free access to the Internet at the library is wealthier than a poor person with free access to just a library.
(4.42) You could have the libertarian state, the green state, the clothing- optional state, the state with free public housing for all, the state where puns are outlawed, the state with a two-drink minimum, and the fiercely pro-business state.
(4.43) But think about how it could play out: If energy truly were free and unlimited, you could, for instance, power tractors everywhere in the world.
(4.44) They are then given a business account free of charge by the bank.
(4.45) You can access the online database for free.
The five examples indicate that the word “FREE” is used to express the meaning that the subjects do not need to pay anything for “access to the Internet”, “access to just a library”, “free public housing”, “energy”, “business account, and “the online database”.
4.2.2. Meaning of “FREE” as not limited or not controlled
In 263 sentences studied in this current study, there are 45 times in which the word “FREE” is used to express the status of not being limited or controlled, making up for 17.11%.
(4.46) Saying this he again turned round, dropped his hands, took the bottle and lifted it to his lips, threw back his head, and raised his free hand to balance himself.
(4.47) Anatole had very soon abandoned his wife and, for a payment which he agreed to send to his father-in-law, had arranged to be free to pass himself off as a bachelor.
(4.48) The free enterprise system—the greatest creator of wealth the world has known—will continue to produce the material gains we enjoy today and to reward most those who serve their fellow humans best.
(4.49) Free and peaceful societies function best when government is transparent and open.
The analysis of meaning of the word “FREE” in these above sentences indicates that “FREE” is used by the writer to express that the subjects as “he”, “Anatole”,
“enterprise systems”, and “societies” are not controlled to carry actions. This
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meaning is also categorized as the most second popular meaning demonstrated by the use of “FREE” in this current study.
4.2.3. Meaning of “FREE” as not held in a fixed position
In this current study, the meaning of “FREE” as not held in a fixed position is least used by the writers. There are only six times in which “FREE” is used to convey this meaning, making up for only 2.28%.
(4.50) I would rather ride on earth in an ox cart, with a free circulation, than go to heaven in the fancy car of an excursion train and breathe malaria all the way.
(4.51) The tang of the untainted, fresh and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought, and the shells and pebbles and the seaweed with tiny living creatures attached to it never lost their fascination for me.
(4.52) He grabbed the free end of the rope.
With these above example, the writers use “FREE” to show the unfixed status of such subjects as “circulation”, “sea air”, and “end of the rope”; however, this meaning is not popular used in English sentences.
4.2.4. Meaning of “FREE” as not or no longer a prisoner or an enslaved person Results show that the in the dataset the word “FREE” is used 18 times (6.84%) to refer to the status of those who are not or no longer prisoners or enslaved persons.
(4.53) On one of his estates the three hundred serfs were liberated and became free agricultural laborers--this being one of the first examples of the kind in Russia.
(4.54) She left the court a free woman.
(4.55) In the 1700s, Mamaroneck was home to a free black community
In three sentences above, it is evident that the word “FREE” is used to demonstrate the liberation of “three hundred serfs”, “woman”, and “back community” from the prison or slavery.
4.2.5. Meaning of “FREE” as not doing anything planned or important, or available to be used
The fifth meaning conveyed by the word “FREE” identified by the researcher in this current study is the status of not doing anything planned or important, or available to be used. There are 34 sentences (12.93%) in which the word “FREE” is used to express this type of meaning. For example:
(4.56) Schedules were exchanged until a free weekend opened up, after our obligatory trip to Iowa and Betsy's parents.
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(4.57) She's in a meeting at the moment, but she should be free to see you in ten minutes.
(4.58) I'm working in the café all this week, but I've got a free evening next Monday.
(4.59) Excuse me, is this seat free (= is anyone intending to sit in this seat)?
(4.60) We queued for half an hour waiting for a free space in the car park.
It is indicated that in such above examples, the word “FREE” is used to express the meaning of available time to do something such as “a weekend”, “ten minutes”, and “Monday evening” or available thing to be used such as “this seat” or “space in the car park”.
4.2.6. Meaning of “FREE” as not joined to anything
In this current study, the word “FREE” is also used to demonstrate the action of not jointed to anything with 21 times, accounting for 7.98%. The following examples show how “FREE” conveys this type of meaning:
(4.61) Mechanics checked the plane to see if any of the bolts had worked themselves free.
(4.62) In this case the chain is not coiled, but simply passes over the lifting wheel, the free end hanging loose.
In these two sentences above, “FREE” is used to demonstrate the separation status of a part from other parts such as “bolts” from “the plane” or “the chain”
from “the lifting wheel”.
4.2.7. Meaning of “FREE” as having unlimited movement
Besides such above meanings, sometimes the word “FREE” is used to refer to movements which are not limited (11 times, accounting for 4.18%). Some examples demonstrating this meaning consists of:
(4.63) Her hair was free, the long, loose curls cascading down her shoulders and back.
(4.64) She went/walked free after the charges against her were dropped.
(4.65) I let the dogs run free in the park.
In these sentences, the word “FREE” is used as an adjective or an adverb to express the status of unlimited movements of such subject as “his air” or such actions as “went/walked” or “run”.
4.2.8. Meaning of “FREE” as giving or using often or in large amounts
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Another meaning which may be conveyed by the use of “FREE” addressed by the researcher in this current study is giving or using often or in large amounts.
However, the frequency of this meaning is low when only 9 sentences out of 263 sentences studied in this current study use “FREE” to express this meaning. For example:
(4.66) He’s rather free with his wife's money.
(4.67) She’s very free with advice but she never seems to act on it herself.
(4.68) He’s very free with his criticism!
Results imply that this type of meaning which is conveyed by the word “FREE”
is not popular in the dataset of this current study. “FREE” is used in these examples to demonstrate that he has a large amount of money from his wife to spend, or there are many advices given to her, or he is criticized a lot by others.
4.2.9. Meaning of “FREE” as using something that belongs to someone else a lot This meaning of “FREE” in English is least used in this current study. Only 6 sentences out of 263 sentences refer to this type of meaning, accounting for only 2.28%. Some examples embracing this meaning include:
(4.69) Don’t you think the owner will have something to say about your making free with his belongings?
(4.70) Don't her parents mind her making free with their house while they're on holiday?
Evidently, in these two examples the word “FREE” is used to imply the action to use “the owner’s belongings” or “her parents’ house” of the subjects “you” and
“she”.
4.2.10. Meaning of “FREE” as “without” with the use at the end of word Among the eleven types of meaning of “FREE” in this current study, the meaning of “without” expressed by adding “FREE” as a suffix is ranked at the third position regarding the frequency with 37 times (14.07%). “FREE” is preferably added as a suffix of a noun to imply the meaning of “without”. For example:
(4.71) It is supposed to be virtually pollution-free and produce both electricity and hydrogen.
(4.72) The returns are not risk-free.
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(4.73) Your husband could put the money in a tax-free cash ISA.
In the first example “FREE” is used to express the meaning that there is no pollution while in the second example it indicates that there is no possible risk for the returns. Similarly, the use of “FREE” in the third example also implies no tax for putting money in a cash ISA.
4.2.11. The use of “FREE” in idioms
Lastly, it is found out by the researcher in this current study that “FREE” is also used in some idioms to convey the metaphors. There are 7 sentences out of 263 sentences using the word “FREE” to create idioms (2.66%). For example:
(4.74) No one is guaranteed a free ride.
(4.75) Free and easy!
(4.76) You are allowed to have free rein to use this room.
In these examples, “FREE” is not interpreted in the general meanings. In the first example, “a free ride” cannot be interpreted as a cost-zero rides but refers to benefit obtained at another's expense or without the usual cost or effort. Or in the second sentence, “free” refers to comfort and ease.
To sum up, the word “FREE” can be used in English sentences to express various meanings in which the most prevalent meanings include costing nothing, the status of not being limited or controlled, and the meaning of “without” by being added as a suffix.
4.3. A comparison between English collocations containing the word “FREE”