chapter10englishidioms9.pptVIP

Chapter 10 English Idiom Objectives: To discuss the characteristics of idioms; To explain their classification and uses. Teaching focus: The characteristics of idioms The classification of idioms The uses of idioms Definition of idioms Idiom is a set expression made up of two or more words; it functions as a unit of meaning which cannot be predicted from its literal meaning of its component words. 作为一个意义单位使用的，意义不能从其独立的组成部分中推测得出。 For example, the idiom “show the white feather” means “to show fear”, and the meaning of this idiom has nothing to do with “feather”. 1. Characteristics of idioms (1). Semantic unity (语义的整体性) ??? Each idiom is a semantic unity. The semantic unity can be reflected by the fact that the meaning of an idiom is very often not the total sum of the meanings of the constituent words. The semantic unity can also be shown in the illogical relations between the literal meanings of the constituent words and the meaning of the idiom. 指习语在语义上是个不可分割的统一体，其整体的意义往往不能从组成习语的各个词汇中揣测出来。Do sb brown (2). Structural stability结构的固定性 ??? Structural stability means that the structure of an idiom usually remains unchangeable. In other words, the constituent components of an idiom can not, generally speaking, be replaced. for instance: A cat has nine lives The constituents of idioms cannot be changed or replaced. 习语的成分不能替换。 The word order cannot be inverted or changed. 习语的词序不可更换。 The constituents of an idiom cannot be deleted or added to, not even an article.习语的构成成分不可增减，即使是冠词也不行。 Ｍany idioms are grammatically unanalysable. 很多习语在语法上是不可分析的。 2 Classification of idioms According to grammatical function, idioms can be divided into 5 types: 1) Idioms nominal in nature名词性习语:? ??? They function as nouns in a sentence: 　white elephant 　fond dream 　 ups and downs The pros and cons 2) Idioms adjectival in nature 形容词性习语： ?? They function as adjectives in a sentence. E.g.: cut and dried on the go as slippery as