Fixed Expressions and Idioms in English: A Corpus-Based Approach (Oxford Studies in Lexicography and Lexicology)

This is a text-based study of fixed expressions, or idioms. Moon's central argument is that fixed expressions can only be fully understood if they are considered in the context of the texts in which they occur. She examines several thousand fixed expressions and how they are being used in current English. She argues that examination of the corpus raises questions about many received ideas on fixed expressions and idioms, and suggests that new, use-centered, models are required. This is a text-based study of fixed expressions, or idioms. Rosamund Moon's central argument is that fixed expressions can only be fully understood if they are considered together with the texts in which they occur. She provides an overview of this area of lexis in current English. Writing from a lexicological, rather than a computational point of view, she gives a detailed, descriptivist account of the findings of research into several thousand fixed expressions and idioms, as evidenced in the corpus text, including information about frequencies, syntax, lexical forms and variations, and metaphoricality. The author argues that examination of corpus text raises questions about many received ideas on fixed expressions and idioms, and suggests that new or revised use-centred models are required. Later chapters of the book demonstrate the ideological and discoursal significance of idioms, paying particular attention to the ways in which they convey evaluations and have roles with respect to the information structure and cohesion of texts Rosamund Moon. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.