This paper examines how it can be decided which idioms to include in a dictionary, what criteria need to be met, and how to make sure the layout is helpful and clear to users. First, the research background is laid down, including a definition of idioms and an examination of their challenges. In this part, idioms in dictionaries will also be focused on, as well as food-related idioms. Next, 25 food-related idioms will be analysed in terms of frequency, transparency, frozenness and size, as those categories give the most information about their function and perception. Finally, the results are discussed, focusing on implications for dictionaries.
For the analysis, the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) is used, mainly for checking the frequency of idioms and creating a frozenness scale. The transparency of each idiom is rated by the researcher with feedback from peers, and for size, the letters in each idiom are counted automatically with the Excel COUNT function. It has to be considered that this study is of a rather small scope and is therefore not representative, but can be seen more as a case study. The suggestions and recommendations made at the end can still be applied to most idiom representations in dictionaries. The goal of this paper is to advise dictionary creators in their view on idioms, and also inform dictionary users on the use of idioms in dictionaries in general.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Research Background
2.1. Idioms and their Challenges
2.2. Idioms in Dictionaries
2.3. Food-related Idioms
3. Analysis
3.1. Material and Methods
3.2. Analysing Food-related Idioms
3.2.1. Frequency
3.2.2. Transparency
3.2.3. Frozenness
3.2.4. Size
4. Discussion and Recommendations for Dictionaries
5. Conclusion
6. Works Cited
6.1. Literature
6.2. Dictionaries
Research Objectives & Core Themes
This study examines the criteria for including idioms in dictionaries, investigating how features like frequency, transparency, frozenness, and length influence their representation and accessibility for learners and dictionary users.
- Theoretical definition and processing challenges of idioms.
- Evaluation of 25 food-related idioms using the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA).
- Impact of frequency and literalness on idiom transparency and user perception.
- Recommendations for organizing and structuring idiom entries in learner and specialized dictionaries.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1. Frequency
Szczepaniak (2006: 32) found that “the majority of fixed expressions are poorly represented in the corpora”, which has also proven true in this study, as for over half of the 25 queries, less than a hundred hits were found. The relative and absolute frequencies can be seen in Table 1 and a bar diagram is provided in Figure 1 for better visualisation.
From these frequencies, we can see which idioms are in use most often, and can therefore assume that these are relatively well-known to most English speakers. The highest frequency with 0.78 words per million or 778 hits has apples * oranges, while apple-polisher on the other hand only occurs two times and thus has a disappearingly low frequency. As for the latter’s meaning, Jiao (2015: 189) explains,
‘Apple polisher’ is a derogatory term, which comes from the school language in US. Students usually place an apple on the platform when attending class. As to those students with a poor performance, they will rub and polish the apple to give a bright shine and then place it in a prominent location. Students hope that such a gift may make teachers shut their eyes to their poor work and give him a good mark.
From this definition, it can be argued, that apple-polisher is a rather local to the US and old-fashioned term, hence why it is so rarely used now. Similarly rare are the idioms (know on) which side the bread is buttered, to take the biscuit, worm in the apple and freeze one’s buns off. In contrast to to take the biscuit, which is the British variant of the idiom, the American form to take the cake is rather frequent at 0.36 words per million. This can be attributed to the fact that the COCA consists of American English language data, so other local variants of idioms are less frequently found.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on idiom categorization for dictionaries, the challenges of figurative language, and the methodology including the use of COCA.
2. Research Background: Provides the theoretical foundation regarding idiom processing, definition, and existing lexicographical practices for representing idioms.
3. Analysis: Documents the empirical study of 25 food-related idioms, evaluating them through quantitative and qualitative categories including frequency, transparency, frozenness, and length.
4. Discussion and Recommendations for Dictionaries: Synthesizes the analysis to offer practical advice for dictionary compilers concerning the inclusion, placement, and sorting of idioms.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, noting that while frequent and opaque idioms are priority candidates for inclusion, individual case-by-case evaluation remains essential.
6. Works Cited: Lists all referenced literature and dictionary sources used throughout the research.
Keywords
Idioms, Dictionaries, Lexicography, Food-related idioms, Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), Frequency, Transparency, Frozenness, Phraseology, Learner's dictionaries, Cognitive linguistics, Metaphor, Language variation, Idiomaticity, Corpus linguistics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The work investigates how idioms, specifically those related to food, should be represented in learner's and specialized dictionaries to improve user accessibility and understanding.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The study centers on idiom definition, processing mechanisms, the quantitative analysis of 25 food idioms, and lexicographical recommendations for dictionary layout and content.
What is the primary aim of this study?
The goal is to determine which criteria (frequency, transparency, length, or frozenness)Dictionary creators should prioritize when selecting and organizing idioms for their publications.
Which scientific method is employed?
The researcher utilizes empirical corpus linguistics, specifically the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), to measure frequency data and analyze idiom variation.
What specifically is covered in the main analysis?
The analysis evaluates 25 selected food-related idioms across four categories: relative and absolute frequency, perceived transparency, the level of frozenness (allowance for variation), and idiom length.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best described by terms such as Lexicography, Phraseology, Idioms, Corpus Linguistics, and Transparency.
How is the transparency of idioms determined in the study?
Transparency is assessed on a scale from 1 (very transparent) to 5 (very opaque) by the researcher, supported by peer feedback and an analysis of the "image-trigger" words within the idioms.
Do longer idioms pose greater challenges for learners?
The study suggests that longer idioms tend to be rated as less transparent and occur less frequently, which may make them more difficult for learners to store in their mental lexicon.
What is the recommended approach for sorting idioms in dictionaries?
The paper recommends sorting by headword for general lookup purposes, while also suggesting that a separate thematic index is highly beneficial for research and broader conceptual learning.
- Quote paper
- Elisabeth Sülzen (Author), 2023, Idiom Choice for Dictionaries. A Phraseological Evaluation of Food-related Idioms, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1408019
