Cultural-historic background of English borrowed phraseology

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Vladimirskiy State University named after the Stoletov brothers Vladimir, Russia

Владимирский государственный университет имени А.Г. и Н.Г. Столетовых Владимир, Россия

Cultural-historic background of English borrowed phraseology

Культурно-исторический фон английской заимствованной фразеологии

Bocharnikova A.Yu.

Бочарникова А.Ю.

During its long existence, the English language has gained a lot of different phraseologisms. Their knowledge helps foreigners to better understand the English language and culture of the country, to enrich his speech, choose the right words for any situation where ordinary words are not enough[7, p. 67-75]. Almost every phraseologism has its own interesting story, and often they are borrowed from other languages. That is the subject I want to take up for myresearch.

Ancient mythology has influenced many kinds of crops, on art, on the development of a variety of languages. In many languages, as in English, using momentum, idioms and various figures of speech taken from the ancient culture. Between the stories of ancient mythology and the real modern life, you can find a lot of similarities, so these idioms will never lose its relevance. Topics of Ancient Greek myths created such expressions as, for example, Achilles' heel, which means someone's weak spot, like Achilles, whose mother was holding the heel when dipped in magic water, and thus left his heel vulnerable, as a result it has led to the death of Achilles.

Expression The apple of discord - Apple of discord, which implies a certain cause of the quarrel, or even hostility, taken from all the well-known Greek myth of the goddess Aphrodite, Athena and Hera. Idiom Pandora's Box, which means an act which entails irreversible consequences, is taken from the myth of the girl who opened the box given to Zeus, from which spilled all the troubles and misfortunes of the world, leaving the bottom only hope.

The phrase The thread of Ariadne is a way to solve any problem. This is taken from the ancient Greek myth tells how Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of yarn and so saved him from the labyrinth of the Minotaur. Phrase A labor of Hercules, as you might guess, too, borrowed from ancient mythology, A labor of Sisyphus, Augean stables and many other idioms also came into the English language from the ancient Greek culture [3: 68].

Therefore homer gave the world a lot, including - idioms borrowed from his work. For example, in an English speech can be found a phrase like Homeric laughter. This idiom is used by comparison with the manner in which the Greek philosopher wrote about the laughter of the gods. From his works we have are frequently used idioms like Winged words, an On the knees of the Gods, The Trojan Horse, and many others. Also, many set expressions taken from fairy tales and fables of Aesop and Phaedrus, from the writings of Plutarch, of the works of the ancient philosophers: Virgil, Cicero, Horace.

Also in the English language very often idioms are used borrowed from the Bible[6, p. 147]. Expressions related to biblical stories can be found in literature and journalistic, and in common speech the British. "Much has been said and written about the tremendous impact that had on the English translations of the Bible" [4: 110]. List even a small part of all fixed expressions borrowed from the Bible would be unrealistic. "... Not only individual words, but also the whole idiomatic expressions entered the English pages of the Bible" [4: 111]. Expressions borrowed from the Bible, widely used in all languages and in all cultures for a long time. The English say (as) old as Adam, when they want to say something very old.Кпримеру, "She had tempted him, yes, but he would not use that excuse as old as Adam. (P. S. Back, "Come, My Beloved", ch. VII)"[2: 31].

The English language is widely spoken idiom The apple of Sodom. Historian Flavius Josephusin his work "The Jewish War" wrote about the fruit of the tree which is planted on the ruins of the destroyed city of God, who apparently were ripe apples, but in the hands of people turned to rot.This idiom has a value of something attractive but deceptive and brings only disappointment. Now this idiom is often used in the English language. I'll take the example of Kunin's English-Russian phrasebook:"Of himself, Ascolini said whimsically: "I have eaten the apples of Sodom, my friend, but I cannot regret them too much because I can still remember the taste of good fruit and of some noble wines." (M. West, "DaughterofSilients", ch. III) ." [2: 47]

Not without interest expression The camel and the needle's eye. This is a reference to the story of the Gospel (Matthew, chapter 19, p. 24). It is believed that the translation could make a mistake and the word "camel" in fact - "rope." According to another version, all is translated correctly, and the "eye of the needle" is the gateway to Jerusalem, which is difficult to pass through the laden camel. "Idiom biblical origin often differ in many ways from their biblical prototypes" [5: 49]. Most often this occurs because the prototype could be understood in a new way, or has been altered spelling structure, for example, replacement of obsolete words. Of course, any idiom is easier to understand in the context of, and the clearer it is to us, the better it will be possible to uncover the meaning of figurative expressions [1: 192].

Also taken from the Bible, such well-known and frequently used idioms like Daily bread, No man can serve two masters, The prodigal son, The promised land, To bear one's cross.

I would like to consider the well-known expression An ivory tower. This turnover means the flight from the people of the world to the world of art, a kind of detachment from life, reluctance to accept the reality. It has its roots in the Bible, but it is spreading only in the era of romanticism thanks to the French poet and critic Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve. In general, the English language has come a lot of phraseology and of the French language.

Idiom Appetite comes with eating is used in the different languages of the world, first appears in the book of Jerome d'Angers "On the causes" and extends thanks to Francois Rabelais.

Further, this idiom is widely used in the English language, but the English do not forget about the origin of this phrase, which to prove a very good example of A.V. Kunin's English-Russian phrasebook: "But as more states get into the act - well, as the French say, appetite comes with eating. Those who have, want more, and those who have. ("The Nation", Febr, 24, 1962) "[2: 47].

A person who can not choose between the same things or similar solutions, called Buridan's ass. The same meaning is the expression An ass between two bundles (bottles) of hay. This idiom is taken from the parable of the French philosopher Buridan about donkey, who died of hunger, because I could not choose between two identical haystacks. This comparison is often used in English literature. A.V. Kunin in phrasebook leads a good example from the book by Richard Aldington "All people - enemies":"In his quieter moods he thought often of Katha and Margaret and the curious chain of circumstances which had brought him to this unsatisfactory dangling between two women, one now almost a dream, the other only too palpably near. He felt like Buridan's ass, which starved between the two bundles of hay. (R. Aldington,"All Men Are Enemies" part II, ch VI) " [2: 52].

The widespread use of the English language found phrase Forsmb.'s Fair eyes. This idiom is found for the first time in the play French comedian Jean-Baptiste Moliere, and then was borrowed not only English but also many other languages of the world.

Much less, but still there are idioms with German roots. The phrase Vetween hammer and anvil - is the name of the works of German writer Friedrich Spielhagen. Some borrowed stable expression, for example, from Danish literature. Basically, from plots of Hans Christian Andersen's works: The emperor has no clothes (the plot of the fairy tale "Emperor's New Clothes") or an expression of the An ugly ducklingappeared thanks to the fairy tale. In general, idioms often occur on any story and sound like the name of the product [3: 76].

Of course, in English, there are plenty of phraseology taken from other languages, which proves its versatility[8, P. 247]. The English language is rich in figurative expression with a variety of origins and history. They make it more beautiful, to help convey emotions and feelings of the speaker, express himself more clearly, and well reflect the nature of the countries where the languages are spoken. Idiom will always be an integral part of the culture, and their knowledge - an important part of language learning.

lexical language phraseology english

Bibliography

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2.Кунин А.В. Англо-русский фразеологический словарь. 3-е издание. М., 2001.

3. Кунин А.В. Фразеология современного английского языка. М., 1972.

4. Смит Л.П. Фразеология английского языка. М., 1998.

5. Федуленкова Т.Н. Английская фразеология: Курс лекций. Архангельск, 2000.

6. Fedulenkova T. Biblicisms in Education and Culture // Abstracts: The Fifth Circumpolar Universities Cooperation Conference. -Luleе, Sweden, 1997. - P. 147.

7. Fedulenkova T. Idioms as an Effective Means in Intercultural Approach // Approaches to Teaching English in an Intercultural Context / Meta Grosman (ed.). - Ljubljana: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, 1997. - P. 67-74.

8. Fedulenkova T. Idioms in Business English: Ways to Cross-cultural Awareness // Domainspecific English: textual practices across communities and classrooms / Giuseppina Cortese& Philip Riley (ed.). - Bern; Berlin; Bruxelles; Frankfurt am Mein; New York; Oxford; Wien: Lang, 2002. - P. 247-269.

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