Phraseological combinations that use units of measurement and calculation of time in English

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Lenkaran State University

Phraseological combinations that use units of measurement and calculation of time in English

Faramazov Azer Suratullah oghly

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of phraseological units with temporal meaning, which are analysed in terms of their semantic integrity, structure and means that ensure their stability and coherence. The object of the study is the phraseological units related to the concept of time, which include the names of days of the week, seasons, parts of the day and generalising words in English. An interesting and important part of the study is the problem of communicative and pragmatic functions of phraseological units with the time component. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that acquaintance with phraseology, including phraseological units with time meaning, allows not only to communicate naturally and emotionally, but also to understand more deeply the history of the people, their attitude to human virtues and shortcomings, the specifics of their worldview. Keywords: phraseological unit; lexical and semantic groups; time category; field approach; communicative and pragmatic functions.

Introduction

In the current phase of linguistic development, there is a growing emphasis on language tools that enhance our understanding of the world in which native speakers operate. Linguists are directing their attention to linguistic units that encapsulate information about individuals and their surroundings. The phraseological fund, as an evolving and open system, necessitates continuous exploration, organization, and categorization. In contemporary linguistic research, the investigation of phraseological units representing the concept of "time" in English is an important and promising area [1]. While scholars extensively explore the semantics and pragmatics of phraseological units denoting specific concepts in English, the scrutiny of semantic variability within units containing the component "time" and their functional attributes remains insufficient. This gap in research underscores the significance of our article in addressing this aspect, proposing a comprehensive examination of the issue.

Theoretical backgrounds

In contemporary linguistic inquiry, exploring phraseological units associated with the concept of "time" in English emerges as a pertinent and promising field of study. While the examination of semantics and pragmatics within phraseological units signifying specific concepts and their invariants garners substantial attention in modern linguistic conceptology research (conducted by A. Prikhodko, Y. Stepanov, V. Serebrennikov, V. Timofeeva), there remains an insufficient investigation into the semantic variability of phraseological units containing the component "time" (conducted by O. Afanasyeva, O. Selivanova) and their functional characteristics. This gap in research underscores the relevance of our article. Alongside scholars like Pradid, Z. Popova, and V. Timofeeva, we advocate for a comprehensive examination of this issue. Phraseologisms serve as vibrant, figurative expressions reflecting a people's identity, national specificity, historical experience, way of life, and culture. These diverse linguistic units encompass both "moral law and common sense expressed in a short saying bequeathed by the ancestors to guide their descendants," serving as cultural guardians for any nation.

Time-related phraseology refers to a cohesive expression, characterized by stability in both composition and structure, whose meaning encapsulates a specific concept related to time. Many of these phrases found their way into English from the Bible during the process of Christianization that commenced in Britain in the early seventh century. The Bible's widespread translation into numerous languages, driven by the global spread of Christianity, resulted in it becoming one of the most popular books. Consequently, words and expressions of biblical origin permeated both literary and colloquial speech in various languages simultaneously, leading to the universalization of identical expressions.

Exploring the phraseological aspect of time provides insights into the English-speaking society's perceptions and approaches to this concept. The distinctive feature of phraseological units lies in each unit serving as a reflection of the collective conceptual worldview. This manifestation is evident in the unique meanings embedded in these expressions.

Before delving into the examination of phraseological combinations with temporal meaning, it is essential to delve into the lexeme "time," which forms their foundation. This lexeme acts as the cohesive element in the temporal macrofield, encompassing lexical and semantic periphery groups. These groups consist of lexemes representing different parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. An analysis of the lexeme "time" in modern English, based on reputable dictionaries like Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, has revealed both its core and peripheral meanings. semantics phraseological combination temporal

The basic meanings include the following: 1) days gone by "I lived in Switzerland for a long time"; 2) a measurable period (in hours, minutes, etc.) "Close relationships established over a long period of time"; 3) duration (in the past, present, future) "It took her a long time to make a decision"; 4) a period associated with something "By the time we reached home".

The peripheral meanings include: 1) system for measuring time «Pacific Time»; 2) historical period «ancient times»; 3) period in a sports game «first time of the game»; 4) number of beats in music «Waltzes are usually in three-four time».

The phraseological groups of the studied topic are quite numerous, but the quantitative advantage is still observed on the side of phraseological units reflecting time. In the structure of the lexical and semantic field of time, researchers distinguish the following lexical and semantic groups:

Nominations of time: time, term, epoch, era, age, season, era, period;

Time measurement units: year, month, moment, instant, second, minute, hour, week, day, century;

Calendar cycle: morning, noon, evening, night, midnight, winter, spring, summer, autumn;

Time measuring: clock, watch, hand, chronometer, sun-dial, calendar, chronology, Greenwich;

Adverbs with a time meaning: now, long ago, in time, again, sometimes, late, early, at once, for ever, suddenly, soon, long, quickly, on time, always, some day, finally, late, constantly, soon, immediately, forever;

Time actions: time flies, passes, comes, goes away, heals, comes to an end, remains, erases, waits (does not wait);

Actions taken over time: lose, find, spend, pass, kill, have, run out of, devote (the time), plan, take away, give, dedicate , wait, kill (time);

Time characteristics: long, inexorable, late, old, present, winter, summer, future, good, excellent, lost, cruel, past, endless); ancient; old- fashioned, prehistoric, far.

In an effort to elucidate the organizational structure of temporal phraseological units, scholars employed the field approach. Consequently, the phraseological macro field of time encompasses eight phraseological microfields, each containing specific differential semes. These semes delineate the following phraseological microfields:

Repeatability is characterized by differential semes such as «constantly» (all the time, twenty-four hours a day), «sometimes» (at times, (in) between times), «often» (times out of / without number).

Duration includes differential semes «long» (half the time, have all the time in the world), «very long» (from time out of mind), «not very long» (Living on borrowed time, don 't be half an hour), «instantly» (at a moment's notice, on the spur of the moment; in no time (at all) / in less than no time / in next to no time).

The time interval consists of phraseological units containing semets period characterized by a state of (peace in our time), a period characterized by activity (pass (the) time, spar for time), parts of the day - «morning» (the (wee) small hours of the morning), «night» (the witching hour / time (of night).

The measurement of time is the smallest in volume, which can be explained by the lack of the need to convey this concept using phraseology. Phraseological units of this microfield indicate the time on the clock and are characterized by semes right («keep good time»), wrong (keep bad time, lose time).

A time point is associated with a particular action, good or wrong time to start something. This includes phraseological units with the meaning of favorable moment - take time by the forelock, (theie's) no time like the present. And also phraseological unit with the meaning «unfavorable moment» - (at) an unearthly hour, at all hours (of the day / night), bad time.

Temporal relationships reveal the complexity and diverse relationships within the category of «beginning / end of action» (there's (got to be) a first time for everything, the time is up), «simultaneity» (at the same time time), «preceding» ((in) the womb of time, before one's time), «sequence» (at a time, by the time that), «earliness» (ahead of time, time), «timeliness» (dead in time, on an hour)), «untimeliness» (out of hours, behind time), «almost late» ((at) the eleventh hour, at the last minute).

The primary oppositions identified in the course of the study revolve around the presence (free time) and absence of time (out of time). Additionally, there is a correlation of actions with the moment of speech, ranging from the distant past (when Queen Anne was alive) to the recent past (a while ago) and the anticipation of future events (soon - at a good hour) or their delay (not soon - in the long run). The frequency of actions is captured through opposing terms such as often (every blessed day) and rarely (once in a blue moon), as well as always (to the grave) and never (on tomorrow comes never). Another significant opposition lies in the amount of time spent on performing an action, distinguishing between quickly (in a New York minute) and slowly (letting the grass grow under your feet).

One of the main associative categories of time is actually the names of time periods: second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, and the names of days of the week. The vast majority of such phraseological units show a quick action that takes place almost instantly: split second, in a New-York minute. The opposite meaning was acquired by the phraseology for donkey's years, derived from the phrase donkey's ears, where time was compared to the long ears of a donkey. In addition, it is a well-known fact that donkeys are quite long-lived animals. Other phraseological units associated with time periods are a month of Sundays, referring to a long period of inactivity, and banker's hours, to refer to shortened working hours [3].

Another significant association arising from the examination of phraseological units related to measuring time involves references to the Bible and mythology. Particularly noteworthy examples in this category include phraseological units like "as long as Jared" and "as long as Methuselah," which aptly signify enduring effects. Mythological associations come to light through phraseology like "at (on) the Greek calends," exhibiting irony as it draws from Roman mythology. In Roman tradition, the first day of the month was considered the calends, a concept absent in Greek time reckoning. This contrast forms the basis for illustrating the impossibility of performing a certain action [2].

The clock, symbolizing time itself, serves as the foundation for phraseological units linked to the movement of clock hands, conveying notions of precision, punctuality, or the irrevocability of lost time. This thematic category finds expression in phraseological units such as "against the clock," "to turn back the hands of time," and "on the dot." Additionally, the designations of the sun and moon as symbols representing the concepts of day and night are utilized to underscore the temporary, rare, and fleeting nature of a phenomenon: "the morning sun never lasts a day" and "once in a blue moon" [3].

In specific communicative contexts, phraseological units incorporating a temporal component in English can fulfill multiple occasional communicative and pragmatic functions simultaneously. The defining trait of these phraseological units lies in their multifunctionality, enhancing the perlocutionary impact of the message and contributing to the attainment of pragmatic objectives. The adaptability of phraseological units to the requirements of a communicative situation, owing to their flexible and dynamic structure and semantics, facilitates this versatility. This adaptability leads to the emergence of diverse pragmatic connotations, detailed and clarified based on the specific pragmatic parameters of the communicative scenario. These transformations are pragmatically driven by the addressee's interest and emotional and evaluative influence. The presented spectrum of synonymous phraseological semantic fields affirms that, owing to their semantic flexibility, phraseological units can undergo modifications contingent upon the demands of the communicative situation and pragmatic goals, including the positive or negative characterization of time and its conceptual domains. The analysis underscores that time is a nuanced linguistic category, manifested through numerous linguistic designations within its lexical and semantic field [5].

Thus, it has been found that the phraseological aspect of time is built and formed on the basis of certain associations that arise in native speakers. Since idiomatic expressions are usually known to native speakers, their individual parts are recognisable and understood by the representatives of the language community when used. Phraseological units with time meanings reflect the repeatability and duration of actions and phenomena. The studied phraseological units indicate time periods of different duration, a specific moment of time, namely, a favourable or unfavourable moment. The phraseological units convey the concept of time measurement, as well as temporal relations, such as the beginning or end of an action, precedence, sequence, earlyness, timeliness or untimeliness of an action. The subjective perception of time is conveyed through phraseological units. Prospects for further research are seen in a detailed study of the semantic and structural features of English temporal phraseology.

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