On Transformations Of English Idioms And Their Motivations

It has long been believed that idioms are semantically and structurally fixed. The study of English idiom transformations did not begin until the1960s. Therefore, the shortness of time spent on its study and the constraints exerted by features of idioms have resulted in many insufficiencies in the cognition of idiom transformations. The classifications of English idiom transformations are monotonous at home and abroad: mainly legal transformation (also normal transformation) and illegal transformation (also creative or temporary transformation). In addition, current studies on motivations of idiom transformations are mainly confined to cognitive aspects. In order to solve the above problems, this study aims to re-classify idiom transformations from a different perspective and analyze their motivations in a relatively more comprehensive way and at last states the significance of this study.The methods and results of this study are stated in the following three aspects. Firstly, the new classification is from the perspective of pragmatic use and is based on the existent ones. Combined with the use of exemplification and induction, idiom transformations can be divided into meaning-retained and structure-retained ones. Secondly, this study attempts to apply general motivation analysis method of linguistic signs to explain the phenomenon of idiom transformations. Intro-linguistic motivations and extra-linguistic motivations are two major driving forces that idiom transformations form. Intro-linguistic motivations deal with the internal features of idioms, which contain phonological, morphological and semantic motivations. In contrast to intro-linguistic motivations, the extra-linguistic ones cope with factors that are outside the linguistic system but interact with it and contribute to the formation of idiom transformations. These extra-linguistic factors may include cognitive, psychological and pragmatic ones. Thirdly, this study adopts the integrative evaluating method to assess the values of studying on idiom transformations. Research shows that this study has some theoretical as well as referential values to linguistic studies. Moreover, in practical senses, it has achieved cultural values, communicative values and instructive values. In conclusion, the re-classification of idiom transformations and the explanation of their motivations may exert some theoretical and practical values on linguistic studies, and at the same time, will promote the study of idioms and their transformations.