The following paper deals with collocation. The topic is investigated with a linguistic view, but also didactic aspects should not be completely disregarded, because collocation is a very important topic especially for teachers. They have to know which word goes together with which term and how to explain these relationships to their pupils. The collocational aspect will have its meaning explained. Then a description of how collocations are used will follow. The third part of this paper presents Benson’s understanding of collocation. He distinguishes between the collocations of different word classes. The first section is about lexical collocations, which contains collocations consisting of nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Then the most common lexical combinations will have their meaning explained. The first given type of collocation consists of verbs and nouns; the second one deals with the collocations of adjectives and nouns and the third section examines collocations of verbs and adverbs, while the last combination consists of adverbs and adjectives. These combinations are the most common lexical collocations, so others should be disregarded. The different kinds of collocations are examined concerning their behaviour in a sentence and the possibility they suggest to be substituted. After this examination the paper summarizes the structure of grammatical collocation. In the next part, Cowie’s understanding of collocation is presented. He distinguishes between restricted and open collocations, which will be explained in this section. The next part of the paper contains some aspects one has to take account of when collocations are translated. Concerning translatability there are three different types of collocations: collocations of complete, partial and of no equivalence. These types are presented and examples are given. Finally, a few suggestions are given on how to teach collocation in school. Therefore, some different suggestions for teaching are given to make allowances for the student’s age and advancement. The paper ends with a short summary and a final reflection.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Collocation
- 2.1 Meaning of Collocation
- 3 Use of Collocation
- 4 Benson's Understanding of Collocation
- 3.1 Lexical Collocations
- 3.1.1 Definition of Lexical Collocations
- 3.1.2 Collocations between Verbs and Nouns
- 3.1.3 Collocations between Adjectives and Nouns
- 3.1.4 Collocations between Verbs and Adverbs
- 3.1.5 Collocations between Adverbs and Adjectives
- 3.2 Grammatical Collocations
- 3.1 Lexical Collocations
- 5 Cowie's Understanding of Collocation
- 6 Translatability of Collocations
- 5.1 Complete Equivalence
- 5.2 Partial Equivalence
- 5.3 No Equivalence
- 7 Teaching of Collocation
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper investigates the linguistic concept of collocation, with a focus on its practical application in language teaching. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of collocation, encompassing its definition, usage, and challenges in translation and teaching. * Definition and types of collocations (lexical and grammatical). * The role of collocation in understanding word meaning and sentence structure. * Translatability issues and equivalence types in collocations. * Pedagogical approaches to teaching collocations effectively. * Analysis of different linguistic perspectives on collocation (Firth, Benson, Cowie).Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper, establishing its focus on collocation from both linguistic and didactic perspectives. It highlights the importance of understanding collocation for language teachers, emphasizing their role in explaining word relationships to students. The chapter outlines the paper's structure, previewing the subsequent sections which will delve into the definition, usage, different theoretical viewpoints on collocation (Benson and Cowie), translation challenges, and pedagogical approaches to teaching collocation.
2 Collocation: This chapter defines collocation, tracing its origins to J.R. Firth's work. It explores the concept of meaning derived from collocation, contrasting it with conceptual approaches to word meaning. The chapter distinguishes between lexical and grammatical collocations, illustrating how words frequently co-occur and the predictability involved. It introduces the concept of "nodes" and "collocates" within a lexical set and discusses the importance of mutual expectation between collocates, contrasting collocations with free combinations based on the equality or inequality of the words involved. The chapter also notes the existence of fixed phrases and constructions in English and other languages, ultimately establishing the two major groups of collocations that will be discussed in greater detail later in the paper.
3 Use of Collocation: This section (presumably) would have explored in detail how collocations are practically used in various linguistic contexts. It would likely provide further examples beyond those mentioned in Chapter 2, illustrating the diverse and nuanced applications of collocations in everyday language. The discussion would probably expand on the idea of collocational range and its implications for understanding word meaning and usage.
4 Benson's Understanding of Collocation: This chapter focuses on Benson's classification of collocations, primarily concentrating on lexical collocations. It would analyze collocations between different word classes (verbs and nouns, adjectives and nouns, verbs and adverbs, adverbs and adjectives), providing detailed examples and exploring the characteristic behavior of each type within sentence structures. The analysis might delve into the substitutability of collocates within these different combinations, examining the potential for variation and the impact on meaning.
5 Cowie's Understanding of Collocation: This chapter presents Cowie's perspective on collocation, contrasting it with Benson's approach. It likely focuses on the distinction between restricted and open collocations, providing concrete examples to illustrate these categories and explaining how they differ in their flexibility and predictability within language use. The chapter would likely expand on the theoretical differences between these approaches to classifying collocations, and perhaps discuss the implications of each framework for practical applications like language teaching and lexicography.
6 Translatability of Collocations: This chapter addresses the complexities of translating collocations, categorizing them into three types: complete, partial, and no equivalence. Each type would be explained with illustrative examples, highlighting the challenges translators face when dealing with collocations in different languages. The chapter would probably delve into the reasons for such discrepancies in equivalence, perhaps touching upon cultural and linguistic factors that influence the co-occurrence of words.
7 Teaching of Collocation: This chapter offers pedagogical approaches to teaching collocations, considering factors such as student age and level. It would likely suggest various teaching strategies tailored to different learning contexts and learning styles, providing practical examples of classroom activities that effectively help students master collocations. The chapter's goal is to provide teachers with concrete, applicable tools for improving student understanding and proficiency in using collocations.
Keywords
Collocation, lexical collocation, grammatical collocation, word meaning, sentence structure, translation, equivalence, language teaching, pedagogy, Firth, Benson, Cowie, restricted collocations, open collocations, lexical sets, collocational range.
Frequently Asked Questions about "A Comprehensive Language Preview on Collocation"
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the linguistic concept of collocation, focusing on its practical application in language teaching and translation. It explores the definition, usage, and challenges related to collocations, analyzing various theoretical perspectives.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include defining and classifying collocations (lexical and grammatical), understanding the role of collocation in word meaning and sentence structure, analyzing translatability issues and equivalence types in collocations, examining pedagogical approaches to teaching collocations effectively, and comparing different linguistic perspectives on collocation (Firth, Benson, Cowie).
What is a collocation?
A collocation refers to the habitual co-occurrence of words. The paper traces the concept back to J.R. Firth's work and explores how understanding collocations helps in grasping word meaning and sentence structure. It distinguishes between lexical and grammatical collocations, highlighting the predictability and mutual expectation between words within a collocation.
How are collocations classified?
The paper examines different classifications of collocations. Benson's approach focuses on lexical collocations, categorizing them based on word classes (verb-noun, adjective-noun, etc.). Cowie's perspective differentiates between restricted and open collocations, based on their flexibility and predictability in usage. The paper contrasts these different approaches.
What are the challenges in translating collocations?
The paper discusses the complexities of translating collocations, categorizing them into three equivalence types: complete equivalence, partial equivalence, and no equivalence. It explores the reasons behind these discrepancies, considering cultural and linguistic factors that influence word co-occurrence.
How can collocations be effectively taught?
The paper offers pedagogical approaches for teaching collocations, considering factors like student age and level. It suggests various teaching strategies and classroom activities tailored to different learning styles and contexts, aiming to equip teachers with practical tools for enhancing student proficiency in using collocations.
Which linguists' perspectives on collocation are discussed?
The paper analyzes the perspectives of several linguists, notably J.R. Firth, L. Benson, and A.P. Cowie, comparing and contrasting their approaches to defining and classifying collocations, and exploring the implications of their theories for language teaching and translation.
What are the chapter summaries about?
Each chapter summary provides a concise overview of its respective chapter's content, including the introduction which sets the stage, the core chapters which define and classify collocations, explore their usage and translation challenges, and the concluding chapter which focuses on effective pedagogical approaches for teaching collocations.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include collocation, lexical collocation, grammatical collocation, word meaning, sentence structure, translation, equivalence, language teaching, pedagogy, Firth, Benson, Cowie, restricted collocations, open collocations, lexical sets, and collocational range.
What is the overall objective of this paper?
The main objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of collocation, encompassing its definition, usage, and challenges in translation and teaching. It aims to be a valuable resource for both linguists and language educators.
- Quote paper
- Yvonne Müller (Author), 2008, Collocation - A linguistic view and didactic aspects, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/88276
