Prof. Asif-TRN 6

7/28/2019 Prof. Asif-TRN 6

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A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

OF COLLOCATIONPrepared by:

M ASIF IKRAM ANJUM2


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A collocation is an arbitrary and recurrent word

combination. (Benson, 1990). Translation ofcollocations is difficult for non-native speakers.

Collocations are partly or fully fixed expressions thatbecome established through repeated context-

dependent use. Such terms as 'crystal clear', 'middlemanagement', 'nuclear family', and 'cosmetic surgery'are examples of collocated pairs of words. Manycollocation translations are idiosyncratic in the sense

that they are unpredictable by syntactic or semanticfeatures.

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There is a big difference between a collocation and anidiom. A collocation is the way words combine in a

language to produce natural speech and writing. Forexample when you say "pay attention", it could be "giveattention, or put attention" but it is not, it is payattention because it is the natural way in which native

speakers express that.An idiom is a sequence of words which has

different meaning as a group from the meaning theywould have if you understood them separately. For

example, when you say "it's raining cats and dogs" youdo not really mean that cats and dogs are falling downfrom the sky but that there is a heavy rain.

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The importance of collocations in language as well as

in translation is considered paramount. Linguists'interest in the translation of collocations emerges fromcollocations' vital role in language. Knowledge ofcollocations is vital for the competent use of a

language: a grammatically correct sentence will standout as awkward if collocational preferences areviolated. This makes collocation an interesting area forlanguage teaching.

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On the one hand, the ability to use andproduce acceptable and appropriate

collocations indicates language proficiencyand on the other, their association plays avital role in organizing the relations within a

text. Hence, they are "crucial to theinterpretations of a text" (Halliday&Hasan,1976). Baker (1992) like others relates these

problems to the relative variations of thecultural and linguistic collectability betweenthe SL and the TL.

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That is to say, lexemes differ in their collocability from

one language to another and what collocates in onelanguage does not necessarily collocate in another.Furthermore, certain patterns of collocations reflectpreference of the specific language.

Baker (1992) gives the example of the verb "drink"whereby, in English it collocates naturally with liquidslike "juice and milk", but does not collocate with"soup". Yet, what collocates with "soup" in Arabic is the

verb "drink". It is then "yashrabual-as?a" " ", but not" " "ya?kulual- as?a"

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Collocation plays a vital role in language. A collocation

is the combination of two or more words that alwaysoccur together consistently in different contexts inlanguages.

(i) This is a certain noun with a certain adjectivee.g. blindconfidence.

(ii) A verb with a noun e.g. draw a sword

(iii)A noun with a noun brain drain

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Types of collocations:

The translation of collocations can be discussed

through the discussion of their commonest types ofEnglish.

Adjective+noun collocation

hard Labour, Warm reception, Good Day

Verb + noun collocation

pass a law , win confidence, pay attention

Noun + noun cllocation

Form and Content, Food and Drink, Heart and

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Noun + Noun (the of-genitive) Collocations

Association of ideas, Loss of Memory etc. Noun + and + Noun (addition) Collocations

Food and Drink, Means and Ends etc.

Adjective +adjective Collocation healthy and well, right and proper etc.

Adverb +adverb Collocation

wholly and heartedly, secretly and publicly

Noun+verb Collocation

Bees buzz, Cats mew etc.

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