The reflection of american values in phraseological units

Вельзер Ольга,

ЛПИ филиал СФУ

Values bring affective force to beliefs. Values are learned and may be normative in nature. They change through time and are seldom shared in specifics by members of different generations, although certain themes will prevail. For example, the positive attributions placed upon competitiveness, individualism, action, and other general principles that pervade the belief and value orientation of members of the North American culture of the United States remain. They include the constitutionally guaranteed and socially valued unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in individualistic, action-oriented, and competitive ways. These values have endured their expression varies from generation to generation. A cultural value system represents what is expected or hoped for, required or forbidden. It is not a report of actual conduct but is the inductively based logically ordered set of criteria of evaluations by which conduct is judged and sanctions applied [1].

The aim of our research is to find out how American values reflect in phraseological units. We have developed a list of the most commonly held American values and illustrated them with appropriating phraseological units.

At the center of all that Americans value is individualism. Americans view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions. They resist being thought of as representatives of any homogeneous group. When they do join groups, they believe they are special. Just a little different from other members of the same group. Individualism leads to privacy, which Americans see as desirable: be what you appear to be – будь тем, кто ты есть; (as) independent as a hog –самоуверенный нахал;  to put on the dog – держаться высокомерно, задирать нос; to cut a swatch – бахвалиться; Holy Joe – ханжа; a wise guy – ирон. зазнайка; to be (get, grow) too big for one`s britches, shoes, trousers, pants – разг. зазнаваться, важничать; to put in one`s cents – лезть со своим мнением;  bighead – зазнайство; to toot one`s own horn – хвастаться; a publicity bound – жарг. любитель саморекламы, хвастун [2].

The idealization of the self-reliant individual translated itself in the industrial age into the celebration of the small businessman who became a financial success on his own: to stand the gaff – не пасовать перед трудностями; to be on the kill – не остановится ни перед чем; to shoot Niagara – пускаться в рискованное предприятие; to keep in line – владеть собой; to cut one’s eyeteeth on smth – начать свою карьеру; to be on it – быть готовым вступить в дело; to fish or cut bait – разг. решиться на что-либо; to lock horns – вступить в борьбу; to stand (up) to one`s lick log – разг. проявить мужество; to come (stand) up to the rack – отвечать за последствия, нести ответственность за свои поступки; to bring on your bears – разг. делайте со мной, что хотите, я вас не боюсь; to cut loose – вести себя непринужденно; to get to (reach) first base – разг. сделать какой-либо шаг в деле; blow high, blow low – при любых обстоятельствах, что бы ни случилось; full chisel – жарг. во весь опор; to be on it – быть готовым вступить в дело; to take the bull by the horns – действовать решительно [2].

On the other hand individualism leads to the contemptuous to person who hadn’t got what he wanted or he is devoid of individualism: to deal smb a poor deck – быть неудачником; a two-time looser – дважды неудачник; a bag of wind – трепло, пустозвон; to deal smb a poor deck – быть неудачником; a bag of wind – трепло, пустозвон; foul ball – жарг. неудачник, недотёпа; for the birds with – разг. никому ненужный; to take smb’s dust – отставать от кого-либо, дать себя опередить [2].

American patriotism mean the identification with belief  in divining  role of American nation: God`s (own) country – ирон. шутл. Страна господа Бога; God is making the American (Izrael Zangwill); the Father of the Country – Джордж Вашингтон, первый президент США; the Old Glory, red, white and blue, государственный гимн – the Star-Spangled Banner (государственный флаг и гимн) [3].

Americans believe that competition brings out the best in any individual and in any system. This value is reflected in the American economic system of free enterprise, and it is applied in the U.S. in all areas - medicine, the arts, education, sports: batting average – успехи, личные достижения; to get the breaks – добиться успеха; to cook with electricity – преуспеть; to beat all nature – разг. превзойти всех, не иметь себе равных.

Historically Americans regarded their country as a land of limitless wealth. A country where everyone could obtain what he wanted was indeed alluring. The following p.s. reflect the great American dream in which material wealth and possessions are only of the top priorities: a land-office business – прибыльное дело; to be in the chips - быть при деньгах;  iron man – жарг. серебряный доллар; green power – власть денег.

"Don't just stand there," says a typical bit of American advice "do something!" This expression, though normally used in a crisis situation, in a sense describes most Americans' waking life, where action - any action - is seen as superior to inaction. Americans routinely schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time and aimed at "recreating" so that they can work harder once their "recreation" is over. Such a "no-nonsense" attitude toward life has created a class of people known as "workaholics" - people addicted to, and often wholly identified with, their job or profession. Foreigners generally consider Americans much more materialistic than Americans are likely to consider themselves. Americans would like to think that their material objects are just the "natural benefits" that result from hard work and serious intent - a reward, they think, which all people could enjoy were they as industrious and hard-working as Americans: Root, hog or die – разг. трудись, как вол или пропадешь; to get up and go – разг. настойчивость, инициативность; to be on all cylinders– разг. быть в форме, работать, не покладая рук; to put in one’s best licks – приложить максимум усилий; to keep the log rolling – поддержать высокий темп работы; bent over backwards – стараться [4].

America, because of its resources and successes, has always had a culture of optimism. Americans believe that they are in control of their own destinies, rather than being victims of fate. Many Americans tend to believe that "the American dream" can be achieved by anyone who is willing to work hard enough. Many Americans believe mat the only obstacle to things getting better is "not trying hard enough." Americans also believe that a personal lack of determination or effort can be "fixed." Other cultures may believe more in fate ("what will be will be"). When something bad happens, some members of these cultures believe it was fated to happen, must be accepted, and cannot be changed. The United States is just a little more than 200 years old, and American culture tends to be an optimistic one. This belief is illus­trated with the following phraseological units: to get (take, have) a new lease on life – начать новую жизнь, воспрянуть; a new lease on life – прилив жизненных сил; everything is sevens and elevens – жарг. всё в порядке; never be content with your lot, try for a lot more – всегда стремись к лучшему; every slip is not a fall – падение не означает поражение; life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed – жизнь – это не проблема, которую надо решить, а дар, которым надо наслаждаться; he who never falls will never grow rich – тот, кто не проигрывал, не станет богатым; in trying times, don’t quit trying – в тяжелые времена не сдавайся; it’s better to be a has-been than a never was – лучше быть бывшим, чем быть неудачником, пустым местом; our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but rising every time we fail – наша величайшая заслуга не в том, что мы постоянно выигрываем, а в том, что всякий раз находим силы продолжать дальше после проигрыша.

To be based on the principles that values, with their supporting cultural postulates  form an interlocking system, reflecting and reflective of cultural history and forces of change. They provide the bases for the assignment of cultural meaning and evaluation. Values are desired outcomes as well as norms for behavior; they are dreams as well as reality, They are embraced by some and not others in a community; they may be the founda­tions for accepted modes of behavior, but are as frequently overridden as ob­served. All these points find the reflection in phraseological units.

Библиографический список:

Кунин А.В. Фразеология современного английского языка. – М.: Международные отношения 2006. – 423с.

Кунин А.В. Англо-русский фразеологический словарь. – М.: Государственное издательство иностранных и национальных словарей, 1955. – 1455с.

America in Close-up. Longman, 2004

Самохина Т.С., Дианова Е.М. Пусть ваш английский станет еще лучше. – М.,2006.