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Фразеологизмы шекспира дошедшие до наших дней

 

Животова Ольга,

Красноярский педагогический колледж №1 им. М. Горького

 

I have read some books in English and found there many complex phrases, which are called idioms. I have tried to find out the roots of these idioms and came to conclusion that lots of them are from Shakespeare’s works. Starting with simple translation of idioms I understood that there is whole part of language, where phraseological units are studied. So, let me tell you some words about this part of language.

Phraseology is a science about idioms or phraseological units, which have their own complicated semantic model. It is necessary to know that each idiom has its own meaning and you can divide it into separate words only from etymological point of view.

The term “phraseology” was set by Swiss scientists Sh. Bally in 1905, who interpreted it as “a part of stylistics studied collocations”.

Ways of translation English idioms.

The most optimal translation is to try finding the same idiom in your mother-tongue language. At the same time you should remember, that there are only few of such idioms that is why it is not suitable sometimes to translate in this way. 

If you cannot find any analogical idioms you can try to interpret them in some ways, for example, try to change stylistic characteristics or some semantic details. Remember that you should not change the whole meaning of the idiom.

It is also possible to translate idioms word by a word, though this way is not very effective. An interesting fact is that sometimes translators investigate new idioms not only in the language. This way is often used with idioms, which have biblical, antique and mythological roots.

When you translate a historical idiom you can lead two parallels between definition and exact meaning (translation) and when both acts connected it is called double translation.

If you cannot find any similar ways of translation, try to divide the whole idiom into separate words and then according to the meaning, connotations of this words or phrases translate them.

 The last point is about dictionaries which you use for translation. They should be bilingual complete phraseological dictionaries. 

Idioms and phrases from Shakespeare’s works.

English language enriched with idioms, which are taken from the Bible, and on the second position after it are Shakespeare’s poems. This kind of idioms sometime is called “shakespearisms” and all of them have their set form, because the author had used them only once. One of the most famous phraseological units had been taken from tragedy “Othello”:

The green-eyed monster – “чудовище с зелеными глазами”, ревность;

In modern English some “shakespearisms” we changed a little bit. Here is an example of such an idiom:

Buy golden opinions – заслужить благоприятное, лестное мнение о себе, вызвать восхищение или уважение;

Here we can use a verb to win instead the verb to buy, both variants are possible.

It is very important to mention that these idioms came into English language after giving them another metaphorical sense. One more idiom:

Catch (take) somebody red-handed – застать кого-либо на месте преступления, захватить с поличным;

This idiom you also can meet in the novel written by W. Scott “Ivengo”

Modern “shakespearisms” can be used with come changes, for example:

To wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve for days to peck at (“Othello”) – выставлять напоказ свои чувства; (душа нараспашку);

This idiom is connected with medieval knights’ tradition to wear on the sleeve their ladys’ colours. In modern English this idiom is often used in short form:

To wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve

You can also change the preposition upon to on if you wish.

One more Shakespeare’s idiom is from “King Henry IV”:

The better part of valour is discretion – одно из украшений храбрости – скромность

Nowadays this idiom is a part of English but with another word order:

Discretion is the better part of valour

Lots of “shakespearisms” while being a part of language can take some lexical variants of it:

Applaud (cheer) to the echo – шумно, восторженно аплодировать

(applaud to the echo – original from “Macbeth”)

Cram (ram, thrust) something down somebody’s throat – навязывать кому либо своё мнение, свои взгляды

(thrust something down somebody’s throat – original from “Titus Andronicus”)

Here is one more example of changing idioms in English:

At one fell swoop (“Macbeth”) – одним ударом, одним махом

Now it is used in a short form as: at one swoop.

In modern English speech we often use some “shakespearisms” which contain archaisms, it means, that this archaisms can be used only in these idioms. For instance:

From whose bourne no traveller returns – там, откуда еще никто не возвращался, то есть в царстве смерти

The word bourne is an archaism and has meaning “boundary”.

In modern English these idioms are used with some changes, but it is possible in case that language has been changed throughout history with all idioms in it. I have read not many books in English, but I can say for sure that “shakespearisms” are popular enough among modern writers.

I have found several idioms in “Dracula” written by Bram Stoker:

From whose bourne no traveller returns

Hardly could he vanquish the feeling of deep fear to follow the path from whose bourne no traveller returns. [4]

Buy golden opinions

Whom did I owe? Pray, what’s the reason of buying golden opinions of those humans’ creatures eating the wounded owes called humans? [4]

To wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve

Do I seem to be the finished fool to wear my heard upon my sleeve and reveal all the secrets after being grilled for a couple of hours? So childish! [4]

Catch (take) somebody red-handed

Hurry up! Unless we reach the crypt before sun rise we don’t manage to catch her red-handed with the child alive .[4]

Literature for young people contains some idioms as well; actually they are not as colourful as Stoker’s but nevertheless.

Cram something down somebody’s throat

I am completely fed up with your influence unbounded… Stop cramming your opinion down my throat. [5]

Cheer to the echo

By the time the play was likely to finish the theatre goers went cheering to the echo. [6]

At one swoop

Though completely exhausted he managed to cope with the task at one swoop. [7]

Discretion is the better part of valour

The old man told me: “Remember…Discretion…is the better part of… of… valour…” and drew his last breath. [8]

A green-eyed monster

Don’t be a child! You are a green-eyed monster at least it is stupid. [10]

 

As far as I’m concerned, it was a very interesting and at the same time educational work. I have looked through some books of different authors and now can say, that lots of “shakespearisms” are still used in modern English, not only in speech but in books, magazines etc. Sometimes people think that idioms are useless, but you can easily express any idea through the idioms. So, let’s start using them!

 

Библиографический список:

www.cultinfo.ru

www.examen.ru

www.litkafe.ru

Bram Stoker “Dracula”

Paul Bryers “The Used”

Melvin Johnson “Incident in the ancient time”

Christian Fisher “Summer story”

Tony Jemison “Toys”

Tomas Smith “Darkness”