Study of stable expressions by comparing phraseological units of the Russian and English languages

Shagbanova Khabiba Sadyrovna Doctor of Philology Professor, Department of Philosophy, Foreign Languages and Humanities, Tyumen Institute for Advanced Studies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 625049, Russia, Tyumen region, Tyumen, Amurskaya str., 75 khabiba_shagbanova@list.ru Other publications by this author

The interlanguage study of stable expressions and idioms is one of the most important tasks facing modern linguistics ^{[13, p. 5]}. Various languages of the world have their own phraseological turns, which may be incomprehensible to speakers of other languages. In this article it is important to consider the similarities and differences between Russian and English phraseological units, and their role in the context of cultural and linguistic interaction.

Phraseological units are quite an important component of the language. In interpersonal communication, we can often observe the use of a variety of phraseological units, stable expressions that bring elements of expressiveness and expressiveness into speech ^{[12, p. 189]}.  

 Phraseology, as well as idiomatics, are the historical key not only to understanding the uniqueness of the thinking of each nation, the worldview of a person, but also to the algorithm of interpenetration of different cultures. As rightly noted by experts, phraseological units reflect all the historical and cultural heritage of society, traditions that existed earlier or still exist today, fixed in the language as the main medium of information ^{[12, p. 189]}.

Undoubtedly, the difference in languages indicates differences in national characters ^{[11, p. 59]}. At the same time, both languages – English and Russian, complement each other, for example, the expression "common European House" (All-European House) got into other languages of the world from Russia, this political term has been repeatedly mentioned by Russian politicians. And there are many such examples.

Phraseological turns in the languages of the world are formed as a result of a number of social, cultural and other factors, representing certain cultural codes that, sometimes, can be understood only by native speakers of a given language. Phraseological turns can also be designated as stable phrases that have some specific semantic and grammatical properties. Unlike common expressions, idioms have a more stable form in structure and meaning. Phraseological phrases are an important part of any language, their use helps to enrich the language, make the utterance more vivid and expressive ^{[9, p. 119]}.

The study of phraseological units in different languages of the world is based most often on comparative analysis. It should be noted that most researchers of this subject use various methods and approaches that allow to fix differences and similarities in the use of phraseological turns in Russian and English.

Stable expressions are an important element of language and play a significant role in its cultural and social structure. Stable expressions are groups of words that cannot be decomposed into separate parts and retain their meaning only in context, these expressions can be different in structure, sound and meaning in different languages. Considering the similarities and differences of stable expressions in English and Russian, we study the very structure and features of interlanguage communication.

It is necessary to mention one of the most common methods of interlanguage study of phraseological units – this is an associative experiment. It consists in the fact that native speakers of one language are offered phraseological turns of another language, and it is analyzed exactly what associations they cause. For example, the analysis can show that the phraseology "to make a long story short" in English causes native Russian speakers to associate with the phraseological turnover "for brevity". This proves that native speakers of one language can understand phraseological turns of another language through associations with similar phraseological turns in their own language ^{[8, p. 123]}.

We see that the Russian and English languages have many phraseological turns, which can be ambiguous in interpretation. For example, the phraseology "shake your head" in Russian has the semantics of "denial, refusal", while the phraseology "to nod your head" in English has the completely opposite semantics – "consent, approval".

Also, methods of contrastive analysis are used in interlanguage studies. It allows you to identify discrepancies in the use of phraseological units in different languages. For example, the phraseological turnover "lies like a gray gelding" in Russian has the semantics of "telling tall tales", while the similar phraseological turnover "to spin yarns" in English has a broader meaning of "telling tales, passing rumors".

In Russian, phraseological units associated with symbols are used more often than others: "white as snow", "black as coal", "red as cancer", "blue as the sky", "green as the forest". Also in the Russian language there are many phraseological turns associated with the action: "not to leave a stone unturned", "rest on our laurels", etc.

As mentioned earlier, the study of phrasemes or phraseological units in different languages contributes to a better understanding of the features and nuances of each language, its culture and history. The use of phrases not only enrich the speaker's language, but also help to make the statement more colorful and lively. Both Russian and English phraseological units have their own stylistic and grammatical features, which is determined by the socio-cultural and historical factors that formed them.

Both languages have a large number of stable expressions that are identical or almost identical in their sound and meaning. For example, the stable expression "to be on cloud nine" in English corresponds to the stable expression "to be on cloud nine" in Russian. Another example is "to put the cart before the horse" (to put the cart in front of the horse, to hurry) in English corresponds to "run ahead of the locomotive, to hurry" in Russian.

However, in addition to the similarities, there are fundamental differences in stable expressions between English and Russian, they are explained by a number of factors, including differences in cultural and social aspects of languages.

Also, cross-cultural differences have a great influence on the formation and use of phraseological units. For example, the phrase "to kick the bucket" (literally "kick the bucket, substitute a foot") in English implies death, whereas the stable expression "substitute a foot" in Russian describes an intentional or accidental miscalculation ^{[7, p. 14]}.

For example, the phraseology "to take /pull yourself together" in Russian is identical to "take (something) into one's own hands" in English. Both expressions refer to situations when someone assumes responsibility for solving a problem or begins to act independently ^{[5, p. 65]}.

Another example is the phraseology "not this!" in Russian and the phrase "anything but that!" in English. Both expressions are used when someone expresses their unwillingness to do something or a desire to avoid something.

You can also compare the phraseological units "beat the bumpers" in Russian and "beat around the bush" in the English version. Both expressions mean idleness, delaying the moment of making a decision.

However, it should be noted that not all stable expressions can be accurately translated into another language, as they sometimes carry a unique meaning associated with the culture and history of the people. For example, the expression "as in spirit" in Russian, which means "frankly, sincerely, without hiding anything" or "ride the wave" in English, which means "to be successful", have no direct analogue in another language, and their meaning may be obscure to a foreigner. The well-established expression "red tape" has a one-word equivalent in Russian to bureaucracy, but in English it can most often be seen in the form of a phrase (red tape) ^{[6, p. 16]}.

Thus, between the Russian and English languages, you can find many similar phraseological units that reflect common cultural values and understanding of the world, but there are also unique expressions that do not have an exact analogue in other languages.

Phraseological units often act as a tool for transmitting experiences and thoughts, represent a concentration of cultural information and allow you to say a lot, "saving" linguistic means, penetrating into the depths of national characteristics.

The study of stable expressions gives an idea of their both diverse and purely national properties in the structure and semantics, which give the phraseology of the language originality and uniqueness. Phraseological units contribute to the relevance of the content, vivid image, nationality and stylistic diversity.

One of the main differences between English and Russian phraseological units is the frequency of their use. In English, stable turns of speech are quite often used in everyday communications, public speeches and correspondence, whereas in Russian such turns of speech are quite rare. Conversely, in the Russian language, such stable expressions are more often seen in literature, poetry and other forms of artistic writing.

Another distinctive feature of English and Russian phraseological units is the structure of expressions. In English, phraseological units are usually short, concise and to the point. For example, "be on the same page", "bite the bullet", and "break a leg" are all short expressions that convey a certain meaning. On the contrary, Russian stable expressions are often longer and have a more complex structure. For example, "to pass by the ears" (to go past one's ears).

In addition, the grammatical structure of English stable expressions is usually more fixed than that of Russian. Commonly used stable phrases in English are a combination of words whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual components. For example, "spill the beans" (to blab), on the contrary, Russian stable expressions often preserve the grammatical structure of the language. For example, "sick to hell" (sick of to the devil).

Moreover, the origin of stable expressions is another difference between English and Russian. In English, stable expressions often have historical or cultural roots. For example, "butterfly in the stomach" comes from feeling nervous before an important event. On the contrary, the origin of Russian phrasemes is more related to the peculiarities of the language itself. For example, "to get out of the position" (to get out of the position) is a stable expression describing a situation when someone has found a way out of a difficult situation. Also in the Russian language there are phraseological units based on images and myths, for example, "pouring like a bucket" and "Sisyphean labor" ^{[4, p. 56]}.

Phraseological units of the English language are characterized by simplicity and the presence of many phraseological units that are used in everyday speech. For example, "to kill two birds with one stone" is to kill two birds with one stone, or "a piece of cake" is a very simple task. English phraseological units can be based on the figurative meaning of words, for example, "to pull someone's leg" — to fool or joke, to make fun of someone, or "to be blue in the face" - to turn purple in exhaustion ^{[2, pp. 180-182]}.

We can observe how when comparing phraseological units of Russian and English, many similarities and differences are demonstrated. Some phraseological units have a more precise correspondence in another language than their translation into the original language. For example, "to put your foot in your mouth" is better translated into Russian as "throw a word to the wind" or "say too much". Also, many phraseological units can be lexically translated, but will not have the same effect or meaning. So, the Russian phraseology "what you sow, you reap" better corresponds to the English "What goes around comes around". However, in other cases, similar phraseological units in different languages can be easily understood: for example, "blue stocking" in Russian is equivalent to the English "blue stocking" ^{[1, p. 25]}. This is the so-called "tracing paper", a component-by-component translation of foreign language turns of speech. However, there are idioms in English that, when translated verbatim, will not be understandable to a foreigner. Additional explanations are required to understand them.

If we analyze the popular stable expression "It's not my cup of tea", then the literal translation will be: "This is not my cup of tea."  But in this case, this phraseological unit is interpreted differently – "this (or he or she) it's not to my taste, it's not to my taste."

The analysis of phraseological units in foreign language classes helps students to broaden their horizons and succeed in studying the material. Phraseological units can also help students memorize lexical material, and can also be used to practice pronunciation skills, better understanding of grammar and reading. This will allow students to speak more naturally and confidently, get rid of the clamps and overcome the language barrier ^{[1, p. 23]}.

It is also important to mention the rhythmic qualities inherent in almost all stable expressions; rhythm is combined with repetition in the following well–known phrases: "more and more", "you drive more quietly - you will go further". Rhyme is also characteristic of stable expressions: "Fair and Square" (honest); "by hook or by crook". "Out and about" (able to get out) is used in relation to a recovering person. It should be noted that phraseological units do not so much describe the surrounding world as interpret it, expressing the subjective and, as a rule, emotional attitude of a native speaker to reality. Comparative research is the most reliable way to identify the national characteristics of concepts, which allows you to identify the presence and absence, coincidence or discrepancy of both the concepts themselves and the linguistic units that serve to designate them.

Semantic stylistic features characteristic of stable expressions are comparison, antithesis, metaphor and synonymy. For example: "like two drops of water", "old as mountains and older than hills" (similarity); "from beginning to end", "more or less", "sooner or later" (contrast); "arms race", "in short" (metaphor).

Idioms of the English language are an important part of its culture and the habits of peoples. They are used not only in ordinary colloquial speech, but also in literature, music and cinema. Most of them have a connection with real phenomena, people and cultural events, and often express a national flavor and mentality ^{[3, p. 55]}.

Idioms can be used in front of a large target audience, they can hurt the listener, make him laugh or remain perplexed. They can also cause misunderstandings between people, due to the fact that they may have different meanings for different cultures. For example, two stable expressions "rocket science" (nuclear physics) and "brain surgery" (a difficult task) are combined into a playful pun "rocket surgery" (puzzle).

Idioms can also help immigrants and nonresident students to socialize, allowing them to quickly understand many aspects of cultural life and social life, this is an important civilizational element reflecting certain historical and social aspects, representing a powerful tool for socio-cultural exchange ^{[3, p. 45]}.

The similarity in the use of stable expressions in Russian and English lies in the common topics that they cover. In both languages there are a large number of stable expressions related to food, time, weather, etc. Some stable expressions may be the same. For example, "burn bridges" in Russian and "burn bridges" in English mean the same thing — to break off relations.

However, there are also more striking differences in the use of stable expressions in both languages. In Russian, figurative speech is often used in stable expressions, such as "wearing pink glasses" or "taking the bull by the horns." In English, stable expressions are often based on specific verbs or phrases, such as "to be up in arms" (to be angry) or "to be on the same page" (to agree with something, to think the same about something).

In addition, in Russian, stable expressions based on folk wisdom and cultural customs are often used, while in English, stable expressions are often associated with sayings and quotations from literature. For example, in the Russian language, the stable expression "to hang noodles on your ears" is used, which means imposing false information, and in English the stable expression "to bury one's head in the sand" is used, which means "to turn a blind eye to facts" ^{[10, p. 67]}.

Also, unusual analogies are often used in English in stable expressions, for example, "to have a bee in one's bonnet" — means that someone can be passionate, obsessed with something, and in Russian there are much fewer such examples. Common themes and figurative speech elements give similarities to the use of stable expressions, while various constructions and related ideas and values generate uniqueness. Understanding these differences and similarities helps to better understand the language and its culture as a whole.

            The study of a linguistic analogue between two languages can contribute to the expansion of knowledge and applications of the similarity of these language models in teaching and learning foreign languages, both when working with English-speaking people studying Russian as a second foreign language, and vice versa. In addition, the similarity of language models may be important in overcoming some of the problems associated with modern methodologies of teaching and learning foreign languages ^{[2, p. 166]}.

            Exploring phraseological units, you can dive deep into the consciousness of people, feel the historical conditions in which they lived and conduct a comparative analysis of the mentality of different nationalities. Interlanguage study of phraseological units is a difficult scientific task that requires improvement of methods and approaches. The interest in this area of research indicates the importance of cultural and linguistic interaction. The analysis of phraseological turns in the linguistic context of different countries of the world makes it possible to better understand the differences and similarities between cultures and peoples and serve as an important communicative tool for building relations between states.