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Modern phraseology of the English language: the world of fantasies, dreams and hallucination

Belozerova Ekaterina Yurievna

ORCID: 0000-0001-5430-274X

PhD in Philology

Associate Professor, Department of foreign languages and intercultural communication, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

125167, Russia, Moscow, 49/2 Leningradsky Ave., office 319

ebelozerova@hotmail.com
Other publications by this author
 

 
Ginzburg Ol'ga Vladimirovna

ORCID: 0000-0001-7737-0032

PhD in Philology

Associate Professor, Department of foreign languages and intercultural communication, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

49/2 Leningradsky Ave., Moscow, 125167, Russia​

ovginzburg@fa.ru

DOI:

10.25136/2409-8698.2024.2.69859

EDN:

IEZWII

Received:

10-02-2024


Published:

17-02-2024


Abstract: The article examines phraseological units of modern English from the perspective of expressing the meaning of dreaming, fantasizing and making things up. Examples of the use of phraseological units from modern English dictionaries served as empirical material. The relevance of the study is due to the emergence of a secondary nominative meaning for the word hallucinate for the purpose of further analysis of phraseological units and their possible similarity in meaning. The object of study in the article is phraseological units used in the examples presented in dictionaries to correlate the original meaning of the verb hallucinate with the presented phraseological units. The subject of the study is the communicative and pragmatic functions of the received phraseological units to describe dreams, fantasies and inventions in a state of conscious and unconscious. The purpose of the work is to study and analyze the received phraseological units. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the quality of the material (modern phraseology and vocabulary of the English language), as well as the analysis of the relationship between the meaning of the word hallucinate and the presented phraseological units. The main research method is an inductive approach to the analysis of empirical material, in which conclusions are based on the analysis of specific phraseological units. To identify derivational transformations in the structural-semantic organization of phraseological units, the work uses structural-semantic analysis. The result of the analysis reveals a number of phraseological units, the meaning of which does not correspond to the original meaning of the word hallucinate. However, one phraseological unit has been identified which can be considered as a synonym for the word hallucinate. This study contributes to the development of the study of phraseology of English, its enrichment, as well as its understanding in a broad approach.


Keywords:

phraseology, pragmatic function, communicative task, modern phraseological units, derivation, author’s formations, idioms, contemporary phraseology, English phraseology, hallucination

This article is automatically translated.

Introduction

The word hallucinate (= hallucination) became the word of 2023 according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The verb hallucinate (=to hallucinate, to see hallucinations), often used in the field of psychology, received additional meaning in 2023 as a result of the popularization and increasing public interest in the topic of artificial intelligence. If we turn to the original meaning of the word hallucinate, the Cambridge Dictionary gives the following definition: to seem to see, hear, feel, or smell something that does not exist, usually because of a health condition or because you have taken a drug [1] (= hallucinate, see things that do not exist from-due to illness or as a result of the use of unauthorized substances). Currently, the dictionary also gives a second definition, which was added by Cambridge lexicographers: when an artificial intelligence (= a computer system that has some of the qualities that the human brain has, such as the ability to produce language in a way that seems human) hallucinates, it produces false information [1] (= artificial intelligence produces incorrect information).

Thus, the verb hallucinate (= to see hallucinations) becomes ambiguous, which undoubtedly serves to enrich the vocabulary of the English language as a whole.

The latest version of the chatbot is greatly improved but it will still hallucinate facts [1]. (= the latest version of the chatbot has been significantly improved, but it will still make up facts). In this example, the error generated by the program is considered a "fiction".

AI chatbots can 'hallucinate' and make things upwhy it happens and how to spot it [2] (= chatbots with artificial intelligence can "hallucinate" and invent different things - why it happens and how to detect it). The title of the article directly includes the verb hallucinate (= to hallucinate), while additionally using the expression make things up (= to invent things) to achieve understanding among readers. Thus, the meaning of the verb hallucinate is defined as "to invent".

However, the phrase make things up from the above example is a derivative of the phraseology make up [3].

The phraseology make up means "to create and invent something using your imagination, to invent" (= to create something based on one's imagination. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "make" and "up").

A:"How did you come up with that character? Is he based on someone you know?"B: "No, I just made him up. (= A:"How did you come up with this character? Is it based on someone you know?" B: "No, I just made it up). The phraseology make up [4] (= to invent) is used to denote the result as a result of a creative approach to solving the issue.

The chef is known for making up dishes using unusual flavor profiles (= The chef is known for preparing dishes with unusual taste characteristics) [4]. The phraseology make up is used to denote the talent and degree of qualification of a cook in his field of activity.

The phraseology make something up as you go along has the following meaning: "to invent, to come up with something spontaneously" (= to invent a story or a tune without thinking before about how it will end) [1].

None of us really knew how to play the game, so we just made it up as we went along [5] (= None of us really knew how to play this game, so we just came up with it along the way). The phraseology make something up as you go along expresses the manifestation of some ingenuity during the game, the invention of their own rules of the game.

You can't just make up data as you go, you have to provide real evidence to support your hypothesis! [5] (= You can't just come up with data as you go along, you have to provide real evidence to support your hypothesis!) The phraseology make something up as you go along in this example shows an attempt to rig the result, pursuing their own interests. If we consider falsification of results as an attempt to provide incorrect and inaccurate information (incorrect data), then this phraseology in the example under consideration can be correlated with the newly acquired meaning of the verb hallucinate in the context of artificial intelligence (= artificial intelligence provides incorrect information) [1].

Thus, the newly acquired (secondary) meaning of the verb hallucinate in 2023 (= artificial intelligence gives out incorrect information) [1] partially coincides with the meanings of the phraseological units make up and make something up as you go along. The only difference is in the person-performer: human and artificial intelligence. The original meaning of the verb hallucinate is hallucinations that appear as a result of illness or the use of substances that cause visions [1].

The Cambridge Dictionary gives the following series of phraseological units that can partially correlate in meaning with the original meaning of the verb hallucinate, since they reflect to one degree or another the state of unconsciousness.

The phraseology in a dream (= as in a dream) conveys the meaning of unconsciousness of what is happening around, because other thoughts fill the mind (= not conscious of what is happening around you because other thoughts are filling your mind) [1].

I didn't hear what you were saying - I was in a dream [1] (=I didn't hear what you said. I was dreaming). So, the phraseology in a dream means "in dreams, fantasies, outside reality", but without narcotic effects.

The phraseology be miles away also speaks about the unconscious, even unconscious state of the speaker, in which it is difficult to understand and evaluate what is happening around you (= to not be conscious of what is happening around you because you are thinking about something else) [1].

You could tell by the expression on her face that she was miles away, thinking about home [1]  (= You could tell by the look on her face that she was far away from here and thinking about home). The phraseology be miles away conveys detachment from reality as a result of immersion in one's thoughts, dreams and fantasies.

Let's consider three phraseological units that are marked informal in the dictionary (= colloquial, informal vocabulary):

The phraseology be hearing/imagining/seeing things in Russian means to think that something is happening, although it is not happening (informal = to think you are experiencing something that is not really happening) [1].

 I'm sure I saw my glasses on this table, but they're not here now. I must have been seeing things [1] (= I'm sure I saw my glasses on this table, but they're not here right now. I must be having glitches). The phraseology of be seeing things translates as "seeing hallucinations".

The phraseology out of it means a state of misunderstanding about the location as a result of alcohol or drug use. Phraseology refers to informal vocabulary and is used in oral speech (informal = not conscious of where you are or what condition you are in as a result of taking alcohol or drugs) [1].

She was lying on the sofa, totally out of it [1] (= She was lying on the sofa, completely out of her mind). The phraseology out of it denotes a state under alcoholic or narcotic influence, isolation from the real world.

And the last phraseology, which refers to informal vocabulary according to the Cambridge Dictionary, get the wrong end of the stick means to misunderstand or interpret the situation [1]. This phraseology can be correlated with fiction or fantasy, but with a negative connotation (= to not understand a situation correctly) [1].

Her friend saw us arrive at the party together and got the wrong end of the stick [1] (= Her friend saw us coming to the party together and misunderstood us).

The following two phraseological units determine the course of events that was not planned and can be considered an error.

The phraseology castles in the air can be translated literally into Russian as "castles in the air", and is used to characterize or predict that what is planned will not happen or will not happen with high probability (= plans that have very little chance of happening) [1]. He keeps talking about how he'll move to Los Angeles to be a famous actor, but it's just castles in the air if you ask me [5] (= He keeps talking about moving to Los Angeles to become a famous actor, but if you ask me, it's just castles in the air). The phraseology of castles in the air conveys doubts about the possibility of realizing plans and desires.   The phraseology pie in the sky [1] (= something that you hope will happen but is very unlikely to happen) is similar in meaning to the phraseology castles in the air, these phraseological units are synonymous. The unreality and unreality of fulfilling a wish or plan is expressed in the similarity of the component: in the air in the sky. In Russian, the meanings of phraseological units can be translated as "soaring in the clouds, dreaming, fantasizing." Their plans to set up their own business are just pie in the sky [1] (= Their plans to set up their own business are just fantasies). Fantasies in this case can take the form of visualization or representation of what does not exist in reality, while remaining conscious and not losing touch with reality. And the last phraseology, which in meaning correlates with fantasy, a dream that has nothing to do with reality and thus be something impracticable: flight of fancy literally "flight of fantasy" [1] (= an idea that shows a lot of imagination but is not practical).   He was talking about cycling across the US or was that just another flight of fancy? [1] (= Was he talking about cycling across the USA, or was it just another flight of fancy?). This phraseology means "a flight of fancy or a difficult dream to achieve."  

Conclusion

In this article, phraseological units have been considered, the meanings of which denote hope, fantasy, fiction, impracticable, unreal. However, only one of the considered phraseological units directly correlates with the original meaning of the word hallucinate - out of it. This phraseology is used in colloquial speech and can be used to express a state of detachment from life as a result of alcohol and narcotic substances. The rest of the phraseological units considered (make up, make something up as you go along, in a dream, be miles away, be hearing/imagining/seeing things, get the wrong end of the stick, castles in the air, pie in the sky, flight of fancy) reflect the process of diving into the fantasy world, dreams and daydreams, however, without loss of consciousness and separation from reality.

References
1. Cambridge Dictionary [elektronnyj resurs]. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
2. CNBC [elektronnyj resurs]. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/22/why-ai-chatbots-hallucinate.html
3. The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. (2013). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
4MGHD-McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. (2002). McGraw-Hill Education.
5. FDI – Farlex Dictionary of idioms, Farlex Inc. (2017).

Peer Review

Peer reviewers' evaluations remain confidential and are not disclosed to the public. Only external reviews, authorized for publication by the article's author(s), are made public. Typically, these final reviews are conducted after the manuscript's revision. Adhering to our double-blind review policy, the reviewer's identity is kept confidential.
The list of publisher reviewers can be found here.

The subject area of the reviewed article concerns the modern phraseology of the English language. A part of the research is objectified by the nomination – the world of fantasies, dreams and daydreams. Thus, the author of the work approaches a point assessment of linguistic connotations, which are deliberately connected with the nomination. The work is distinguished by its practical orientation, because a constructive analysis of the issue is possible only in the mode of systematization of accumulated experience, generalization of partially existing ones. The novelty of this article lies in an unbiased assessment of the manifestation of fantasy in stable turns of the English language, bordering on dreams and dreams. The motivation for the chosen direction is commented at the very beginning of the work: "the word hallucinate (= hallucination) became the word of 2023 according to the Cambridge Dictionary. The verb hallucinate (=to hallucinate, to see hallucinations), often used in the field of psychology, received additional meaning in 2023 as a result of the popularization and increasing public interest in the topic of artificial intelligence. If we turn to the original meaning of the word hallucinate, the Cambridge Dictionary gives the following definition: to seem to see, hear, feel, or smell something that does not exist, usually because of a health condition or because you have taken a drug...", "thus, the verb hallucinate (= to see hallucinations) it becomes ambiguous, which undoubtedly serves to enrich the vocabulary of the English language as a whole." The text is fully illustrated, the inserts and comments are quite objective. For example, "Phraseology in a dream (= as in a dream) conveys the meaning of unconsciousness of what is happening around you, because other thoughts fill the mind (= not conscious of what is happening around you because other thoughts are filling your mind)", or "Phraseology out of it means a state of misunderstanding about the location in the result of alcohol or drug use. Phraseology refers to informal vocabulary and is used in oral speech (informal = not conscious of where you are or what condition you are in as a result of taking alcohol or drugs)", etc. Due analytical comment is given periodically, there are no actual violations: "And the last phraseology, which refers to informal vocabulary according to the Cambridge dictionary Dictionary get the wrong end of the stick means to misunderstand or interpret the situation. This phraseology can be correlated with fiction or fantasy, but with a negative connotation (= to not understand a situation correctly)." The work is distinguished by the organics of the disclosure of the issue, the author's ability to bring the essence of the hypothesis to the proper argument / indicator. I believe that the work can become a kind of impulse to continue deciphering phraseological units in the matrix of the English language, in the possible objectification of connotations associated with stable turns. The author concludes: "in this article, phraseological units have been considered, the meanings of which denote hope, fantasy, fiction, impracticable, unreal. However, only one of the considered phraseological units directly correlates with the original meaning of the word hallucinate - out of it. This phraseology is used in colloquial speech and can be used to express a state of detachment from life as a result of alcohol and narcotic substances. The rest of the phraseological units considered (make up, make something up as you go along, in a dream, be miles away, be hearing/imagining/seeing things, get the wrong end of the stick, castles in the air, pie in the sky, flight of fancy) reflect the process of diving into the fantasy world, dreams and daydreams, however, without loss of consciousness and separation from reality." The methodology of the work correlates in one way or another with modern areas of analysis, the controversial components have not been identified. The list of sources, in my opinion, could be expanded, but this number is quite enough to disclose the issue. The goal of the work has been achieved in general terms, the tasks that were set have been solved. It is appropriate to use the material in the English language learning mode. I recommend the article "Modern phraseology of the English language: the world of fantasies, dreams and daydreams" for publication in the scientific journal "Litera".