What is the true wealth of the language?Wrote NM Karamzin, it is not a large number of sounds or many words, and the ability to convey subtle moral concepts and feelings.One of the means of expression can be considered add-phraseological units - stable combinations of words, the so-called verbal formulas that clearly, succinctly and accurately determine the attitude, feelings and emotions of the speaker.
value phraseologism "Procrustean bed»
In any language, there are expressions of stable, ready combinations of words that do not just decorate it, and help the speaker to express their attitude to what is happening.In linguistics, they are called phraseology.One of their features is the ambiguity.Along with the direct value they have and figurative, literal reading of the opposite.From this point of view is an interesting value phraseologism "Procrustean bed".Literally - mention of the giant robber from Greek mythology, and his peculiar instruments of torture, figuratively - forcibly fit anything under strict limits.
«Vitamins» speech
phraseology - is a branch of linguistics (the science of language), which deals with phraseology or phraseological units.Why study this linguistic phenomenon to create a specific direction in linguistics?First, the contentious question remains, what sustained phrases can be considered phraseology: proverbs, idioms, sayings and so on. D. Second, in addition to studying the ways of their formation, phraseology is also engaged in the sources of origin of certain figurative expressions.In terms of appearance turns of phrase of the Russian language are divided into native Russian and borrowed.
native Russian and borrowed
sources is primordially Russian culture of ancient Slavs, life, customs, beliefs, folklore, as well as works by Russian authors "in the year" - a long time ago, a long time ago;"Slack" - to sit back;"Without a king in his head" - the person making stupid things.But today will be discussed a little about them, because we are interested in the expression "Procrustean bed" refers to borrowed phraseology.As the science says, last came to us from the biblical-evangelical texts ("forbidden fruit" - a forbidden temptation) from Roman and Greek mythology ("Gordian knot" - confusing, strange set of circumstances), as well as Western European languages and literature ("Princess and the Pea "- a spoiled people).
Antique idioms
That left us a legacy of ancient Greece?Greeks "gave" us the science, theater, created most of the literary genres, have been a source of humanistic values ... That's a small part of what underlies the entire world culture.But now is not about that, or rather, about this - about the achievements of the ancient world, but in a different field - linguistics.A significant group of figurative expressions borrowed up phraseological units from Greek mythology: "Augean stables" - a very dirty room;"Sink into oblivion" - disappear without a trace, the abyss, to be forgotten;"Saddle Pegasus" - look for inspiration to write poetry, to become a poet, and others. As you can see from the examples, in order to properly use this kind of phrases, for example, have an idea, which means "Procrustean bed", it is necessary to know the history of their origin or atleast be familiar with ancient Greek mythology and literature.
«Procrustean bed": meaning and origin
explain the idiom "Procrustean bed" help to the legend of the Greek hero Theseus, the son of the ruler and Efry Aegeus of Athens.When he grew up and matured, his mother and his grandfather sent him to Athens to find his father.Theseus did not heed the request of the family to go on the sea, but chose the more difficult path - walking through Eastman.The road was difficult, and he met many obstacles, among which was a collision with a Damask robber nicknamed Procrustes, which means "puller".About this villain went notoriety.All the traveling, he invited them to his house, where they were severely tortured, he made all lie down on the bed of his famous, and if it was great for the "martyr", he pulled it up until his feet did not touch the edges.And if the bed was a little unfortunate that he chopped off his feet.Theseus defeated the giant, and laid him on the bed of it.It was short for him, and courageous young man killed him in the same way as he had once made short work with the poor travelers.Centuries later, the name of the robber Procrustes and his instrument of torture - "bed" lose their direct meaning, and together take on a different meaning, which is made up of experienced when reading the myth of feelings and emotions.Thus, in the Russian language phraseological value "Procrustean bed" - a measure for something or something that forced fit, customize.
Other languages
borrowed phraseological units - is usually international momentum.For example, the phrase "Achilles heel" - vulnerability - has its counterparts in the English language - Achilles' heel, the French - talon d'Achille, in Greek - αχίλλειος πτέρνα, German - Achillesferse and so on.However, he remains fully and its meaning, and its images.Now consider the "Procrustean bed", examples of its use in other languages: Greek - προκρούστεια κλίνη, English - Procrustean bed, in the German - Prokrustesbett and so on.The examined ancient popular expression in every language retains the image of the villain Procrustes, on the basis of which there was a figure of speech, and thus preserved the value phraseologism "Procrustean bed» - false and meaningless measurement and lexical and grammatical structure, ie the migration of the expressions ofone language to another is not led to various changes.
Idiom or popular expression
As mentioned above, among linguists there are still differences, there are proverbs and sayings to phraseological units or not.Some believe that, yes, and include proverbs and sayings in the group "phraseological expressions."Other linguists deny this fact, and believe that these linguistic phenomena can not be the subject of study phraseology.The question, of course, complex and controversial.For example, the expression "Procrustean bed" can be attributed to both the phraseology and a popular expression.
How idiom in the narrow sense of the word, it has the following characteristics:
- idiomatic, that is indivisible and indecomposable statements on the individual components (the word "Procrustean" and "bed" can not be used separately, or they lose their common meaning andconverted into a free combination);
- rethinking - the original meaning of the phrase, a direct value is converted to a figurative (the phrase "Procrustean bed" initially to name the robber and his infamous instrument for torture, and only then acquired secondary meaning - the formal criterion);
- resistance - make up turnover "Procrustean bed" can not be replaced by others;
- correlated with a particular part of speech - speech in the idiom "Procrustean bed" acts as a noun;
- appraisal and emotion.
Antique popular expression
Blame the term "popular expression", "winged words" attributed to Homer, the first time it was used in the "Iliad": the lips of the speaker's words quickly break down and immediately fly to the ear of the listener.In modern linguistics understands this term stable and well-known quotations from the classic works of cinema, from music, advertising, as well as the statements of famous people.Many sayings originate from the Bible or Greek mythology, such as the expression "Procrustean bed".The world of "winged words" dynamic - some quotes over time lose their relevance, popularity and disappear, others appear and become conventional wisdom.
