Z badań nad synonimią jednostek frazeologicznych

Abstract

The focal issue of the paper is synonymy occurring in phraseology discussed on the example of selected units from various European languages. The relation of synonymy between multiword expressions is of complex character, since there are three main types of phraseological synonyms, i.e. absolute synonyms, quasi-synonyms and pseudo-synonyms. The first type, absolute synonyms, is represented by units which bear similarity in a number of parametres, such as: stylistic markedness and evaluation, frequency. In order to qualify units as absolute synonyms, one is to conduct a multiaspectual analysis, comparing the parametres of two units. It is generally acknowledged that hardly any absolute synonyms exist. The ones which can be considered absolute synonyms tend to form a chain of units, which show some lexical differences, occurring as a result of substitution of a component. Quasi-synonyms, units differing in some aspects, yet conveying the same meaning, are by far more common in language. As to the differences, they concern the semantics, imagery, stylistics, evaluation, syntactic properties, collocability and frequency of the units. The typology presented also comprises pseudo-synonyms, i.e. units showing external similarity (the structure and components) which cause language users to associate their meanings, which actually do not overlap. As a consequence, the units tend to be used wrongly in the process of communication. The results of the studies on the synonymy of phraseological units have some practical applications, for instance, they can be implemented in lexicography and language teaching.