Original scientific paper

Creative use of idioms in satirical magazines

Alenka Vrbinc ; Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana
Marjeta Vrbinc ; Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

Abstract

The article presents modified idioms found in two satirical magazines: The Private Eye and The Week. Modifications are not institutionalized and are thus rarely
found in phraseological dictionaries. Creative modifications of idioms are made
by an individual speaker or writer who intends to achieve a particular effect. The
production and reception of modified idioms makes great demands on the producer of modifications as well as on their receiver. This study shows that idioms are
mostly expanded by adding one or more elements to the base form. In some cases
of modification the base form remains intact; in others it is changed to a great extent. Modified idioms add to the stylistic effect of a text, which manifests itself in
the intensification of the message.

Keywords

idioms; modification; expansion; stylistic effect; satirical magazines

Hrčak ID:

72536

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/72536

Publication date:

15.7.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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