Structural-semantic Transformation of Phraseological Units and Their Influence on Textual Modality
The article is devoted to the possible transformation of the structural form of phraseological units that eventually leads to the change of their own modality as well as textual modality. Their transformational potential allows them to create occasional forms which could fully become part of the context. Through the creation of their occasional forms in the context, the semantic structure of phraseological units is modified, they acquire specific additional meaning, which may differ from their denotative meaning. There are several ways of creating occasional forms. A word or word combination inserted into the phraseological unit could intensify, soften and specify its meaning. As a result new lexico-semantic components change their own modality as well as the modality of the text. Another transformation may be achieved through the substitution of the components of phraseological unit. In this case phraseological unit totally changes its meaning, but its structure remains unaltered. This method is used to convey the author’s intention more vividly and clearly. There is one more type, which changes the whole structure of the phraseological unit. In the given case instead of the entire phraseological unit only one fraction of it is used, which aims at giving a hint to the reader allowing him to get to the root of the matter. The last way of transformation presented in this article deals with punning - playing on the meaning of the whole phraseological unit and direct and figurative meanings of its individual components. That may produce a certain comic effect with its consequent impact upon the reader. Contextual variability is not permanent, it is situational, and dependent on a specific speech situation. The modality of phraseological units is changed depending on the inserted word. And as a result the modality of the text may also be changed.