Linguistic and cultural characteristics of phraseological units in modern English

Abstract

Linguoculturology as an interdisciplinary science occupies an important place in modern linguistics, as it allows us to reveal the relationship between language and culture. Phraseological units are one of the main means through which the cultural characteristics of the linguistic community are transmitted. This article examines the linguistic and cultural characteristics of phraseological units of modern English, the purpose of which is to identify cultural codes reflected in linguistic units. The methods of content analysis, comparative analysis, and the semantic field method were used for the study. Initially, the collection and systematization of phraseological units from modern English sources (fiction, mass media, Internet resources) was carried out. Further, the analysis of their semantics, structure and pragmatics was carried out, as well as the identification of cultural connotations and historical contexts. The study found that phraseological units in modern English play a key role in reflecting cultural values and ideological characteristics of society. Some cultural dominants have been identified, such as Anglo-Saxon pragmatism, an orientation towards individualism, as well as the influence of historical and social factors (for example, the colonial era, industrialization). One of the most noticeable trends is the widespread use of phraseological units related to everyday life, nature, sports and technological progress. At the same time, the increasing influence of globalization has been noted, which leads to the penetration of borrowed cultural elements into English-language phraseology. The results obtained confirm that phraseological units are carriers of unique cultural information that can reflect both traditions and changes in English-speaking culture. It is also important to take into account the influence of international interaction, which forms new phraseological structures. The presented research has shown that phraseological units of modern English represent not only a linguistic, but also a cultural phenomenon. The study of their linguistic and cultural characteristics contributes to a deeper understanding of the interaction of language and culture.