A historical approach to English Phraseology : The use of stereotyped comparisons - exploring their origins, meanings and variations

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,00, University of Bamberg, language: English, comment: Die Arbeit handelt von den Ursprngen, Bedeutungen und potentiellen Variationen von mehr oder minder bekannten englischsprachigen Phrasen bzw. Wendungen. Die Arbeit beleuchtet diese Aspekte aus historischer Sicht und enthlt als Forschungsergebnis ebenso einen eigenen Fragebogen fr befragte Muttersprachler und deren Kenntnisstand zu alten und / oder neuen solche Wendungen in der englischen Sprache. , abstract: A field of study, or generally of interest, does by no means simply consist of one or two basic components and then form a large, complex construction; on the contrary: many varieties, shapes and forms are needed for any such system to function and to be fully appreciated. A very wide variety of specific requirements, ideas, theories, views etc. have always assisted and also guided the human race in its seemingly never ending thirst for power, wisdom, and above all knowledge. The simple fact of being able to read these lines is an example of such progressive steps, as is being able to interpret a painting or a creative form of architecture. One thing most people probably would not question further, since everyone is capable of it at the age of three or four, is the concept of speech. One learns at home and in school, and that is that, to put it rather bluntly. However, in time one will notice that not every person in fact uses the same capacity of speech as another person might do. This of course must not be misunderstood on a global scale, since of course there are so many different languages throughout the world. This is only meant for a certain language, in this case English. Not every English speaking person will know what it means when someone "kicked the bucket" or "bought the farm". Did he or she really kick a bucket, or buy a farm? Of course not. But that is precisely the point. Ther