Abstract
This scientific paper presents a corpus-based investigative research of German collocations; in text comprehension, a new method for identification of collocations is presented, as well as a scientific discussion of the types of collocations for which this new analysis method is suitable. The article further explores the consequences of using collocations and their translation into other languages on communication in foreign language teaching. It was examined how the students of foreign languages in Slovak universities (non-philological courses of studies) can deal with the collocations in their future profession (as translators or experts in a professional language) after their linguistic studies and whether they are able to actually implement this foreign language competence in the future. Although vocabulary work is developed as a primary competence among foreign language learners, some areas of studies lack current, creative and innovative teaching materials, especially in the didactic field of comparative collocation research. The results of our research projects promote the acquisition of foreign language skills and help teachers develop and use new methods in their work.
Highlights
Fixed word combinations idioms, collocations, familiar quotations and others are omnipresent in the vocabulary of contemporary German in all areas of society
The term collocations is mostly used in two ways in modern German linguistics: a) as the abstract meaning for word combinations that are semantically "compatible"; b) as concrete meaning for fixed word combinations that form a lexical-grammatical category located in the lexical system of language between free word combinations and idioms, e.g. summende Biene, einen Wettkampf veranstalten, eine Tagung abhalten, eine Reise unternehmen, ein Abkommen schließen/ treffen etc
In the majority of cases (106 students), there were only four, three or two of all the collocations in the given text recognised and in one case no collocation was identified or marked. This can be attributed to the fact that the students had no clear idea of exactly what collocations are in a foreign language and how they can be distinguished from other free word combinations or compound words
Summary
Fixed word combinations idioms, collocations, familiar quotations (geflügelte Wörter in German) and others are omnipresent in the vocabulary of contemporary German in all areas of society They contribute to a fundamental societal and linguistic change that becomes the subject of numerous scientific works of linguists. Collocations were previously neglected in phraseology, but have become increasingly important in recent years This is largely due to corpus linguistics, which makes it possible to research the stability of word combinations on an immense amount of linguistic data. This area of phraseology is much larger and probably more important for language use, especially for foreign language learning than one would have assumed We focus on the description and the research into the perception, appropriation and application of collocations by Slovak German language students at the Faculty of Applied Languages at the University of Economics in Bratislava as part of their linguistics studies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
