THE PRAGMATIC MEANINGS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE

Abstract

 Phraseological units , particularly idioms, serve crucial pragmatic functions in English literature by conveying implicatures, enhancing expressiveness, characterizing speakers, and reflecting cultural norms beyond literal semantics. This study explores how PUs operate pragmatically in literary texts, from Shakespearean drama to modern fiction, facilitating irony, persuasion, humor, and interpersonal dynamics. Drawing on pragmatic theories (e.g., speech acts, Gricean maxims, implicature), the analysis examines contextual modifications, creative instantiations, and discourse roles of idioms. Findings indicate that literary authors exploit PUs for indirect communication, power negotiation, and emotional depth, often flouting conversational norms to achieve stylistic effects. The research highlights implications for literary interpretation, translation, and language pedagogy, emphasizing the interplay between pragmatics and literary discourse.