THE AXIOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF IDIOMS IN ENGLISH MEDIA DISCOURSE

Abstract

Current research in phraseology focuses on dissecting the structural and functional facets of axiology within language systems. This entails studying linguistic tools for expressing evaluation, its role in discourse and text, and the evolving axiological trends in phraseological semantics. However, the categorization of evaluation in idioms remains underexplored. Idiomatic axiology is often overlooked in modern linguistics, deemed a nascent area. Nonetheless, idioms heavily imbue evaluation, less as descriptors and more as interpreters and conveyors of subjective attitudes. Cultural and historical experiences shape emotionally charged language attitudes, guided by societal assessment criteria. Cultural norms, comprising rules, standards, and boundaries, dictate acceptable behavior, reflected in linguistic norms – persistent linguistic elements adopted by societies at specific times. An axiological worldview, shaped by idiomatic fragments, crafts a unique lens through which individuals interpret reality. This evaluative perspective encompasses individuals, social groups, and nations, intersecting language consciousness, reality, and language as a cognitive tool. Through linguistic expressions, attitudes towards the world are verbalized, adhering to aesthetic principles championed by artists and creators. This worldview is crystallized through idiomatic expressions that convey nuanced interpretations of reality, presenting a distinct human perspective and its relationship with the environment. Evaluation within idiomatic semantics enriches meaning by appraising persons, objects, phenomena, or processes based on their alignment with subjective needs, interests, desires, and tastes. In media discourse, idioms transcend mere depiction, instead of interpreting and evaluating the world while conveying subjective viewpoints. Authorial adaptations of axiological idioms, such as expansions, ellipsis and structural modifications, personalize language use, bringing it closer to specific contexts with stylistic expertise. Structural modifications enhance clarity and relevance, manifesting idiomatic creativity in conveying meliorative or pejorative evaluations.