How Many Lexical Collocations Are There in English?
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
Lexical collocations refer to combinations of words that frequently occur together in a language, often forming natural-sounding phrases that native speakers use regularly. These collocations are primarily formed by the interaction of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Collocations in English, as in other languages, are essential for fluent communication, as they reflect patterns of word combinations that sound more natural to native speakers compared to more literal translations or word pairings.
Understanding how many lexical collocations there are in English is somewhat complex because language is constantly evolving, and new collocations emerge over time as cultural, technological, and social changes influence how we speak. Therefore, it is not easy to pinpoint an exact number of lexical collocations, but we can make an estimation based on categories of common word combinations.
Types of Lexical Collocations in English
To break it down, lexical collocations can generally be divided into various categories based on the type of word combinations. Here are some of the main types:
1. Verb + Noun Collocations: Certain verbs are often paired with specific nouns, creating common expressions.
make a decision
tomar uma decisão
do homework
fazer o dever de casa
take a break
fazer uma pausa
2. Adjective + Noun Collocations: Some adjectives are typically paired with specific nouns to create meaning.
strong coffee
café forte
heavy rain
chuva forte
bright future
futuro brilhante
3. Noun + Noun Collocations: This type of collocation is made by combining two nouns that together form a concept or idea.
car door
porta do carro
swimming pool
piscina
coffee table
mesa de centro
4. Adverb + Adjective Collocations: These collocations pair an adverb with an adjective to intensify or qualify the meaning of the adjective.
extremely happy
extremamente feliz
highly unlikely
muito improvável
quite different
completamente diferente
5. Verb + Adverb Collocations: These are combinations of verbs with adverbs that often describe the manner in which an action is performed.
speak fluently
falar fluentemente
run quickly
correr rapidamente
work hard
trabalho muito
6. Preposition + Noun Collocations: Some prepositions are commonly used with nouns to convey specific meanings.
in danger
em perigo
at risk
em risco
on time
no horário, pontualmente
Given that collocations arise from language usage patterns rather than strict grammatical rules, the number of lexical collocations is essentially limitless. New collocations are constantly created as speakers adapt language to fit new contexts, and existing collocations evolve in response to changing social or cultural circumstances.
Factors That Influence the Number of Collocations
While we can't count the exact number of lexical collocations, there are several factors that contribute to their abundance:
Cultural Changes: As culture and technology evolve, new collocations emerge. For example, with the rise of social media, terms like "tweet a message" (tuítar uma mensagem) or "post a photo" (postar uma foto) have become popular collocations.
Dialects and Varieties of English: Different varieties of English (British, American, Australian, etc.) may have different collocations. For instance, British English might say "flat tire" (pneu furado), while American English uses "flat tire" or "blowout."
Formal vs. Informal Language: In formal settings, collocations tend to be more specific and structured, such as "in accordance with" (de acordo com) or "under the circumstances" (sob as circunstâncias), while informal language may have more relaxed combinations like "take it easy" (acalmar-se) or "hang out" (ficar, passar tempo).
Phonological Influence: Some collocations are influenced by phonology, as the natural flow of words makes certain combinations sound smoother. This leads to preferences for certain pairings over others.
Examples of Lexical Collocations in English with Translations into Brazilian Portuguese
Below are some examples of common lexical collocations in English, along with their respective translations into Brazilian Portuguese. These examples illustrate how these combinations occur naturally in everyday English and their equivalents in Portuguese.
1. Verb + Noun Collocations:
make a decision
tomar uma decisão
do your best
fazer o smelhor possível
take a shower
tomar um banho
have a conversation
ter uma conversa
2. Adjective + Noun Collocations:
strong coffee
café forte
heavy rain
chuva forte
tough decision
decisão difícil
bright future
futuro brilhante
3. Noun + Noun Collocations:
family tree
árvore genealógica
traffic jam
engarrafamento
swimming pool
piscina
cell phone
telefone celular
4. Adverb + Adjective Collocations:
completely wrong
completamente errado
deeply moved
profundamente emocionado
highly recommended
altamente recomendado
particularly important
particularmente importante
5. Verb + Adverb Collocations:
speak fluently
falar fluentemente
walk quickly
andar rapidamente
work hard
trabalhar duro
drive carefully
dirigir com cuidado
6. Preposition + Noun Collocations:
in danger
em perigo
at risk
em risco
on time
no horário, pontualmente
in charge
responsável
Although there is no precise count of how many lexical collocations exist in English, it is clear that these word combinations are an integral part of fluent communication. They reflect the way native speakers form patterns of expression that make language more natural, nuanced, and easy to understand. As language continues to evolve, new collocations will emerge, influenced by social trends, technological advances, and cultural shifts. Mastering collocations is key for language learners, as they help in sounding more fluent and natural in any language.
Additionally, understanding the equivalent collocations in other languages, such as Brazilian Portuguese, helps bridge the gap in cross-linguistic communication, making it easier for learners to grasp idiomatic expressions and improve their overall language proficiency.
Bibliographic References
Benson, M., Benson, E., & Ilson, R. (2010). The BBI Combinatory Dictionary of English: Your Guide to Collocations and Grammar. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
This dictionary provides detailed descriptions of collocations in English, focusing on verb, noun, and adjective combinations. It is one of the most comprehensive resources for studying English collocations.
Cowie, A. P. (1998). The Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Oxford University Press.
While this book specifically deals with phrasal verbs, it also provides insight into how words collocate in more complex structures. It's an essential tool for understanding how verbs and prepositions combine naturally in English.
Nattinger, J. R., & DeCarrico, J. S. (1992). Lexical Phrases and Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
This book focuses on lexical phrases and collocations, offering insights into how these fixed combinations can be taught effectively to language learners.
Lewis, M. (2000). Teaching Collocation: Further Developments in the Lexical Approach. Hove: Language Teaching Publications.
Michael Lewis discusses the importance of teaching collocations as part of the lexical approach to language learning. This book is instrumental in understanding the teaching methods related to lexical collocations.
McCarthy, M., & O'Dell, F. (2005). English Collocations in Use. Cambridge University Press.
This practical book covers a wide variety of collocations, organized by theme and type. It provides exercises to help learners and teachers recognize and practice common lexical combinations in English.
Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt's work explores the role of vocabulary in language teaching, and collocations are discussed as a key component of effective language learning.
Seidlhofer, B. (2001). Collocations and Their Implications for English as a Global Language. World Englishes, 20(3), 423-431.
This article discusses how collocations play a significant role in global English communication, exploring how collocations differ across varieties of English.
Tomasello, M. (2003). Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition. Harvard University Press.
This book provides insights into how children acquire collocations and other language structures, which can inform how we understand the ubiquity and variability of collocations in everyday language.
Sinclair, J. (1991). Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford University Press.
Sinclair’s work is foundational in understanding the corpus-based approach to collocations, which is now widely used in linguistics to study how words combine in natural language usage.