What is a fixed collocation?

Definition
	A fixed collocation is a phrase or construction
	which is decompositional, and whose constituents recurrently combine with each other.

Features
	Constituents repeatedly co-occur with each other. Constituents are bound specifically to each other. Constituents do not co-occur with other lexical units freely. Only a few, if any, words may be substituted for the co-occurring lexical units. Correct usage is not predictable on the basis of the known function or meaning of the co-occurring lexical units.

Context for this page:

Concept module: fixed collocation
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): F
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

© 2004 SIL International