18.494, Qs: Acceptance of Comparative Structures

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LINGUIST List: Vol-18-494. Tue Feb 13 2007. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 18.494, Qs: Acceptance of Comparative Structures

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1)
Date: 11-Feb-2007
From: Rebekka Klingshirn < r.k.klingshirn at web.de >
Subject: Acceptance of Comparative Structures 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:53:02
From: Rebekka Klingshirn < r.k.klingshirn at web.de >
Subject: Acceptance of Comparative Structures 
 

For a chapter of my dissertation on comparative structures, I am looking
for literature on why certain comparisons of equality are more acceptable
than others, e.g. why one would say 'He is as fit as a fiddle', but not 'He
is as fit as a jogger' or: 'thin as a rake' or 'white as a sheet' but not
'thin as a bean stalk' or 'white as paint'.

A reference as to where I could find a list of such idioms, perhaps for
foreign learners of English, would also be of great help already.

Please e-mail any suggestions to r.k.klingshirn at web.de

Thank you very much,

Rebekka 

Linguistic Field(s): Language Acquisition
                     Semantics





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LINGUIST List: Vol-18-494