A Conceptual Framework to Explain the Interface of Syntax-Semantics in Idiomatic Expressions

This research proposes a conceptual framework for accounts of the syntax-semantics interface within idiomatic expressions, whose often non-compositional nature poses a substantial challenge to classical linguistic theory that is predicated on a meaning composition postulate based on word meaning and syntactic structure. But a significant challenge remains for linguistic theory: no single framework provides an explanation for how syntactic composition interacts with non-literal meaning in idiomatic phrasing, particularly since idioms vary in their compositionality. This gap in theory makes idioms hard to analyze and interpret across languages, in which syntactic stiffness tends to coexist with semantic obscurity or metaphorical richness. In probing the intricate relationship between syntax and meaning, the present research seeks to present a broad theoretical framework that brings together insights from both generative grammar, construction grammar, and cognitive linguistics. The framework is proposed as being able to cover the various gradations of compositionality among the different idioms, from fully opaque through to partially transparent ones. The research sheds light on the processing and interpretation of the idiomatic expressions across languages, pointing to the necessity of both syntactic structure and metaphorical meaning for idiom understanding.