2.6 Collocations
Both compounds and multi-word units are forms of word association. Collocation is another kind of word association based on how frequently two words appear together. If two words are found together on a quite regular basis, then they are called collocates; for example, you do not say “make homework”, but “do homework”. Nowadays, it is easier to determine how often words occur together thanks to corpus data, or databases of text. As information for this corpus comes from native speakers’ real use of the language, it is usually very difficult for non-native speakers to know the correct collocates. Even the slightest change for a very close synonym can make the collocation incorrect, and thus an awkward instance of language use.
Collocations are one of the most highly-valued elements indicating language proficiency. In the words of Sipayung and Saragih (2023), “proficiency in using a foreign language cannot be separated from mastery of collocation in the target language” (p.1). What is more, “collocations are essential for language learning because using collocations naturally and accurately constitutes a key indicator of academic writing success” (He & Ang, 2023, p.1). So, whether in general English courses or more Academic ones in nature, using the ‘right’ collocations is evidence of language learning success. Nevertheless, collocations are also one of the most problematic areas when learning English, and mother tongue interference, which is inevitable along the language learning process, is said to be one of the most salient sources of errors in collocations (Bui, 2021).
LAS Activity 206. Collocations
Instructions
- The following is a passage written in non-standard English. This is because collocations and some fixed multi-word units have not been used correctly.
- Rewrite the paragraph correcting these problems, which have been highlighted in bold.
- Once you finish your version, save it as PDF and you'll be able to check the "original" version as presented in Thornbury (2007). How many collocations were you able to identify? Can you see how the correct collocations sound more natural?
From the Grimsby Evening Telegraph:
A record digit of 54 teams will be competing in three sections as the Bryants Carpets Intermediate Snooker League reaches underway that week. One time again all three sections are possibly to be very nearly contested. In Section A, protecting champions Mariner Automatics, captained one time again by the most successful skipper in the league, John Stevens, will be the team to win.
The largest threat is possibly to come from Grimsby Snooker Club A, and P and J Builders who will have Steve Singleton at the wheel for the initial time.
(*Adapted from Thornbury, 2002, p.7)