Advanced Collocations (EnglishClub)

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Advanced Collocations
 (EnglishClub)
The further information on this page may be of interest to advanced students and teachers.
The "father" of collocation is usually considered to be J.R. Firth, a British linguist who died in
1960. It was he that first used the term "collocation" in its linguistic sense.
Some definitions:
to collocate (verb): to appear with another word more frequently than by chance -
The word "white" collocates with "coffee".
collocation (noun): the combination of two or more words more frequently than by
chance - Learning about collocation helps us speak more fluent English.
a collocation (noun): an example of collocation - "White coffee" is a collocation.
An easy way to remember the meaning of collocation: think of "co-" (together) and "location"
(place) = place together, locate together, go together
Note also (non-linguistic senses):
collocate (verb): place side by side or in relation
collocation (noun): the action of placing things side by side or in position
colocate/co-locate (verb): share a location or facility with someone or something
Strong and weak collocation
If we look deeper into collocations, we find that not only do the words "go together" but there
is a degree of predictability in their association. Generally, in any collocation, one word will
"call up" another word in the mind of a native speaker. In other words, if I give you one word,
you can predict the other word, with varying degrees of success. This predictability is not
100%, but it is always much higher than with non-collocates.
The predictability may be strong: for example "auspicious" collocates with very few words,
as in:
auspicious occasion
auspicious moment
You shall know a word by the company it keeps
— J R Firth (British linguist, 1890-1960)
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auspicious event
Or the predictability may be weak: for example, "circuit" collocates with more than 20 words,
as in:
"circuit" collocates left with
"circuit" collocates right with
racing circuit
lecture circuit
talk-show circuit
short circuit
closed circuit
integrated circuit
printed circuit
printed circuit board
circuit board
circuit breaker
circuit training
circuit judge
Lexical and grammatical collocations
A distinction may, if wished, be made between lexical collocations and grammatical
collocations.
A lexical collocation is a type of construction where a verb, noun, adjective or adverb forms
a predictable connection with another word, as in:
adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
A grammatical collocation is a type of construction where for example a verb or adjective
must be followed by a particular preposition, or a noun must be followed by a particular form
of the verb, as in:

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verb + preposition: depend on (NOT depend of)
adjective + preposition: afraid of (NOT afraid at)
noun + particular form of verb: strength to lift it (not strength lifting it)
When is a collocation NOT a collocation?
The term "collocation" in its linguistic sense is relatively new (dating from the 1950s) and no
all linguists agree on its definition. In fact there is considerable disagreement and even som
confusion. Some linguists treat fixed phrases as extended collocations (as far as I'm
concerned, not on your life, rather you than me, under the weather, if you've got the time).
Others suggest that when a sequence of words is 100% predictable, and allows absolutely
no change except possibly in tense, it is not helpful to treat it as a collocation. Such
sequences they generally treat as fixed expressions ("prim and proper") or idioms ("kick the
bucket").
A good dictionary of collocations is the Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of
English.
Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are.
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