Methodology The method of research is a qualitative one; the semantic and structural analysis of
idioms is based on elicitation and intuition; the semantic distribution of idiom compo-
nents are identified and the meaning of components of color are interpreted. Each lexical
unit has some background information which is historically, culturally and logically
justified. The Kazakh idioms with corresponding components are examined and
analyzed by means of the method which I conventionally called «semantic break-down
of idioms». The meaning of an idiom is traditionally considered to be not derived from
the meaning of its components. At the same time, the semantic structure of idioms cannot
be strictly monolithic; the links between components can be loose enough to determine
the contribution of each component to the idiom’s semantics. This feature of idioms
found its realization in different classifications, one of which I consider to be the most
appropriate for the present research – the classification by Gibbs (1994). He focuses on
degrees of idioms’ analyzability ranging from decomposable to non-decomposable ones
and divides idioms into three groups: i) decomposable idioms a part of which is used
literally (e.g., ‘lip’ in ‘button your lip’); ii) abnormally decomposable idioms components
of which are connected to their referents by a metaphor (e.g., ‘hit the panic button’); iii)
non-decomposable idioms the meaning of which is in no way derived from the meaning
of their components (e.g., ‘kick the bucket’). The two latter ones could be eligible to
semantic break-down analysis of components.
The mechanism of analysis can be demonstrated in the following examples: the
Kazakh idioms with a color component of Қара ‘black’ is conceptualized as BAD, e.g.,
Қаратізім [ķara tizim] lit. a black list, i.e., to be blacklisted. A ‘list’ component has
a neutral meaning, and a negative connotation is assigned by the word Қара ‘black’.
Ақ‘white’ has an opposite to Қара ‘black’ connotation of GOOD, e.g., Aқниет [aķ niet]
lit. white wish, fig. open-hearted, unsophisticated. Similarly, a ‘wish’ component has a
neutral derivation but in combination with Aқ ‘white’ color term it obtains a positive
meaning. A term Ала[ala] ‘multicoloured’ has no clear colour designation; it bears the
notion of changeability and instability characteristic tonature: colours change throughout
the day following the sun ‘walk’ from rise to set. The concept of instability has also been
attached to a human’s behaviour, mood and intention - from kind to evil, from right to
wrong, e.g., Алаболды [ala boldї] lit. to become multicoloured, fig. to get quarrelled,
to break up. In other words, the meaning of Аla denotes a sudden change of state of a
person or weather to a worsened one. The colour designating term Ала holds a negative
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connotation, whileболды ‘to become’ component just states the act without attaching any
connotation to it.