Lexicology and Phraseology
What to master
Lexicology deals with word meaning and the vocabulary system; phraseology deals with fixed, reproducible expressions. Candidates should recognize direct and figurative meaning, polysemy, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, paronyms, and lexical layers such as archaisms, historicisms, neologisms, borrowings, professionalisms and dialectisms. For phraseology, remember that a phraseological unit has a stable form and a meaning that is not simply the sum of its parts; it is reproduced, not freely created.
Traps
The most frequent trap is paronyms: абонент (a person) vs абонемент (a document); одеть (someone) vs надеть (something on oneself); эффектный (impressive) vs эффективный (effective). Homonyms share form but not meaning, so context decides. Phraseological units cannot be freely altered: спустя рукава, not спустив рукава. Also distinguish an author’s fresh metaphor from a stable phraseologism. In synonym questions, choose the word that fits the context and style, not merely the dictionary gloss.
Worked example
Одеть requires a person as object: одеть ребёнка. Надеть takes the item worn: надеть пальто. Rule of thumb: if the object is a person, use одеть; if it is clothing or an accessory, use надеть. The mnemonic «надеть одежду, одеть Надежду» captures the contrast.
Rule of thumb
Check compatibility, not just meaning: a synonym can be correct in isolation but wrong in collocation or style.