English & Spanish Phraseology: A Translation and Lexicographic Perspective

This paper addresses some theoretical issues in cross-linguistic phraseology (idioms andcollocations)1 analysis and focuses on problems which arise in connection with findingadequate equivalents from a functional and cognitive perspective. The second part of thepaper focuses on the selection and use of the most common proverbs in the two languages(the paremiological minimum). Criteria for establishing this paremiological mininimum inboth languages is shown, discussing some points of contact and departure between thetwo languages.The author concludes that the treatment of these phraseological units and proverbs inbilingual dictionaries is still inadequate.