In the past 30 years, phraseology has established itself as an internationally recognized branch of linguistics. It is concerned with word combinations of varying extent and type, and different degrees of fixedness. These include collocations, phrasal lexemes, idioms, or formulaic expressions. Word combinations are ubiquitous in language and constitute a significant resource for communication. Their study is of interest to many other subdisciplines of linguistics and even to other disciplines, throwing light on the make-up and modes of creation of complex 'building blocks' of language, as well as on the way in which language functions.

The linguistic description of word combinations and their use - from both a synchronic and a diachronic perspective - constitutes a challenge for empirical researchers and raises questions that theoretical accounts of language and language use will need to answer.

It is hoped that the "Yearbook of Phraseology" will make a significant contribution to published research in phraseology, and facilitate dialogue between Continental and English-speaking scholars.

The "Yearbook of Phraseology" is a fully international publication. Contributions are subject to peer review. The yearbook publishes book reviews in English. It is sponsored by the "European Society of Phraseology (Europhras)". Consequently contributions to the yearbook will be accepted in the four working languages of the Society: English, French, German and Spanish. Manuscripts will be accepted in any subfield of phraseology.