The Search for Units of Meaning： The Case of Collocational Framework ＂the ＊ of＂

The concept of collocational framework has been put forward by Renouf and Sinclair in 1991, but few researchers have investigated on the construction of the units of meaning based on collocational framework. This study searched for the units of meaning of collocational framework “the * of” employing Sinclair’s lexical grammar model. The results show that collocational framework “the * of” has its own lexical grammar features and can construct its units of meaning. The units of meaning form “Existences/Activities + the + Activities/Essences + of + Social Lives/Persons” sequence and express the “exist the activities or essences of social life and person” or “act the activities or essences of social life and person”.