AN INVESTIGATION INTO SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH IDIOMS

Thi Kim Loan Bui1,
1 Van Lang University

Main Article Content

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate syntactic and semantic features of English idioms. The data of this study were 6,500 English idioms collected from Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, the eighth edition (OALD8) and described quantitatively and qualitatively. The data were analyzed and presented with statistics, percentages, and content analysis. The findings demonstrated syntactic and semantic features of English idioms. Syntactically, English idioms were categorized into nominal, verbal, adjectival, adverbial, prepositional, conjunctional and interjectional idioms. Semantically, the findings showed the meanings of idiomatic variants, idioms used as slang, humorous idioms, idioms with proper names, idioms used in various fields, idioms used formally and informally, and so forth. The results of this study are beneficial to teachers of English, foreign language students as well as translators who have difficulty in identifying English idioms and translating them into Vietnamese. In addition, the study gives some implications for teaching and learning English idioms in Vietnamese contexts.

Article Details

References

Alrishan, A. & Smadi, O. (2015). Difficulties EFL Jordanian university students encountered in translating English idioms into Arabic. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(10), 124-133.
Ambrose, J. (2008). Why idioms are important for English language learners. Mikolaiv State Pedagogical University.
Amos, N. T. & Abas, I. H. (2021). An investigation on the comprehension of English idioms among Moi primary school children in Nairobi. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 12(4), 1-8.
Arnold, I. (1986). The English word. Vuisshaya Shkola.
Arono & Nadrah. (2019). Students’ difficulties in translating English text. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Literature, 4(1), 2019.
Baker, M. (2011). In other words (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Boers, F. (2008). Language awareness: Understanding idioms. Macmillan.
Chen, Y. & Lai, H. (2013). Teaching English idioms as metaphors through cognitive-oriented methods: A case in an EFL writing class. English Language Teaching, 6(6), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n6p13
Duff, A. (1989). Translation. Oxford University Press.
Flavell, L., & Flavell, R. H. (2000). Dictionary of idioms and their origins. Kyle Cathie Ltd.
Gass, S. M. & Selinker, L. (2001). Second language acquisition: An introductory course (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum.
Gibbs, R. W., Bogdanovich, J. M., Skyes, J. R., & Barr, D. J. (1997). Metaphor in idiom comprehension. Journal of Memory and Language, 37(2), 141-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmla.1996.2506
Hornby, A. S. (2014). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary with Vietnamese Translation (8th ed.) Nhà xuất bản trẻ.
Kövecses, Z., & Szabó, P. (1996). Idioms: A view from cognitive semantics. Applied Linguistics, 17(3), 326-355. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/17.3.326
Laflin, S. (1996). Something to crow about: A concise collection of American English Idioms for everyday use. United States Information Agency.
Larson, M. (1984). Meaning-based translation: A guide to cross language equivalence. University Press of America.
Makkai, A. (1972). Idioms structure in English. Mouton.
Nguyen, T. H., & Nguyen, T. L. (2019). English idioms containing human-body parts and their Vietnamese equivalents: A case study of two English novels and their Vietnamese translation versions. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 35(3), 83-103. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4370
Nguyen, T. T. L & Phan, M. H. (2020). An investigation into syntactic and semantic features of English “Go” idioms with reference to the Vietnamese equivalents. European Journal of English Language, Linguistics and Literature, 7(1), 10-21.
Nguyen, T. V. L. (2009). Grammatical and semantic features of some English words and idioms denoting happiness – the felling of great pleasure. VNU Journal of Science, Foreign Languages, 25(3), 165-173. https://jfs.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/index.php/fs/article/view/2424
Nguyen, V. K. (2021). Challenges in translation of English phraseological units with onomastic constituents into Vietnamese equivalents. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 37(3), 60-78. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4624
Rizq, W. (2015). Teaching English idioms to L2 learners: ESL teachers’ perspectives. St. Could State University.
Thyab, R. A. (2016). The necessity of idiomatic expressions to English language learners. International Journal of English and Literature, 7(7), 106-111. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJEL2016.0895