CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS THROUGH SNAKE IMAGERY IN IDIOMS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENGLISH, CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE

Abstract

Snakes are considered to be a culturally significant species worldwide and have deep cultural significance across various societies. Snakes have been appearing in folklore, mythologies and languages with fascinating and symbolism images for centuries. While there have been numerous studies exploring snake symbolisms, a comparative analysis across different cultures has been still limited. This study aims to analyze and compare the cultural meanings and idiomatic expressions related to snakes in English, Chinese and Vietnamese. The study also identifies the linguistic features, semantic structures, and cultural implications embedded in snake-related idioms in these languages. The data for the research have been extracted from idiom dictionaries, books, literary works, and research journals, which then would be analyzed to determine both the similarities and differences in how cultural features interpret snake images. The findings will reveal how cultural identity and language shape the meanings of snake-related idioms across nations, highlighting inter-cultural connections. The paper is expected to provide valuable references for multilingual learners, language teachers as well as researchers keen on linguistics, culture and symbolism.