A study on idiomatic expressions containing words denoting weather in English and Vietnamese from cultural perspective = Nghiên cứu về thành ngữ có chứa các từ
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VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
V TH SINH
A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING
WORDS DENOTING WEATHER IN ENGLISH AND
VIETNAMESE FROM CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
(
)
M.A MINOR THESIS
Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60220201
Hanoi, 2014
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
V TH SINH
A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING
WORDS DENOTING WEATHER IN ENGLISH AND
VIETNAMESE FROM CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
(
)
M.A MINOR THESIS
Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60220201
Supervisor: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vũ Ngọc Tú
Hanoi, 2014
i
DECLARATION
I certify that all the material in this study which is not my own work has been
identified and acknowledged, and this thesis is the result of my own research and
the the substance of the thesis has not, wholly or in part, been submitted for any
degree to any other universities or institutions.
Author
Vu Thi Sinh
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the completion of this work, I have been fortunate to receive inestimable
support from many people. First of all, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude
to my supervisor, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vu Ngoc Tu for his indispensable assistance,
valuable suggestions, expert advice and detailed critical comments.
I am also grateful to all my lecturers at the University of Languages and
International Studies - Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their constant help
and encouragement.
Finally, my thanks go to my family and friends who are always by my side to give
the unconditional financial and spiritual support during the process of
accomplishing the thesis.
iii
ABSTRACT
Learning a foreign language is not simply to interpret and communicate but brings
learners more than they can see. Each language has its own particular features and
values among which idioms are mentionable. Idiomatic expressions are
undoubtedly encountered in almost every day conversations, newspapers,
magazines, TVs or radios.
Recognizing the importance of idioms as well as satisfying her own ambition, the
author tries to figure out the features of idioms, specifically the idioms containing
words denoting weather, one of the respects familiar to everyone. Moreover, it is
believed that idioms are always associated with culture; hence, a cultural view on
this type of idioms might be helpful and interesting. In this thesis, the author
focuses on the importance of cultural awareness in understanding idioms; thence
shows the necessary of cultural knowledge in learning and teaching English in
general and weather idioms in particular.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale 1
2. Aims of the study 1
3. Objectives 2
4. Scope of the study 2
5. Methods of the study 2
6. Design of the study 2
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.1. Culture and the relationship between language and culture 4
1.1.1. Culture and some characteristics of culture 4
1.1.2. Relationship between language and culture 7
1.2. Idioms 10
1.2.1. Definition 10
1.2.2. Types of idioms 11
1.2.3. Main features of idioms in English and Vietnamese 13
1.2.4. Idioms versus proverbs and slang 16
1.2.5. Culture in idiom 19
1.3. Weather definition 20
CHAPTER TWO: ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE IDIOMS CONTAINING
WORDS DENOTING WEATHER
2.1. Syntactic features of EIWW and VIWW 22
2.2. Semantic features of EIWW and VIWW 26
CHAPTER THREE: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Some characteristics of Vietnamese and English people, culture and weather
conditions 33
3.2. Comparison of syntactic features between EIWW and VIWW from the cultural
perspectives 35
v
3.3. Comparison of semantic features between EIWW and VIWW from the cultural
perspectives 37
PART 3: CONCLUSION
1. Review of the study 43
2. Implications 44
3. Suggestions for further studies 45
REFERENCES 46
APPENDIX I
1
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
Nowadays, English is obviously considered as the international language that is a
tool for global connection and development. Idioms, a special part of languages in
general and English in particular, seem to be the familiar element which occurs not
only in daily conversations but also in literature works. People are likely familiar
with idioms which are used to express ideas in an attractive and figurative way.
Therefore, understanding the meaning of idiomatic expressions is essential and
useful for English users. However, understanding an idiom by understanding its
components is not enough because the meanings of idioms are unpredictable, which
derive from unusual forms, stylistic devices and knowledge on culture.
Although idioms are not easy to comprehend, it is necessary for learners not to
disregard idioms in studying languages because idioms are an unseparated element
of languages and so common in daily use. As a second language teacher, this urges
A study on idiomatic expressions containing
words denoting weather in English and Vietnamese from cultural perspective
find out the similarities and differences between English idioms containing the
words denoting weather (EIWW) and Vietnamese idioms containing the words
denoting weather (VIWW) mainly from the cultural view. Moreover, despite being
considered as the most important second language in Vietnam, English brings
various challenges for learners. One of the reasons for this problem is the
dissimilarities in the way of living and thinking or the differences of culture. The
result of the study, to some extent, is hoped to help Vietnamese learners of English
use EIWW and VIWW effectively in communication so that their speech is more
adequate, natural, interesting and imaginative.
2. Aims of the study
The thesis is conducted in attempt to:
- Explore the English and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting weather,
with the main focus on the cultural point of view.
2
- Point out the similarities and differences between these two languages in this
particular aspect
- Motivate students to obtain the insight of Vietnamese and English idioms
containing words denoting weather
3. Objectives
The objectives of the study are:
- Investigate Vietnamese and English idioms consisting weather words.
- Clarify the cultural intension inside the idioms
- Suggest some ideas for teaching idioms
The study will try to answer the questions bellows:
- What are similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms
containing words denoting weather from the cultural perspective?
- What cultural aspects influence the similarities and differences between English
and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting weather?
4. Scope of the study
This study focuses on English and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting
weather from the cultural perspective. These idioms are listed in the appendix.
Because of some limitation of time, not all idioms are covered.
5. Methods of the study
In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods are used. It is carried out by
carefully collecting materials from numerous sources in both English and
Vietnamese including books, websites, newspapers and from observation in daily
life. Then, the data are analyzed and synthesized to find out the similarities and
differences in English and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting weather.
6. Design of the study
The thesis is divided into three main parts:
- The first part is the Introduction, which includes rationale, aim, scope, methods
and design of the study
3
- Part 2 is the Development, which comprises three chapters. Chapter one, as
Theoretical background
English
and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting weather” in which syntactic
and semantic features of English and Vietnamese idioms containing words denoting
Findings and
discussion
VIWW from the cultural view.
- Part 3 is the Conclusion and Implications for teaching and learning as well as
some suggestions for further study.
The thesis is concluded by the appendix and references.
4
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Languages and cultures are closely related. Hence, to study any phenomenon of any
language, it is of utmost importance to consider the culture of the people who speak
that language and to compare English idioms containing the words denoting
weather (EIWW) and Vietnamese idioms containing the words denoting weather
(VIWW) is no exception. This chapter will present a brief theoretical introduction
about culture, language, and idioms, which will lay essential foundations for what is
being analyzed in the next two chapters.
1.1. Culture and the relationship between language and culture
1.1.1. Culture and some characteristics of culture
simple to define it. Many linguists have spent a lot of efforts on working out the
definitions of culture. Hence, in this paper, the writer will introduce some in attempt
to provide a general view for the readers following easily. Following are some of
them:
Hofstede (1980, pp. 21-23) defines culture
from generation to generation, it is changing all the time because each generation
adds something of its own before passing it on. It is
for granted and assumed to be correct because it is the only one, or at least the first,
to be learned.
Samovar & Porter (2003) gives a typical definition on culture as follows:
iefs, values, attitudes, meanings,
hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the
universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the
course of generations through individual and group stri
2003, p. 8)
5
Sharing the same opinion, Edward Tylor, a famous British anthropologist, notes in
knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom and any other capacities and habits
(2005) considers culture from three dimensions of concept including hierarchical,
differential and generic concept. As regards to hierarchical concept, culture means
the thing that can distinguish one society from others from, differential concept. The
generic concept of culture focuses on what to distinguish humanity from nature and
other living creatures.
Also, Kramsch (1998) examines culture by comparing it to nature and showing its
development through social activities.
what is born and grows organically (from the Latin nascere: to be born); culture
refers to what has been grown and groomed (from Latin colere: to cultivate)”
(Kramsch, 1998:4)
According to Goodenough (1957), culture is defined as the thing that people in each
particular community must know and possess to run their activities.
culture consists of whatever it is one has to know or believe in order to
operate in a manner acceptable to its members, and to do so in any role that they
accept for any one of (Goodenough,1957:167)
beliefs, orientations, and underlying assumptions prevalent among people in a
One more definition that should also be mentioned is the one of Triandis (1994:23)
cited in n-made
objective and subjective elements that in the past have increased the probability of
6
survival and resulted in satisfaction for the participants in an ecological niche, and
thus became share among those who could communicate with each other because
t
In short, culture is defined in various ways as Harrison and Huntington (2000) note,
and different cont
generally affects nearly everything people do in their society because of their ideas,
values, attitudes, and normative or expected patterns of behavior. Culture is not
genetically inherited, and cannot exist on its own, but is always shared by members
of a society (Hall 1976, p. 16).
Culture is a complex concept, and no single definition of it has achieved consensus
in the literature. Regardless of dozens of definitions, it is necessary to examine
characteristics of culture because through them, one can see the connection between
Porter, Samovar and McDaniel (2007:21-30) point out six features of culture as
follows:
learning which means that it is learned but not innate. Learning here is understood
both formal and informal. Informal learning normally takes place through
interaction, observation, and imitation. The formal learning of culture is far more
structured and often left to the institutions of the culture such as schools and
churches. Because culture influences you from the instant you are born, you are
rarely aware of many of the messages that it sends. Therefore, studying is
Secondly, culture is shared. The means of transmitting the culture can take a variety
forms (proverbs, stories, art) and can have numerous carriers (family, peers, church,
schools, media), but the key elements of culture (values, ideas, perception) must be
shared by other members of the culture.
7
Thirdly, culture is transmitted from generation to generation. If a culture is to
endure, it must make certain that its crucial messages and elements are not only
shared, but they also must be passed on to future generations. In this way, the past
becomes the present and helps prepare for the future.
Fourthly, culture is based on symbols. While cultural symbols can take a host of
important symbolic aspect of culture is language using words to represent objects
related t
entertainment, housing, and the like are normally compatible with the existing
values of the culture. However, values associated with such things as ethics and
moral, work and leisure, definitions and freedom, the importance of the past,
religious practices, the pace of life, and attitudes toward gender and age are so
deeply embedded in a culture that they persist generation to generation.
Finally, culture is an integrated system. In reality, culture functions as an integrated
whole. In fact, it has been said that if you touch one part of a culture you touch all
that culture. The interrelationship of these various parts is so important that
nably well integrated in order
In brief, culture begins at birth and continues throughout life. Culture exists in even
the minor or unexpected things in most respects of daily life. The integration of
culture makes it a stable unity and lasts everlastingly.
1.1.2. Relationship between language and culture
As presented previously, in the cultural system, language is one of the most crucial
parts which can be likened to a key factor, playing the role of an essential medium
to transmit much of culture. In this subsection, the author attempts to provide some
basic issues in the relationship between language and culture.
8
The fact that language is the primary means people use to communicate with one
another may seem to be obvious. One of the typical definitions of language is
language to convey their thoughts, feelings, intentions, and desires to others.
Language links interlocutors in a dynamic, reflexive process. We learn about people
through what they say and how they say it; we learn about ourselves through the
way that other people react to what we say; and we learn about our relationships
with others through give-and-
reflex the personality of a culture in much the same way that they reflect the
personality of an i
culture is further stressed by Saville-
however, that there is a correlation between the form and content of a language and
the beliefs, values, and needs -
Stroike, 2003:28)
Kramsch (1998) points out that when language is put in contexts of communication,
it variously and complicatedly relates to culture. He also mentions to three issues of
the relationship between language and culture as follows:
Firstly, the words people utter express facts, ideas or events that are communicable.
through words. In both cases, language expresses cultural reality.
Moreover, people use language not only for expressing but also creating experience.
They use many ways of interaction including face-to-face, writing a letter or
sending an email message, reading the newspaper or interpreting a graph or a chart
and add the meanings to communication through these spoken, written, or visual
media. The created meanings are able to understand by members of a community or
social group. Through all its verbal and non-verbal aspects, language embodies
cultural reality.
9
Finally, language is a system of signs that is seen as having itself a cultural value.
Speakers identify themselves and others through their use of language; they view
their language as a symbol of their social identity. The prohibition of its use is often
perceived by its speakers as a rejection of their social group and their culture. Thus
we can say that language symbolizes cultural reality.
conduct our social lives. When it is used in contexts of communication, it is bound
language, culture would not be possi
According to Porter, Samovar and McDaniel (2007), the relationship between
culture and language is a reciprocal one in which they emphasize the role of culture:
only the symbols and rules for using those symbols, but, more importantly, the
meaning associated with the symbols. Further, culture influences the way people
Explaining for this viewpoint, Porter et al. (2007) believe that the symbols,
responses are only understood optimally within the same cultural setting. When
people communicate from their own culture, the process of using words to represent
experiences is much easier because within a culture people share many similar
experiences. Nevertheless, when communication is between people from different
culture, the process becomes challenging because of various experiences involved.
Consequently, culture, as the whole of human ways of living as well as a set of
values, demeanors and patterns of perception, has become extremely crucial to
language, having a great impact on the formation and development of language.
Generally, language and culture are reciprocal and reinforce together. Culture is
likely the spirit of the language and vice versus, language reflects both the
personality of the individual and the culture of his history. Language helps shape
both personality and culture as well as makes possible the growth and transmission
10
of culture, the continuity of societies, and the effective functioning and control of
culture is a part of a language, the two are intricately interwoven so that one cannot
separate
165). Hence, with the inextricable relationship, we must know the one to understand
the other.
1.2. Idioms
1.2.1. Definition
Idioms are believed as a colorful and fascinating aspect of English and are
commonly used in all types of language, formal and informal, spoken or written.
Although idioms are thought to be used in more informal situations, learners will
become masters if they understand and use them confidently and correctly. In
addition, idioms often have a stronger meaning than non-idiomatic phrases.
Following are some definitions of idioms collected from different sources:
of special phrase whose meaning mostly differs from literal meaning of the
ated to the
literally describes an action which is physically impossible. In a few further
cases, the metaphors in the idioms are peculiar, so it is very difficult to see how or
Manser (1997) shares the sa
consist of more than one word, with a meaning that cannot be understood from
11
n easily
defined one it can refer to many kinds of words and phrases. In this dictionary, the
ble to
make a good guess at the meaning of an idiom when knowing the meaning of all the
words in the expressions. Nonetheless, in some cases, it is possible to guess the
meaning of an idiom because the image created is an obvious one, for instance, the
idi
sit on the which means
not to make any clear choice or decision between two possibilities or opposing
groups of people. Sharing the same viewpoint, Hornby (1995) states in his Oxford
not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a
As can be seen from given definitions, there are numerous ways of defining idioms.
an idiom is a fixed phrase
whose meaning cannot be exposed by looking at the meaning of its individual
words”. In addition, idioms have often been associated with not only conversation
and informal language but also in journalism and magazines to make their articles
and stories more vivid, interesting, and appealing to their readers, and to get their
opinions across effectively.
1.2.2. Types of idioms
It is commonly stated that there are varied forms of idioms, so the learners would
feel it really challenging to recognize which one is a real idiom. Therefore, it is
really important to mention some types of idioms. Chambers Dictionary of idioms
(1996:v) points out 5 main types of idioms:
-
someone extremely
12
-
one must accept them (used when something unfortunate, unpleasant)
- to enjoy
oneself, especially in a lively and expensive manner
- he
- said when you recognize that you should not risk losing something you
already have by trying to get something you think might be better
-
has already happened or been done and cannot
be changed.
Longman (1979) also indicates some types of idioms:
- Traditional idioms: traditional idioms are firstly related to full sentences in which
only subjects need to be added to make full sentences. For example, the idiom
He revealed a secret or a piece of
troubles or unwelcome events happen they do not come singly but arrive in great
quantity. Other types of idioms are not almost full sentences but rather function like
particular parts of speech. An idiomatic noun phrase, for example, will often
function in a sentence in the same way a noun would, as a subject, direct object, or a
complement. E.g. He is the salt of the earth (He is a person having the best personal
qualities, the best character).
- Idioms in which actions stand for emotions or feelings. The distinctions of culture
among regions are specially reminded in this type of idiom. It is important to note
that these actions are not literal and that the meaning associated with a particular
action in particular culture. The meaning of idioms in different communities may
mean that the speaker really performs the action but means she/he refuses to accept
any responsibility for something or someone.
13
-
ny belong to the first group and function as particular parts of speech.
heavily) functions as an adverb.
- it as a fixed part
of the idiom. The pronoun does not refer to the word coming before it as normally it
It is quite clear.
- Allusions: certain common phrases and a few single words have special
signifi
service.
-
lose it by trying to get something better that one may perhaps not obtain).
- Typical conversation phrases: some fixed conversational phrases whose meanings
are not literal and which therefore may be difficult to understand; e.g. so to speak,
alking, how do you do, etc.
- Similes: a large number of idioms, which compare a quality, condition, action, etc.
with a noun; e.g. as easy as a pie (very easy), as free as air (very free, with no
limits)
1.2.3. Main features of idioms in English and Vietnamese
For a deeper understanding of idioms, some main features of this type of expression
are highly recommended. Since the purpose of this study is to discover the
relationship between EIWW and VIWW, the emphasis is laid on semantics and
structural features.
1.2.3.1. Semantic features
completely new in quality. This means that the meaning of an idiom can rarely be
drawn from its components. Hence, we need to translate and interpret idioms
14
sp
However, some idioms whose literal meaning and figurative one is almost identical
one can guess its meaning without any difficulty.
That is the same in Vietnamese w
spoon in one's mouth). Obviously, one cannot interpret them literally but must
perceive them as separate semantic units which have figurative meanings, revealing
the reflection of things and concepts. While most of idioms are difficult to guess the
meaning from their words element, some idioms are possible for people to
Another feature related to semantics is that idioms can convey positive, neutral or
are good examples for the idioms which have positive
-weathered
considered as idioms with neutral meanings. Interestingly, some idioms can have
1.2.3.2. Structural features
It is obvious that idioms are fixed or set expressions that cannot be separated or
15
passive form,
competit
Secondly, idioms can differ at length. There are many idioms which just have one
Thirdly, it is evident that idioms can take many forms as well as structures. There
are many ways to classify idioms based on function, origin, meaning, etc.
However, the way of classification based on function seems to be the most effective
and useful for learners. From this point of view, idioms are considered as noun
phrase, adjective phrase, adverbial phrase, prepositional phrase and interjection.
- Idioms as noun phrase:
A dead duck (a subject or idea that is no longer important, interesting or valued):
Although women in general earn more money than they used to, the question of
- Idioms as verb phrase:
Get wind of something (to hear a piece of information that someone else was trying
to keep secret): He got wind of my plan to travel north and asked if he could come
with me.
- Idioms as adjective phrase
Safe and sound (safe and unharmed): All of his sons returned safe and sound from
the war
- Idioms as adverbial phrase
Night and day (all the time without stopping): I think of her night and day.
16
- Idioms as prepositional phrase
On cloud nine (extremely happy): I was on cloud nine after hearing that I passed the
exam.
- Idioms as interjection:
Never say die! (never give up hope)
Well, I never! (used to express surprise or disbelief)
1.2.4. Idioms versus proverbs and slang
Recognizing the importance of idioms in daily life, one finds it necessary to have a
clear distinction between idioms and proverbs and slang. Actually, they have many
things in common that cause a lot of difficulties to users. This subsection attempts
to throw some light on these issues that are deemed to be the spice of language.
1.2.4.1. Idioms versus proverbs
It is necessary to spend some time distinguishing idioms from proverbs. Although
many people believe the boundary between them is very small and unclear, it is
indisputable that there should be some plausible and significant points which can
somehow tell them apart.
As was mentioned above, an idiom is a group of words which, as a whole, has a
different meaning from that of the individual items out of which it is
composed. That is, the meaning of an idiomatic expression is not the sum total of
would be unable to deduce the real meaning of the whole expression, namely to
die. Although it can refer literally to the act of striking a specific bucket, native
speakers rarely use this idiom that way. Accordingly, an idiom is learnt and used as
a single unit of language. It should not be analyzed into its constituent elements.
users should not make linguistic changes such as adding or dropping words,
replacing a word with another, or changing the order of words (Cowie and
Makin, 1975).
17
known and repeated which expresses a truth based on common sense or the
-known phrase or sentence that gives advice or
t ngt cht
ru
The barrier between idioms and proverbs is sometimes ambiguous because they
have many in common. Firstly, idioms and proverbs conventionally employ
language metaphorically. That is the reason why it is arduous to discover their true
meanings just by looking up all the individual words in a dictionary. Not only
-
inferred from their components but must be understood as a whole. Generally, we
cannot add, omit or replace any components of an idiom or a proverb because that
will inevitably result in unwanted changes in the meaning of the whole group,
making them lose their figurative meanings. Moreover, idioms and proverbs are
from the processes of laborious working, discovering and learning. Both of them are
primarily passed along from generation to generation.
Besides the similarities, both idioms and proverbs have their own typical features
that distinguish one from the other. Specifically, proverbs are short but completely
popular phrases or sentences which express a judgment, give useful advice or reveal
a moral or empirical truth about life. They are widely evaluated to have three major
functions including educational function, perceptive function and finally, aesthetic
as well as the bad influence of money in the society from which people will think
about this issue and learn something. Idioms, on the other hand, mainly have the
18
functions of naming, depicting things, properties or various phenomena. In general,
they do not pass judgments, offer advice or state the universal truth. In other words,
but not pointing out any moral lesson. Furthermore, we can differentiate proverbs
from idioms by examining their grammatical structures. While proverbs are
just phrases which serve as parts of
words only.
1.2.4.2. Idioms versus slang
“very informal words,
phrases, etc., commonly used in speech, especially between people from the same
social group or who work together, not considered suitable for formal contexts and
often not in use for long”. Slang can appear as a brand new word, a new meaning
for an existing word, an abbreviation for a word, or a word that becomes more
generalized than its former, narrow meaning.
Although both idioms and slangs are almost fixed expressions, they differ from each
other in some aspects. It can be inferred from the definition that slang is used by
only some specific communities whereas idioms are used more commonly. In other
words, slang terms are often known only within an in-group. Despite not being used
(great and
impr -looking) are slang
words used by variety of people from different social class.
different slang words, hence the users must be really careful to avoid using tabooed
slang. For example, when mentioning to money, Vietnamese people often think
