Similarities and Differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture.. Table 6: Frequency of the factor FISH in English and Vietnamese Table 7: Brief descript
Rationale
Idioms are an essential part of any language, as they provide a window into a society's values, beliefs, and traditions Idioms often have themes related to things and works in daily life and animals is a topic that ancient people usually used to create idioms Animal idioms are particularly interesting because they often reflect the way people perceive and interact with other people or things by using animal images as metaphors By comparing and contrasting animal idioms in two different cultures- Vietnamese and English culture, this thesis aims to shed light on the similarities and differences of animal idioms in two cultures
Nowadays, English is an international language that is used by many countries all over the world In Vietnam, The need of learning English is more and more urgent because people consider it as a tool of international communication and integrity Studying idioms is an important part that many people have to achieve in English Idioms are not only found in Vietnamese but also very common in English In contrast, Vietnamese learners are still not aware of the importance of learning idioms Therefore, they still cannot distinguish the similarities and differences between idioms in English and Vietnamese, thereby causing misunderstandings in communication Wanting to learn English idioms well helps you a lot in life Idioms are really useful and beneficial to us when communicating because it gives you a whole new, creative style of acting to express yourself in front of a crowd, avoiding boredom in conversation In this thesis, we only discuss the idioms related to animals- It is a branch of Idiom in English and compare them to the other idioms in Vietnamese culture
The study of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture is significant for people who desire to master English speaking and writing skills It is very beneficial for the investigation and awareness of English learners Firstly, it contributes to the understanding of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world Animal idioms in both Vietnam and English are closely connected to their culture So study of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture help people to enhance their knowledge and language ability It provides insight into the role of animals in different cultures, including their symbolic meanings, cultural significance, and perceived characteristics as well Furthermore, this thesis will help people to promote cross-cultural communication and understanding by identifying areas of similarity and difference in the use of idiomatic expressions
The thesis about this topic aims to reveal a significant number of similarities and differences between animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture The similarities may be attributed to common human experiences and the sharing of cultural values across borders The differences may be explained by cultural, historical, and linguistic factors The results of this study may have implications for language learning, cross-cultural communication, and intercultural studies In idioms related to animals are hidden many metaphors of animals By analyzing those metaphors, readers can understand more about the similarities and differences in the perception of people in English culture and Vietnamese culture In this thesis, I also focus on comparing metaphors in idioms related to animals This helps readers understand more about the unique cultural features of the two countries hidden deep under the surface of the language, thereby helping readers easily distinguish and identify idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese
I decided to choose the topic ―The similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture‖ to provide a valuable insight into the role of animals in different societies By examining the similarities and differences between animal idioms in the two cultures in terms of metaphor, this thesis will provide readers with a lot of useful information about traditional concepts, culture as well as contribute to a deeper understanding of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world.
Objectives of the study
By all the status shown above, the study is handled with purpose that:
- To Collect a comprehensive list of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures by using various sources such as dictionaries, online resources
- To identify the similarities and differences in the use, meaning, and cultural context of animal idioms in the two languages
- To provide insights into the cultural attitudes towards animals in English and Vietnamese cultures through metaphorical expression
- To contribute to the understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Scope of the study
Idioms in Vietnamese and English culture show different views about characteristics focus on compiling a comprehensive list of animal idioms from English and Vietnamese culture I also compare the metaphors that are in both English and Vietnamese idioms After that, categorize and analyze them based on semantic, syntactic and culture features to make them more comprehensive to all the readers In addition, this thesis will go deep into the common mistakes of using English and Vietnamese idioms in order to avoid these mistakes The scope of the study is limited to the analysis of animal idioms so that it can not cover all the aspects of language.
Research questions
To achieve all these purposes, this study will try to find the answers by these questions:
1 What are the similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures, and what cultural factors contribute to these similarities and differences?
2 How do the cultural attitudes towards animals in English and Vietnamese cultures influence the use and interpretation of animal idioms in the two languages?
Methods of the study
Data collection method
To point out all the characteristics of the idioms in two different cultures, the data collection method will be applied A comprehensive list of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures will be collected from various sources, such as dictionaries, online resources.
Analytical method
All the data will be analyzed after collecting All the animal idioms will be categorized and analyzed that are based on semantic, syntactic and culture features
Interpretation method
The findings of the study will be interpreted and analyzed to identify the similarities and differences between the animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures and to draw conclusions about the cultural attitudes towards animals in the two languages.
Statistical method
Finally, I do a survey so that I am able to comply all the mistakes made by English learners So that I can find the solution to avoid these mistakes and study English Idioms effectively.
Design of the study
This study includes 3 main parts and references They are:
The introduction is made to show the reasons, the aims, the research questions, the scope, the methods and the design of the study
The introduction will be divided into 3 chapters:
Chapter One : Theoretical background of the study: This section provides general knowledge related to idioms such as: Definition of idioms, Types of idioms, definitions of metaphors, types of metaphors, metaphors in idioms From this knowledge, readers will have a more general view in analyzing and comparing idioms
Chapter two: Methodology: The aim of this part is to review the methods of identifying in Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals, identifying the metaphor of the idioms On the other hand, this part shows the source of these data and how to collect the data for the thesis
Chapter three: Finding and Discussion: This part focuses on analyzing the metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals, pointing out the similarities between metaphor in English and Vietnamese animal idioms in particular and English and
This part of the thesis aims to make a summary of the study and a brief restatement of the findings From the result of the study, giving some suggestions for learning English idioms.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Idiom and general knowledge of idiom in English
In English, people define idioms in many aspects The Dictionary of Mariam- Webster defined idiom as ―an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the combine meanings of its elements or in its grammatically typical use of words‖
Eg: "A rare bird." (An unusual thing)
Some scholars define the meaning of ―idiom’’ in many different ways A traditional definition of idiom was given in the book ―Semantic‖ by Palmer (1990 p.94) [1] called Idioms is ―an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meaning of its parts‖ ―
An idiom is a number of words, taken together, mean something different from the individual words of the idiom when they stand alone‖ defined Ricoeur, P (1975).[2]
An idiom develops when its meaning no longer requires analysis by fluent language users: you instinctively understand it as a whole phrase because you are a competent member of a language community
Unlike English, Vietnamese people have a different way to define idiom:
Hoang Van Hanh (2002, p.25) [24] defined idiom in the book ― Kể chuyện thành ngữ, tục ngữ‖ is that: ―Idiom are some set expression which are stable in their form and structures, complete and figurative in their meaning, used widely in daily communication.‖ According to Hoang Tat Thang: ― Idioms are the fixed phrases available in a language that carry a nominal function such as word used to name things, phenomena, states, actions, properties….and have symbolic properties.‖
E.g: ― Chó ăn đá, gà ăn sỏi‖ ( If you use this idiom to describe a land or a region, it mean that place is harsh and hard to develop agriculture)
Although there are two different ways to define the term ―idiom‖ in Vietnamese and English cultures they still express the same meaning that ― Idiom is a collection of symbolic
In English, people traditionally categorize English idioms into 4 types: pure idioms, binomial idioms, partial idioms, and prepositional idioms
Pure idiom is a typical type of idiom Pure idioms are idioms whose original meaning is lost to the extent that there is no possible way to analyze the phrase logically to come to an understanding of its meaning Pawley and Syder (1983) [3] argue that pure idioms are examples of formulaic language, which are memorized and stored in memory as a single unit, rather than being composed on-the-spot
Eg Spill the bean, A chip on my shoulder
Unlike some of the other types of idioms, these idioms tend not to have significant overlap with figures of speech like metaphors and similes, because there is no comparison or meaning that could possibly be derived from it
Binomial idioms consist of a pair of elements that collaborate or contrast with each other to express a statement These idioms involve two interconnected or contrasting parts that convey a particular meaning or expression According to Moon (1998): ― Binomial idioms are examples of lexical bundles, which are frequently occurring sequences of words that are processed as a unit by speakers and have a distinct meaning.‖ [4]
Eg: Safe and sound, day and night
From there, we can easily recognize binomial idioms that often appear in poems or songs in English
A partial idiom consists of both a literal component and a non-literal component It is an idiom that has been condensed into a single part, with the second part typically implied and understood by proficient speakers For example, The idiom ―keep an eye on‖ It is a partial idiom because it is a fixed expression that has a literal meaning based on the words themselves ( to observe or watch something), but it can also have a figurative meaning ( to monitor or be cautious about something ) when used in a certain context According to Gibbs
(1994, p.265) [5], a "partial idiom" is "an idiom that is partially compositional, meaning that some of its constituent words contribute to its overall meaning, but that the idiom as a whole cannot be fully predicted from the meanings of its parts"
Eg: Break the ice, take a rain check
Partial idioms are very common in English They appear frequently in everyday communication
We have some definitions of prepositional idiom According to Moon (1998)[6], He explained that prepositional idioms are fixed expressions that create a figurative meaning by combining a verb and a preposition, which cannot be inferred from the literal meanings of the words alone Fraser (1970)[7] defined prepositional idioms are lexical units that consist of a verb and a preposition with a figurative meaning that is not transparent from the literal meaning of the words In fact, prepositional idioms need to be placed into a sentence and can not be used independently
Eg: Look into, get on with, take care of
Prepositional idioms appear frequently in communication and writing These idioms need to be put into a specific context in order to understand their meaning
All the idioms that are collected are idioms related to animals because I mainly focus on that topic in this thesis Most of the idioms collected in this thesis are pure idioms and partial idioms
In Vietnamese, Idioms are classified in many different ways According to Nguyen Thien Giap (1998)[25]:‖ Idiom are phrases that in their syntactic and semantic structure have special properties, only found in that phrase In other words, an idiom is a phrase whose meaning is not made up of the meaning of the words that make it up‖ From this comment, we can infer that there is no specific method to classify idioms in Vietnamese People define idioms based on many criteria such as: Origin, Rhetoric
1 According to the origin, it can be divided into two types: pure Vietnamese idioms and Chinese idioms (Sino-Vietnamese idioms) For example, pure Vietnamese idioms like : Ăn xổi ở thì/ Buôn thúng bán mẹt… Sino-Vietnamese idioms like: Thâm căn cố đế…
2 According to the rhetoric used can be divided into categories: comparative (khỏe như trâu, nhanh như cắt, …) , metaphor ( Ngựa quen đường cũ, …), duality ( cao chạy xa bay, )
3 According to the number of words that can be classified into categories: 3 words ( Nhanh như cắt, khỏe như vâm, ), 4 words ( thẳng như ruột ngựa, đá mèo quèo chó, …), 5 words ( Chó chê mèo lắm lông…)
Idioms that are related to animals are a branch of idiom Ancient people created idioms that related to animals by using the image of animals or their behaviors to describe or compare with the characteristics or activities of humans or compare with activities that happen in daily life
Eg: Wolf is in sheep’s clothing
Scholars have their own way in defining idioms related to animals According to Gibbs (1999)[8], ―animal idioms are fixed expressions that contain a metaphorical comparison between humans and animals” Kovecses (2010)[9] defined Animal idioms by his ideas : ―Animal idioms are idiomatic expressions that use animal names to describe human experiences or actions in a figurative way‖ In Vietnamese, ―idioms related to animals‖ is an interesting topic for many scholars.
Metaphor
People define ―metaphor‖ in many different ways According to Lakoff and Johnson
(1980, p.5) [10], a metaphor is "understood as a mapping from a source domain to a target domain, where the source domain provides the concepts and inferential structure that we use to reason about the target domain" Black (1962, p.25) [11]defines metaphor as "the application of a name or descriptive term or phrase to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable" In spite of being defined in many different ways, we could briefly define:‖ Metaphor is a kind of expression used to describe a person or object by comparing them with another thing or object that have similar characteristic‖
People use metaphors in many everyday communication activities It also appears in novels, poetry, promotional activities etc Many people confuse metaphor and simile But simile is a kind of direct comparison (something like/as something) for example:‖ She looks like a queen in this dress‖- In this sentence, The girl is directly compared with a queen when she is wearing the dress But metaphor is ―implicit comparison‖, for example: ―Time is money‖- Time and money sound like they don’t have anything in common but time is compared with money because they are both valuable and that creates a metaphor
Because the topic of this thesis is about Idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures, this part of the thesis contains the characteristics, types of metaphor and
I also mainly focus on the functions of metaphors in idioms to point out the similarities and differences between Animal idioms in Vietnamese and English
There are several types of metaphor that are commonly used in literature and daily life I will briefly summarize 7 types of metaphor usually used
1 Standard Metaphor: It is a direct comparison between two things, people, objects , etc Example of a standard metaphor: Love is a journey The ―Love‖ is compared with the journey although there is nothing in common between them
2 Implied metaphor: This is a metaphor that does not explicitly state the comparison between two things, but rather suggests it indirectly For example, "the flowers nodded in the wind" implies a comparison between flowers and people Although flowers are objects, people still used a verb that describes a human action to depict the action of an object
3 Dead metaphor: A dead metaphor is one that has become so overused that its original meaning has been lost or forgotten ―Body of an essay‖ is a dead metaphor, as it has become a standard way of referring to the main part of an essay
4 Mixed metaphor: A mixed metaphor is a combination of two or more metaphors that are inconsistent or incompatible with each other For example, "we'll have to jump that bridge when we come to it" mixes the metaphors of "jumping a hurdle" and
5 Extended metaphor: An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is developed over
Not Taken" by Robert Frost uses the extended metaphor of a journey to represent the choices we make in life
6 Visual metaphor: The visual metaphor is representation of a noun through a visual image that demonstrates the relationship or association that creates the metaphor For example, ―a flag‖ is one of the most common examples of a visual metaphor, as are religious symbols, graffiti, etc
Metaphors are very common in idioms These metaphors play a very important role in conveying the meaning of idioms By analyzing metaphors in idioms, we can understand the layers of meaning deeply hidden in those idioms
Because metaphors are commonly being used in literature or in daily life, people are able to easily point out the characteristics of metaphor First, The most prominent function of metaphor is to use it to compare, but not simply to compare two things with each other For example, "My love is a rose" creates a comparison between love and a rose, implying that love is beautiful and delicate, like a flower Words often used in comparisons such as "like" or "as" do not appear in the metaphor Ortony(1975) [12] commented about the comparative feature of metaphor: ―Metaphors are a fundamental aspect of human thought and communication, as they allow us to make connections between seemingly disparate ideas and experiences" Metaphors also have figurative feature This creates emotional resonance For example, "The world's a stage" creates a sense of the grandeur and drama of life, even though the world is not literally a stage One of the most special features of metaphor is abstraction Concepts and emotions are conveyed by using metaphor According to Larkoff and Johnson
(1980, p.5) [13] “Metaphors can be used to create a sense of unity and coherence in a work of literature, as they can help to establish a central theme or idea that is explored throughout the text” For example, "He has a heart of stone" creates an image of someone who is cold and unfeeling, even though the heart is not literally made of stone Metaphors can be extended or developed over the course of a work of literature, creating a sense of unity and coherence We call this feature is extention For example, in William Golding's "Lord of the Flies", the metaphor of the island as a microcosm of society is developed throughout the novel, as the boys' behavior reflects the flaws and strengths of human nature Finally, Metaphor can be used to create a wide range of effects Gibbs (1994, p 27) [14] stated that Metaphors are a versatile and flexible tool for writers, as they can be used to create a variety of effects, from humor and irony to pathos and emotional resonance For example, in the line
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage" from Shakespeare's "Macbeth", the metaphor of life as a play creates a sense of transience and futility, highlighting the impermanence of human existence To conclude, there are 5 obvious features of metaphor that can be pointed out, they are:
1 Comparison: Metaphors create a comparison between two things, without using the words "like" or "as"
2 Figurative language: Metaphors use language in a way that is not meant to be taken literally, but rather to create imagery or emotional resonance
3 Abstraction: Metaphors are often used to express abstract concepts or emotions in a concrete and relatable way
4 Extension: Metaphors can be extended or developed over the course of a work of literature, creating a sense of unity and coherence
5 Effects: Metaphors can be used to create a wide range of effects, from humor and irony to pathos and emotional resonance
Metaphors are an important tool in language, allowing us to communicate complex ideas and emotions in a more efficient way Idioms, which are expressions that cannot be understood through the literal meaning of their individual words Idioms often rely on metaphors to convey their intended meaning, so that metaphor is considered as a vital factor in the formation of idioms
Idioms related to animals are a particularly rich source of metaphors For example, the idiom "a wolf in sheep’s clothing" is a metaphorical expression that means to be suspicious and dangerous It describes someone who seems to be harmless but actually dangerous and unpredictable In another example, the idiom "a pig can fly" is a metaphorical expression used to describe something that could not happen and it could be made up Pigs can't fly and this image is used to refer to a myth, not real
The use of metaphor in idioms serves several functions First and foremost, it makes your conversation more interesting and attractive By using metaphors, speakers can paint a picture in the listener's mind, allowing them to more easily understand and remember the intended message
Metaphors in idioms can help to convey cultural values and beliefs All the images, objects, animals,etc in the idioms are familiar with native people, so they are commonly used to create idioms These things not only contain the cultural values of nations but also show the native people’s belief However, it is important to note that the use of metaphor in idioms can also pose challenges for language learners For non-native speakers, idioms can be confusing and difficult to understand, because they are familiar with their cultural references and unable to grasp the native culture This underlines the importance of cultural awareness in language learning and communication
The traditional concept of Vietnamese and English people about animals
The concept of the English and the Vietnamese about animals has many similarities and differences The reason is because of the difference in culture as well as the living environment of the two countries In this thesis, the subjects studied include: Dog, Cat, Fish, Horse, Cow/buffalo, mouse, wolf/fox, tiger, sheep, bee/butterfly because many animals appear in English and Vietnamese idions and cannot be analyzed within this thesis,
3.1 Concept of Dog in English and Vietnamese cultures
In English culture, dogs are commonly seen as loyal companions and often referred to as "man's best friend." They are known for their affection nature, companionship, and ability to form strong bonds with humans Dogs are often kept as pets in households, where they provide emotional support, security, and joy to their owners The English concept of a dog extends beyond their role as pets Dogs are also valued for their working abilities and are commonly employed in various roles such as: Sheepdog, policedog, guidedog, etc English-speaking societies recognize and appreciate the intelligence, versatility, and trainability of dogs, which has led to their utilization in a wide range of practical and specialized tasks In addition, some bad traits of dogs are also recognized in English culture such as: dirty, messy, aggressive and so on We can see that the English concept of dog is quite special and diverse
In traditional Vietnamese beliefs, dogs are associated with luck, protection, and prosperity In the Vietnamese zodiac, each year is represented by an animal, and the dog is one of the zodiac signs Although the Vietnamese concept also recognizes the good qualities of dogs such as loyal, intelligent, and trainable In contrast, the Vietnamese concept of dogs has many different points from English concept Vietnamese people often associate dogs with bad personalities and often use dogs as metaphors for people or things with bad personalities Therefore, in the Vietnamese concept, the image of a dog is sometimes very negative
3.2 Concept of Cat in English and Vietnamese cultures
In English culture, cats are often regarded as independent and mysterious creatures They are commonly kept as pets and are known for their grace, agility, and ability to form unique bonds with their owners Cats are appreciated for their companionship and their ability to provide comfort and relaxation English-speaking societies often associate cats with qualities such as curiosity, mysterious and playfulness Characteristics related to cat behavior such as gestures, sleep, or the way they fight are also recognized in British culture Cats were kept in households to deter rat or mouse and protect food stores Although this role has diminished nowaday, the idea of cats as skilled hunters and guardians against rat or mouse is still present
In Vietnamese culture, cats hold a somewhat different position compared to English culture Cats are generally seen as independent, intelligent animals They are appreciated for their hunting abilities, especially in controlling rats and mouse in agriculture According to the Vietnamese concept, cats are intelligent and close to humans But they also have bad traits Metaphors of cats often appear in Vietnamese culture to refer to people with bad personalities The relationship between cats and rats also appear in Vietnamese culture These are two animals associated with each other in both English and Vietnamese cultures
3.3 Concept of fish in English and Vietnamese cultures
Fish is a common animal in British culture It is not only food but also a domestic animal In British culture, fish symbolizes abundance, fertility and luck The image of fish is used with many different meanings But in general, fish in English often has many good meanings
In Vietnamese culture, fish is a common animal associated with human life The image of fish is also a symbol of abundance and affluence In addition, the image of fish has many other meanings The image of fish is sometimes a metaphor for freedom or great opportunity
3.4 Concept of mouse in English and Vietnamese cultures
In English culture, mouse or rat are generally seen as small creatures with round bodies, small ears, and long tails They are sometimes depicted as clever, industrial, and adaptable creatures They are known for their ability to scurry and move quickly However, in some contexts, the concept of a mouse is negative Mouse and rat are commonly seen as pests when they infest homes or agricultural areas, causing damage and health risks The bad traits of mouse or rat such as smelly, dirty often appear in the British concept Mouse and rat sometime symbolize the weekness and coward because of their small and weak appearance
In Vietnamese culture, the mouse is an animal associated with agriculture Rats are a symbol of abundance and prosperity Rats are agile and intelligent animals In addition, they are also a rodent that harms the crops of the Vietnamese people The metaphorical image of the mouse appears a lot in Vietnamese culture
3.5 Concept of cow and buffalo in English and Vietnamese cultures
In English culture, the cow holds significant symbolism and importance Cows are distinguished for their role in agriculture and farming The images of cow are sometimes used as symbols of domesticity and tranquility, with their image evoking a sense of calm and serenity The image of the cow is used as a pretty common metaphor in British culture Meanwhile, buffalo is an un uncommon animal to the English people, so they don't often appear in British culture
In Vietnamese culture, buffaloes and cows have an important position in the life of Vietnamese people Cows and buffaloes are highly valued in Vietnamese culture, especially in rural areas where agriculture plays a vital role They are considered as working animals and are preeminent associated with farming and rice cultivation Cows and buffaloes are used for farming fields and pulling carts, serving as an essential means of labor in traditional agricultural practices Buffalo and cow images are often associated with each other and are used as a metaphor in many idioms Cows and buffaloes are also seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity, industrious and hard- working
3.6 Concept of horse in English and Vietnamese cultures
Horse is an animal associated with English people since ancient times Horses played a crucial role in transportation and were essential for travel, trade, and communication Horses help people to explore territories and were instrumental in the development of trade routes In British culture, horses symbolize strength, and endurance In addition, horses symbolize freedom, grace, and nobility in English culture They often feature in literature, art, and mythology as powerful and majestic creatures Horses are celebrated for their beauty, loyalty, and their ability to form strong bonds with humans
In the Vietnamese concept, horses also have very special characteristics They are symbols of freedom, and strength Since ancient times, horses have been considered as a means of human transportation Therefore, horses also possess outstanding characteristics such as agility and endurance The horse has become a cultural symbol with many traits It is bravery, resilience, loyalty and devotion In the Vietnamese concept, the image of a horse brings health and success
3.7 Concept of wolf and fox in English and Vietnamese cultures
In British culture, wolves are quite common Wolves are dangerous predators Therefore, people think that wolves are cruel animals The metaphor of wolves is often used to refer to people who are cunning, powerful or independent British culture also has a special place for foxes Foxes are predators Although not as dangerous as wolves, they also have outstanding features such as intelligence, sly and cunning Therefore, the image of a fox usually refers to people with a cunning personality
The Vietnamese concept of wolves also has many similarities with the British concept The Vietnamese consider wolves to be dangerous and cruel animals Therefore, metaphorical images of wolves often refer to people with cunning and dangerous personalities In the Vietnamese concept, fox is an animal with personality traits such as sly and cunning The image of foxes is also quite common in Vietnamese culture and has many similarities with British culture
3.8 Concept of tiger in English and Vietnamese cultures
METHODOLOGY
Approach to the study
There are 2 approaches that are mainly used in the study - Deductive and Interpretive approaches Deductive approach will be applied to help us have the theoretical foundation for the study that is based on the literature synthesized in the works of scholars who create the fundamental ideas for the research Some scholars provide ideas in the study: Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [15] Steen (2011)[16], Gibb R.W [17] (2006) N.Lân (2011) [26], D.T.Lạc
[27] anh P.V.Hòa(2022) [28], etc By these theoretical foundations, I am able to make a framework for the study and clearly identify the metaphor in both animal English and Vietnamese idioms After that, the Interpretative approach will be applied to carry out this study This is the most important approach to identify and distinguish the similarities and differences between metaphors in idioms of both cultures The vital data will be collected by this method to analyze and synthesize them to conclude and point out the characteristics of both English and Vietnamese idioms which are different and in common These differences and similarities are valuable material for people to learn English, especially English idioms and help people to have a clear view on English and Vietnamese idioms
The idioms in this study were taken from different sources of document Specifically, There are 220 idioms that include 110 English idioms and 110 Vietnamese idioms.I have collected idioms related to animals in English from the following sources: [18] Oxford dictionary of idioms by Cowie, A.P ; [19] The great book of American Idiom: A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases by Lingo Mastery; [20] Dictionary of
Seidl, Jennifer & McMordie ; [22]Longman American Idioms by Urbom In addition,Official documents are also used by me to select common idioms related to animals They are the following documents: [29] Từ điển thành ngữ & tục ngữ Việt Nam by Nguyễn Lân; [30] Từ điển giải thích thành ngữ tiếng Việt by Nguyễn Như Ý et al; [31] Tục ngữ ca dao và dân ca Việt Nam by Vũ Ngọc Phan; [32] Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam by Vũ Dung, Vũ Thùy Anh and Vũ Quang Đào;[33] Từ điển Thành ngữ Tục ngữ Việt Nam dành cho Học sinh by Nguyễn Phương Nga
Because the number of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese is very large, So in this thesis, I mainly focus on analyzing and compare idioms related to the following animals: Dog, Cat, Fish, Buffalo/Cow, Rat, Sheep, Wolf/Fox, Horse, Tiger, Bee/Butterfly All idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese have been carefully selected by me to ensure the appropriate criteria for this thesis These are idioms containing metaphors of animals that I have carefully selected from a variety of sources In particular, they are all official and common idioms, commonly used in English culture and Vietnamese culture
The use of idioms clearly shows the linguistic and cultural characteristics of idioms in two cultures so that they are vital to identify the metaphor in the idioms.
Identification of metaphor
To identify the metaphor I need to acquire the methods of recognizing metaphor The definition of metaphor is defined differently by their own ways but there are some commons in identifying metaphor
Lakoff and Johnson proposed Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) According to Lakoff and Johnson (1980) , metaphors are not just linguistic expressions but also reveal how people think and reason CMT suggests that metaphors map concepts from a source domain onto a target domain, thereby highlighting similarities between them
Richard Patt and Weber also have the same recognition about metaphor: Metaphor is defined as the substitution of one idea or object with another, used to assist expression or understanding In Steen's Cognitive Linguistic Approach, Steen (2011) [23] suggests that metaphors involve a mapping between two mental spaces: a source domain and a target domain This mapping creates a blended space that allows us to understand and interpret the metaphorical expression Steen proposes a set of linguistic and cognitive criteria for identifying and interpreting metaphors in text
From all the ideas of recognizing metaphors above, I can easily acquire the methods of identifying metaphors First, I needed to identify the hidden meanings of the idiom in order to recognize the metaphor In most cases, through inconsistency in the apparent meaning, the absurdity in the linguistic sense can be a latent metaphor By going through all the metaphorical idioms, I will have a systematic view on metaphor and be able to easily identify and compare between metaphors
From a cognitive perspective, by changing the conceptual system, people can create a metaphor The criteria are specified as follows: a metaphor is a result of a change in the usage of a word or phrase from the context or in which it is expected to occur with another context or domain where it is not expected to occur, it causes semantic tension
These ideas above provide the background to define a metaphor in general However, in some particular cases of metaphor, knowledge from different perspectives should be applied to deal with it It is necessary to combine the criteria such as linguistic, pragmatic and cognitive These criteria which one needs to bear in mind to help point out and understand metaphors People have their own method to handle metaphor to accord with their research aim about the process of defining and understanding metaphor
All of the above suggestions are useful ideas in identifying metaphors In this thesis, metaphors are identified, analyzed and compared mainly from idioms related to animals Metaphors are analyzed and classified based on characteristics of behavior or appearance of animals used in idioms that are similar to human characteristics or an event occurring in life.
Data collection
This section contains the way data were collected, the data in this study are idioms that related to animals The documents that contain the idioms are also listed in this section
The use of animal idioms is a common feature in many languages, including English and Vietnamese Animal idioms are a type of figurative language that uses animals to convey a meaning beyond their literal definition The use of animal idioms in language is an interesting reflection of cultural attitudes and beliefs towards animals, as well as the way in which cultural values and beliefs are expressed through language This methodology will explore and compare animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures By analyzing the usage and meaning of animal idioms in each culture, this methodology aims to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural values and beliefs associated with animals in English and Vietnamese cultures Through this comparative analysis, this methodology will shed light on the similarities and differences between animal idioms in the two languages, as well as the cultural context in which they are used Ultimately, this methodology will contribute to a compare and correctly point out the features of idioms related to animals between two cultures I have collected a list of animal-related idioms commonly used by people in Vietnam and England This list of idioms is necessary for us to cover and find the similarities and the differences between animal- related idioms in Vietnamese and English
All the data in this research are collected from varied sources of documents These are from both English and Vietnamese sources
4.2 Defining metaphors in selected idioms
The first step to define metaphors in idioms is to synthesize the metaphors from idioms Idioms with metaphors related to animals in English and Vietnamese have been collected from the sources listed in the ―Collection of idioms‖ section Because in Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals, not all idioms have metaphors, so the idioms synthesized for this thesis are all idioms containing metaphors
Once a list of idioms has been collected, the next step is to analyze each one to identify its metaphorical meaning To do this, we must understand the meaning of the idioms that have been synthesized From there, we can find the metaphors and their meanings in idioms For example, in the English idiom ― Fish out of water‖, the meaning of this idiom is
―A person away from his or her usual environment or activities.‖ From the meaning of this idiom, the metaphorical image of the ―fish‖ could be pointed out The factor ―fish‖ in this idiom refers to a person The same method applies to idioms containing metaphors of other animals
After completing the steps of analyzing metaphors in idioms Metaphors in idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese are synthesized and compared with each other This action aims to highlight the features of metaphor in English and Vietnamese idioms From there, point out the similarities and differences of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese
The above steps are important to define, analyze and compare metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals In this way, it becomes easier to synthesize and compare metaphors in idioms related to animals.
Data Analysis
After defining general definition about Idiom, Metaphor, etc and collecting data, the analysis will be carried out step by step as follows:
The first step is that the metaphor will be pointed out from the idioms It will be described in two languages In this study, the metaphor is determined by the recognition and understanding based on the principle definition of metaphor and method to identify metaphor
Secondly, metaphors in idioms related to animals in both cultures are explained their meaning by analyzing the words in these idioms It is the fact that metaphors are not easy to explain But metaphors can be specifically interpreted depending on the features of meaning that are perceptible to the reader In analyzing metaphor, I need to apply a process that includes 3 steps: Collect, Generalize and Conclude Firstly, I need to collect metaphors in the idiom After that, generalizing them to identify the meaning of these metaphors in order to find the characteristic of metaphor in idioms Finally, from the data that are collected in step two and draw conclusions
The last step is that from the data that are collected in step two I will be able to compare, comment, analyze the data and draw out conclusions These conclusions are vital for the aim of the research- to point out the different and similar characteristics of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture especially in terms of metaphor, structure, and culture.
Concluding Remark
All my methods to identify metaphor, and characteristics of animal idioms have been presented as above I have also introduced essential concepts relevant to our research such as idioms, metaphors, common metaphors, and types of metaphors that often appear in idioms The framework of the data analysis process is also introduced I believe that the above steps will help the research to bring satisfactory results for the research.
FINDING AND DISCUSSION
Compare English idioms and Vietnamese idioms that related to animals
In this part of chapter III, I will make an effort in describing and analyzing metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals The main purpose of this part is distinguishing the uses of metaphors in both English and Vietnamese animal idioms By using these data, I will be able to easily point out the similarities and differences between Vietnamese and English animal idioms in terms of metaphorical uses
1.1 Idioms contain metaphor of animals: “animal is a person or a thing”
The metaphors related to the image of dogs in idioms are collected and listed in the following table From this table, we will get an overview of the mappings of metaphors related to the image of dogs After that, we can go into specific analysis in each metaphors
Table 1: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor DOG
Metaphor Dog is a problem or issue Dog is a bad and greedy person
Dog is the bad or useless thing idiom With preposition: IN, ON, OF, etc
In English, there are 21 idioms realated to dog and in Vietnamese, there are 20 idioms Overall, dog is a familiar animal that have a close relationship with both Vietnamese and English so that we can easily find idioms related to dogs in both cultures
(1) You shouldn’t hang out with such a bad guy like him Remember if you lie down with dog, you will get up with fleas
(2) It's a dog-eat-dog world out there
(3) He has so much money that it would be no effort at all for him to help a lame dog over a stile , but the man is adamant that not a penny of his fortune be used toward charity of any kind
(4) Every artistic decision we make in the movie has to go back and be approved by the head office I wish they'd let the dog see the rabbit and just let us get on with it!
(5) I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie
(6) Thằng đấy có ra gì đâu mà chê con bé ấy xấu Đúng là chó chê mèo lắm lông ( He is not good enough to criticize her He is such a bad guy try to judge the other)
(7) Lão ta cố gắng cất giấu hết số tiền để không phải chia cho ai cả Đúng là cái loại chó già giữ xương (He tried to hide all the money to not share for anyone What a greedy guy)
(8) Hắn gặp may như kiểu chó ngáp phải ruổi vậy, bỗng nhiên nhận được một hợp đồng lớn (He got lucky like a yawn dog, suddenly got a big contract)
(9) Jack đã không biết gì còn thích thể hiện Đúng là đồ chó ông thánh cắn ra chữ (Jack knows nothing but try to show off himself like a dog bark words)
(10) Lão ta là chẳng làm gì nên hồn Đúng là loại chó cỏ rồng đất (The old man is not doing anything right He’s so useless)
Dog is an animal that is very close to humans, so the image of dog often appears in idioms in English and Vietnamese culture In particular, the image of a dog is often used as a metaphor to refer to humans The characteristics of dogs are observed by humans and then put into idioms to refer to people or human actions In the idiom "If you lie down with dog, you will get up with flea" The image of a dog is a metaphor for a person, meaning that if you sleep with a dog you will get fleas, just like people who play with bad people will also get bad habits." Here, we have two domain concepts: dog and human The characteristics of dogs are also used to relate to humans Therefore, the image of the dog is used to refer to humans in idioms such as
―dog eat dog‖- referring to the behavior of fighting between humans to gain benefits,
―help a lame dog over the stile‖ - refers to someone in difficulty who needs help, etc
In another idiom‖ Dog of war‖ (A mercenary soldier) The dog is a domain in creating metaphors The image of a loyal dog represents a soldier
In Vietnamese, the image of a dog is also used a lot in metaphors referring to people Unlike English culture in which people consider dogs to be man's best friend, Vietnamese people often consider dogs as animals and assign them many bad traits In the idiom: "Chó già giữ xương" (The greedy dog keeps bones) - The image of an old dog is a metaphor for a person with a greedy personality, "Chó ngáp phải ruồi‖ (a dog yawns at a fly") - referring to the person who receives a good reward by chance The image of a dog is also a metaphor for things that have no value as in the idiom: "Chó cỏ rồng đất" (Earth dragon grass dog), etc In English, ―dog‖ is also an conceptual metaphor that refers to a problem For instance, the idioms ―Let sleeping dog lie‖ This idiom means ―ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult‖ In this idiom, the factor: ―dog‖ is a problem In Vietnamese idioms, the prepositions are rarely used due to the structure, whereas in English, many idioms contain prepositions
Table 2: Frequency of the factor DOG in English and Vietnamese
We have a summary table of the similarities and differences of idioms and metaphors of idioms related to cats in English and Vietnamese as follows:
Table 3: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor CAT
Metaphor Cat is a thing or an action
Cat is a powerful/rich person
Cat is a person with bad traits idiom With preposition: IN, ON, OF, etc
One of the most popular animals in both Vietnamese and English culture is the cat Because of being familiar in both cultures, we usually meet the image of cat in many Vietnamese and English idioms Idioms with metaphors ―Cat is as a person, thing or an action‖ appear quite common in both English and Vietnamese For example, in the idiom:
"All cats are gray in the dark" (Tất cả mèo đều màu xám khi trong bóng tối) The metaphor
"Cat is a person" helps us infer that the metaphorical meaning of this idiom is not important in appearance between people Another example of the metaphor ―cat is a person‖ is the idiom ―Curiosity kills the cat‖ The nature of cats is curious, so in the above idiom, the image of cats is a metaphor for curious people who are often in danger We can deduce that the image of a cat in the above idiom is a reference to a human Sometime, the metaphorical image of a cat is about a powerful person such as in the idiom ― The fat cat‖ Similarly, in the idiom: "put the cat among pigeons" The conceptual metaphor (The cat is as a thing or an action) appeared quite clearly in this idiom This idiom means: ―An action or a thing that causes trouble or makes a lot of people very angry‖ As we can see, the image of the cat appearing in each different context will be a metaphor for each different type of person or action of different nature There are some examples for the conceptual idioms ― Cat is a person, think or an action‖ in English
(11) I can't believe you're going on a date with someone you've never met before! What if you don't think he's attractive?
B: "Eh, all cats are gray in the dark [Tất cả mèo đều xám trong bóng tối]—it will be fine."
(12) You can't keep us out of the student council office just because we're underclassmen! A cat may look at a king], after all!
(13) 'All right, I've been reading it So what?'—'Curiosity killed the cat , that's what.'
(14) The bank is poised to put the cat among the pigeons this morning by slashing the cost of borrowing
(15) They're the fat cats in our town They've got tons of money
Sometimes, the image of a cat appearing in an idiom is only one element of an action expressed by the idiom, for example in the idioms ``No enough room to swing a cat" and "Let the cat out of the bag" There are some examples:
(16) There is no room to swing a cat in this tent
(17) It’s time to let the cat out of the bag
(18) Không biết ông ta đang tức giận điều gì mà đá mèo quèo chó cả buổi sáng hôm nay
The appearance of the cat in this idiom is not a metaphorical image The cat is only an abstract matter In the idioms "Let the cat out of the bag" and "No room to swing a cat" in English and ― Đá mèo quèo chó” in Vietnamese, the metaphor is the cat image but the idiom itself is a metaphor In Vietnamese, there are also many idioms containing the image of a cat as a metaphor for a person For example, in the idiom: "Mèo nhỏ bắt chuột con" (A small cat catches a small mouse), the image of a cat is a metaphor for a person This idiom implies that a person should be aware of his/her ability to achieve success Or in the idiom "Mèo mù vớ cá rán" (A blind cat with fried fish), the image of a cat is a metaphor for a person This idiom means a person who earns unexpected success
Unlike the English, the image of cats in Vietnamese idioms is often used as a metaphor for people with bad traits For example, in the idiom "Mèo mả gà đồng" (rave cat, chicken in the field), the image of cats is used as a metaphor for people who have bad personalities Or as in the idiom "Mèo già khóc chuột", the image of a cat is taken as a metaphor for a wicked person In general, due to cultural differences, the image of cats is placed in different metaphorical concepts in English and Vietnamese cultures We have some examples of idioms related to cats in Vietnamese as follows:
Similarities and Differences between idioms related to animals in English and
The similarities and differences of idioms related to animals from the analysis and comparison of metaphors in idioms related to animals in the previous section By understanding more about these similarities and differences, readers will gain a deeper insight into both British and Vietnamese cultures
2.1: Similarities of English and Vietnamese idioms related to Animals
From the metaphors that have been synthesized and analyzed in the previous section, we can easily point out the similarities and differences of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures First, I will point out similarities between Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals
First and foremost, The uses of metaphors in idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese are in common Both English and Vietnamese animal idioms use animal metaphors to refer to people, things, objects All metaphors of cat, dog, fish, cow, buffalo, mouse, sheep, wolf, fox, horse, tiger, bee, butterfly refer to people or things in English and Vietnamese idioms In English, idioms are created by combining an animal with a noun and this type of idiom also occurs in Vietnamese This is due to some similarities in the culture and concept of the English and the Vietnamese
The concept of some animals in English culture and Vietnamese culture is quite similar, for example: Fox is sly and cunning, wolf is wicked and greedy, tiger is powerful and dangerous Because of these characteristics, these animals often appear in idioms as a metaphor to refer to people and things with similar characteristics Because of the similar concept of these animals in both Vietnamese and English cultures, many idioms containing metaphorical images of these animals also have similar meanings
Through the process of selection and analysis, we can see that there are many English and Vietnamese idioms that have the same meaning and even have a similar structure For examples : ―Mèo ra cửa, chuột xướng ca‖ and ― The cat is away, the mice will play‖, ― Play cat and mouse with‖ and ―Chơi mèo vờn chuột‖, ―Wolf in sheep’s clothing‖ and ―Sói khoác da cừu‖ etc In addition, there are many metaphors of animals that appear in pairs in English and Vietnamese idioms such as: ―Dog and cat‖, ―cat and mouse‖, ―wolf and sheep‖, ―Fox and chicken‖
In English and Vietnamese, many animals with opposite relationships appear in pairs in idioms Those animal pairs are: Dog and cat, cat and mouse, fox and chicken, wolf and sheep These animals are metaphors that refer to people or things that have an opposite relationship
In conclusion, these are typical similarities that represent the characteristics of English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals These similarities help us to better understand the cultural attitudes and concepts of people in England and Vietnam
2.2 Differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture
Although there are many similarities between idioms in Vietnamese and English, but due to the differences between the two cultures, there are many differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese Through the process of analyzing metaphors in Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals, some differences between idioms related to animals in the two cultures are revealed
Firstly, animal idioms are often rooted in the cultural context in which they are used, and therefore can have different meanings in different cultures because the people's concepts in each culture are different In Vietnamese and English concepts, many metaphors of animals in idioms convey a different meaning For example, in Vietnamese culture, the metaphor of fish in idiom ―Cá bể chim ngàn‖ refer to a free person Fish is a symbol of freedom in Vietnam But this metaphorical image doesn’t appear in English idioms with the same meaning Or the metaphor of ―bee and butterfly‖ in Vietnamese refers to the illicit relationship while the metaphor of ―butterfly ― in English idioms refers to a state of emotion Some animals that are common in English culture, such as sheep, have many idioms containing metaphors of sheep and sheep is an uncommon animal in Vietnamese culture, so there are very few idioms related to sheep
Some animals appear in pairs in Vietnamese idioms but not in English idioms such as: Cat and Fox, Fish and Bird, Cow and horse, Cow and buffalo, Fox and tiger, bee and butterfly According to the Vietnamese perspective, these are some pairs of animals that have mutual characteristics, so they often appear together in Vietnamese idioms These pairs of animals are metaphors referring to people or things that have mutual characteristics
English and Vietnamese also have different linguistic structures, which can affect the way idioms are formed and used English idioms often have the appearance of prepositions to form that idiom But in Vietnamese, there is no preposition that appears in idioms because Vietnamese idioms are mainly set up by bidual structures
The differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese are important information to help identify idioms In addition, these differences reflect the unique cultural and linguistic contexts in which the idioms are used, and demonstrate the richness and diversity of language across different cultures
Recapitulation
My thesis is about the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals My thesis was divided into three parts Part one is an introduction about my thesis Part two is about development which consists of the theoretical backgrounds of idioms and metaphor and a review of previous study In addition, it contains the process of describing, analyzing metaphors in idioms related to animals in Vietnamese and English cultures with the aim to compare and find out the differences and similarities between them
The similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese can be pointed out by analyzing and comparing the metaphors in part two The similarities of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese are: The animals appearing in English and Vietnamese idioms are metaphorical images of people or things The concept of the Vietnamese and the English about some animals appearing in idioms is the same Some English idioms related to animals have similar meanings to some Vietnamese idioms related to animals There are some differences between English and Vietnamese idioms Firstly, In Vietnamese and English concepts, many metaphors of animals in idioms convey a different meaning due to English and Vietnamese cultures are different The structure of idioms in English and Vietnamese is also different
Part three is about the conclusion In this part, I can draw some conclusions about idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures and give suggestions for learning English idioms from the similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese
Firstly, due to the limited time, the shortage of necessary materials and the rather new topic of the thesis, my thesis may has some faults Secondly, because there are many animals that appear in English and Vietnamese idioms, my research mainly focuses on idioms of some common animals in English and Vietnamese cultures For this reason, many features of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese have not yet been examined and compared Thirdly, the metaphors of animals in idioms are varied and diverse, so I can only analyze and compare one type of metaphor appearing in idioms within the scope of my research Finally, there are many different points in concept, syntactic and structure and concepts between English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals so that I have to compare and contrast them in detail for readers to easily accept and understand.
Suggestion for studying English idioms related to animals
Learning English idioms related to animals can be a fun and engaging way to improve your comprehension and communication skills in English Animal idioms are widely used in English, and they can help you express complex ideas and emotions From the similarities and differences of idioms related to animals in Vietnamese and English, I give the following suggestions to learn and absorb idioms related to animals in English more effective:
Firstly, Learners should start with the basic idioms Begin by familiarizing yourself with some of the most common animal idioms in English This will help you build a foundation of knowledge and increase your confidence in using idioms Some common animal idioms in English include "train cats and dogs," "to be a fish out of water," and "to let the cat out of the bag." This aims to help learners acquainted with the common idiom related to animals in English culture
Learners are required to fully understand the meanings of these idioms Many animal idioms in English have interesting and often surprising origins, and learning about these can deepen your understanding of the language To deeply understand the meaning of these idioms, it’s necessary for learners to understand the English culture and English concept Learners can look up English idioms related to animals on the internet or a dictionary to better understand the origin and cultural context in which those idioms were created From the result of the study, learners can distinguish the similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals, thereby avoiding the confusion between idioms in the two cultures and absorbing the English idioms in an easier way
After learning about the origin and meaning of idioms related to animals, Learners need to know the methods to be able to memorize those idioms effectively.The most basic that we can apply to memorize idioms is writing them down or repeating them regularly Trying to use animal idioms in conversations, writing exercises, or even in creative writing pieces is the best way to learn English idioms related to animals This is not only an effective method for memorizing English idioms but also helps learners to apply them fluently in many different contexts Some animals in English and Vietnamese have similar characteristics according to the concept of the English and the Vietnamese Therefore, many animal idioms in English have similar meanings to Vietnamese Learners can apply this tip to learn English idioms more easily
Reading English books or watching English TV shows also helps readers learn more about idioms related to animals Reading books and articles that use animal idioms can help attention to the idioms used in dialogue in English TV shows, and trying to incorporate them into your own vocabulary will be a great way to expose yourself to animal idioms In addition, this method also helps people improve their ability to use idioms in communication and writing This will help learners develop a deeper understanding of how and when to use the idioms
Idioms related to animals in English are an important part of English culture, so it is necessary to learn these idioms By learning English idioms related to animals, learners can improve their language and communication skills in English By following the strategies outlined above, you can deepen your understanding of animal idioms in English, and gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of the language.
Conclusion
The thesis: ―Comparing idioms that related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture and suggestions to learners in learning English‖ has clarified many aspects of the meaning of idioms in English and Vietnamese, and at the same time highlights the features of the concept of animals in English and Vietnamese cultures The exploration of similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture provides valuable insights for language learners in their journey to master the English language
By analyzing and comparing idioms with images related to animals, we can understand and compare the characteristics of idioms in two cultures By analyzing the metaphors of animals that appear in both English and Vietnamese idioms, we have the opportunity to understand more about the cultural features as well as the concept of people in the two countries It is evident that both English and Vietnamese cultures heavily rely on animals as metaphorical symbols.The metaphors of animals that appear in idioms mainly refer to people and animals Animals serve as a powerful means of communication across languages This similarity underscores the general human tendency to draw upon the natural world to express complex thoughts and feelings In addition, the analysis and comparison of metaphors in animal idioms also help us to see many similarities in the culture as well as the concept of the English and the Vietnamese people towards animals
On the other hand, we can also see many differences between English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals through the process of comparing animal metaphors appearing in those idioms Because the British and Vietnamese cultures are different, the British and Vietnamese conceptions of some animals also have many differences so that many metaphors of animals in idioms convey a different meaning In addition, the structure of idioms in
English and Vietnamese is also completely different Recognizing these differences is essential for English learners They help learners gain insight into English idioms and help avoid confusion in learning English idioms related to animals
The exploration of similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture provides valuable insights for language learners in their journey to master the English language At the end of the thesis, I gave suggestions for English learners to learn and apply English idioms effectively in writing and communication
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ENGLISH IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS
1 Teach an old dog with new tricks
6 If you lie down with dog, you will get up with flea
10 Every dog has his (its) day
11 Tail that wags the dog
16 Help a lame dog over stile
17 Keep a dog and bark yourself
19 Let the dog see the rabbit
20 Throw someone to the dog
22 Let the cat out of the bag
23 Put the cat among the pigeon
25 All cat are gray in the dark
28 Play cat and mouse games
29 A cat may look at a king
31 No room to swing a cat
32 Play a cat and mouse with
33 See which way the cat jump
34 When cat away, mice will play
38 A dead cat on the line
42 A big fish in a small pond
48 Have other fish to fry
49 There are plenty more fish in the sea
52 Only dead fish go with the flow
55 Have the memory of a goldfish
57 Until the cow come home
61 Take the bull by the horn
65 Are you a man or a mouse
67 When cat away, the mice will play
68 Burn not your house to fright the mouse away
74 Get off one’s high horse
75 Lock the barn door after the horse is gone
76 Put the cart before the horse
77 Bet on the wrong horse
78 You can lead the horse to the water but you can’t make it drink
81 Keep the wolf from the door
82 Throw someone to the wolf
83 Keep the wolf at bay
86 Have a wolf by the ear
87 A growing youth has a wolf in his belly
92 Don’t let the fox guarding the hen house
94 Had a tiger by the tail
95 Tiger can’t change it stripes
100 Separate the sheeps from the goat
101 Make sheep’s eyes at someone
102 Black sheep of the family
104 If one sheep leap over the ditch, all the rest will follow
105 hanged for a sheep as a lamb
110 Put the bee on someone
VIETNAMESE IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS
2 Chó gầy hổ mặt người nuôi
4 Chó cậy nhà, gà cậy chuồng
6 Chó ăn đá, gà ăn sỏi
8 Chó ông thánh cắn ra chữ
10 Chó chê mèo lắm lông
13 Nhờn chó chó liếm mặt
20 Chó tha đi mèo tha lại
24 Mèo lành ai nỡ cắt tai
26 Mèo mù vớ cá rán
27 Mèo nhỏ bắt chuột con
28 Mèo nào chẳng ăn vụng mỡ
29 Mèo ra cửa, chuột xướng ca
31 Mèo khen mèo dài đuôi
35 Cá rô gặp mưa rào
36 Cá vào tay ai nấy bắt
38 Cá mè đè cá chép
43 Cá không ăn muối cá ươn
46 Cá lớn nuốt cá bé
51 Cá sẩy là cá lớn
54 Trâu bò húc nhau ruồi muỗi chết
55 Bán bò tậu ếch ương
57 Bò chết chẳng khỏi rơm
59 Trâu béo kéo trâu gầy
60 Trâu ăn lúa bò ăn mạ
61 Trâu buộc ghét trâu ăn 9
62 Trâu chậm uống nước đục
63 Trâu ta ăn ở đồng ta
64 Trâu già chẳng nệ dao phay
67 Trâu hay chẳng ngại cày trưa
68 Trâu kén cỏ trâu gầy
70 Cháy nhà ra mặt chuột
72 Chuột chù lại có xạ hương
77 Bày đường cho chuột chạy
81 Một con ngựa đau cả tàu bỏ cỏ
84 Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã
86 Ngựa lồng, cóc cùng lồng
90 Sói vào nhà không mất gà cũng mất vịt
91 Cáo chết 3 năm quay đầu về núi
94 Cáo bầy không bằng một cọp
95 Cáo không ăn gà hàng xóm
96 Cáo nào tử tế với gà
98 Hổ phụ sinh hổ tử
100 Hổ dữ không ăn thịt con
105 Ki cóp cho cọp nó tha