Khóa luận tốt nghiệp a study of enghish idioms denoting fear with reference to the vietnamese equivalents

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES BA THESIS A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS N

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BA THESIS

A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE

EQUIVALENTS NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ THÀNH NGỮ TIẾNG ANH BIỂU THỊ NỖI SỢ CÓ THAM CHIẾU ĐẾN NGHĨA TƯƠNG

ĐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT

Student : NGUYỄN THỊ ANH Student code : 621203

Major : ENGLISH Supervisor : NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM M.A

Hanoi – 2021

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BA THESIS

A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE

EQUIVALENTS NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ THÀNH NGỮ TIẾNG ANH BIỂU THỊ NỖI SỢ CÓ THAM CHIẾU ĐẾN NGHĨA TƯƠNG

ĐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT

Student : NGUYỄN THỊ ANH Student code : 621203

Major : ENGLISH Supervisor : NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM M.A

Hanoi – 2021

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY

I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor in English Language Except where the reference is indicated, no other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the text of the thesis

Hanoi, 2021

Nguyễn Thị Anh

Approved by SUPERVISOR

(Signature and full name)

Date:………

to her for advice and suggestions right from the beginning when the thesis was adopted

Secondly, I take this opportunity to express gratitude to all of the Faculty of Education and Foreign languages members at Vietnam National University of Agriculture for their valuable teaching, help, support and enlighten my learning path

Thirdly, my sense of gratitude to my classmates who have taken time and trouble to alert me to errors in my thesis and provided me with useful

suggestions which this thesis is used

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my family who have

supported and encouraged me to complete this thesis

Due to the limited knowledge and reasoning ability of myself, there are still many limitations and shortcomings, I hope the guidance and contribution of lecturers and others to make my thesis more complete

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale for the study

2 Aims and objectives of the study

3 Research questions (in form of questions)

4 Scope of the study

5 Significance of the study

6 Design of the study

Part 2: DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 Review of previous studies (at home/abroad)

1.2.2.2 Classification of English idioms

1.2.2.3 Features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms

Chapter 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 The frequence of English idioms denoting FEAR in Dictionary of

Current English – Vietnamese Idioms and their Vietnamese equivalents

3.2 The Vietnamese equivalence of English idioms denoting FEAR in

Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms

3.3 Summary

Part 3: CONCLUSION

1 Recapitulation

2 Concluding remarks

3 Limitation of the study

4 Recommendations/Suggestions for further study

ABSTRACT

English idioms are an important part of everyday English They appears all the time in both written and spoken English Because idioms don't always mean literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with each idiom The thesis focuses

on investigating features of idioms, including idioms denoting FEAR in Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms and their Vietnamese translation versions Using comparison and contrast method, the thesis attempts

to point out the equivalent and non-equivalent of meaning of idioms denoting FEAR found in the selected dictionary and their Vietnamese translation The research results will be useful for improving English teaching and learning, especially English idioms, as well as understand more about culture and people

of the two countries

Therefore, the author hopes that a study on idioms in Vietnamese and English will help an important part in teaching and learning English in general

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 1.1 List of “basic” emotions

Table 3.1 English idioms denoting Fear in Dictionary of Current Vietnamese idioms and their Vienamese equivalents

English-PART I: INTRODUCTION

1.1 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY

Language is an important part of everyday life, thanks to language people can communicate with each other Today, English is considered a global

language - Crystal (2003) found out in English as a Global Language that “A

quarter of the world’s population is already fluent or competent in English, and this figure is steadily growing – in the early 2000s that means around 1.5 billion people” and many learning materials, websites on the internet such as newspapers, stories are also written in English In particular, Vietnam has been considering English as an important language in using English for teaching

in schools and universities

Not only short-term English learners, but also long-term learners or those who have lived in a country that English is their mother tongue for many years, will also have difficulty understanding the meaning that native speakers want to convey Because native speakers not only use simple words, they also use compound sentences, proverbs, slang , local words and idioms a lot into everyday life

Idioms are one of the basic units featured in English They are the cultural crystallization of a country that has been handed down in the past If we analyze and study them, we will not only have a deeper understanding of the cultural uniqueness of that nation, but also have a better understanding of the vocabulary and grammar Therefore, many linguists have studied idioms

While we communicate, we convey our feelings, emotions about something Therefore, idioms for feelings, emotions have a large amount in English and Vietnamese idioms One of the idioms for emotions still few people have studied is the expression that denotes fear So I decided to do a study called

"A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH

REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS" This study

characterizes the idioms in English and Vietnamese that denote fear, and then collates them to indicate similarities and the difference in meaning when

translating between Vietnamese and English idioms in Dictionary of Current

English – Vietnamese Idioms (Thành ngữ từ điển Anh- Việt thông dụng) of Nhà

xuất bản Khoa học và Kỹ thuật in 1995) - A dictionary can be considered as a reference for many Vietnamese to use when learning idioms

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

* Aims of the study

The aim of this thesis is to investigate similarities and differences in the meaning of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear from

Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms of Nhà xuất bản Khoa học

và Kỹ thuật in 1995)

* Objectives of the study

To achieve the mentioned aims above, the following objectives can be put forward:

- Find out the features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms

- Find out equivalents and non-equivalents in the meaning of English

idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting fear from Dictionary of Current

English – Vietnamese Idioms

1.3 RESEACH QUESTIONS (IN FORM OF QUESTIONS)

As presented, the thesis was conducted to learn more deeply about the equivalent and non-equivalent meanings of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear It is designed to seek answers to the following questions:

- What are the features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms?

- What are the equivalents and non-equivalents in the meaning of English

idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear from Dictionary of Current

English – Vietnamese Idioms?

1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The thesis will focus on English idioms denoting fear in Dictionary of

Current English – Vietnamese Idioms (Thành ngữ từ điển Anh- Việt thông

dụng) of Nhà xuất bản Khoa học và Kỹ thuật in 1995 and compare them with the translation of “Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam” by Professor Nguyễn Lân

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Through this thesis, readers will have a better understanding of the similarities and differences in the features of the expressions of fear in English and Vietnamese

They will understand more about culture and people of the two countries: England and Vietnam

This study contributes one important part in teaching and learning English

in general

1.6 DESIGN OF THE STUDY

Apart from abstracts, references & appendices, the study consists of three main parts:

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION presents rationale of the study, aims and objectives of the study, research questions, the scope as well as the significance

of the study

PART 2 - DEVELOPMENT is divided into 3 chapters:

Chapter 1 - LITERATURE REVIEW – provides theoretical background for the study including definition of English idioms, classification of English idioms, features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms, human emotions and fear

Chapter 2 – METHODOLOGY -describes the methodology used in the research including research governing orientation, research methods

Chapter 3 - FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS - reports and discusses the findings of the study

PART 3 - CONCLUSION

Summarizes the main issues that have been addressed in the study

PART II: DEVELOPMENT

Chapter 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS STUDIES (AT HOME & ABROAD)

1.1.1 Related research 1

Nguyễn Thị Thùy studies "A contrastive analysis of idioms denoting FEAR

in English and Vietnamese" This is the study which was performed by the Faculty of post-graduate student at Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi in

2010

In this study, the researcher studied 103 English idioms, 103 Vietnamese

idioms from main materials are Oxford Idioms (2010), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ

Anh-Anh-Việt (2004), Thành Ngữ Tiếng Việt (2009), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ và Tục Ngữ Việt Nam (2008), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ và Tục Ngữ Việt Nam (2006) and

presented the problems: Theoretical background of idioms (definition, distinctive feature of English idioms and distinction between idioms, proverbs and some other terms: saying, phrasal verbs, colloquialisms) and human feelings (concepts, classifications and emotion FEAR) According to research about structural features, English idioms denoting Fear exist in almost all the clause patterns In addition, Research also compares about syntactic features of English- Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear to point out the similarities and differences The researcher also talk about some opinions related metaphor and metonymy in cognitive linguistics, moreover, the researcher quoted metonymic

model of Kovecses (1990) to conceptualize Fear in English: Physical agitation, increase in heart and a list of metaphor used to describe Fear in English of the

same author: Fear is a fluid a container, Fear is a vicious enemy (human or animal) Finally, The researcher find out the similarities and differences of semantic features of idioms denoting FEAR between English idioms and Vietnamese idioms To sum up, the researcher confirmed that “Fear is an

emotion that every human being experiences and is unavoidable the whole life

It is common therefore the languages that express it also share the common way

of denoting its meaning If there are any differences, it must be due to the languages created by different cultures.”

1.1.2 Related research 2

Trần Thế Phi at the University of Viet Nam National University Ho Chi

Minh City-Social Sciences and Humanities has studied "Emotional conceptual

metaphors in Vietnamese idioms (compared with English idioms)” in 2016

First, the researcher said the history of idioms studies and the research situation of words expressing emotions in English and the main survey object of the researcher were the 5 emotions: happy, sad, angry, FEAR, love The researcher talks about some problems of cognitive linguistics: composition, basic foundation and problems related to emotions Emotional conceptual metaphor from the researchers Kövecses (1986, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010); Kövecses, Palmer, have come to the conclusion "emotional language is used in different cultures are largely metaphorical "Researchers also talk about the basics of idioms in English and Vietnamese

In chapter 2 of the study, the researcher talks about the characteristics of conceptual metaphors in English and Vietnamese of the five types of emotions, happy, sad, angry, FEAR, love in conceptual metaphors such as container, direction

In chapter 3, the researcher investigates the use of emotional conceptual metaphors in translating idioms from Vietnamese to English: the researcher talks about the problems of idiom translation theory, metaphors and making proposed translation

1.2 REVIEW OF THEORETICAL BACKGROUND (DEPEND ON WHAT THE STUDY IS ABOUT)

1.2.1 Theoretical framework

Among the important approaches that look into the study of diverse idioms definition, distinctive features of English idioms, classification of idioms, concept of human emotions and so on These approaches give insights into understanding how certain English idiomatic expressions denoting FEAR with reference to the Vietnamese equivalents could be put under an investigation

1.2.2 Idioms

1.2.2.1 Definition

Idioms are an interesting phenomenon and are commonly used in everyday life Therefore, there are many scientists who have studied them and gave definitions like:

According to Richards & Schmidt (2010), the term Idiom is defined simply

as “an expression which functions as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be worked out from its separate parts.”

For example: She washed her hands of the matter

means She refused to have anything more to do with the matter

Idioms are treated as figures of speech, which are defined in the Collins English Dictionary Trrefry (2006) point is that “an expression such as a simile,

in which words do not have their literal meaning, but are categorized as word expressions that act in the text as units”

multi-Jonathan Crowth (1995) argument is that “an idiom is a phrase whose meaning is difficult or sometimes impossible to guess by looking at the individual word it contains”

Benner (2003) claims that “two or more words together that, as a unit, have

a special meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words separately” These words are sometimes different in the particular meaning of the word but they are considered to be more effective and relevant in a certain context

There is also a similar definition given by Seidl and McMordie, who say that “an idiom can be defined as a number of words which, when taken together, have a different meaning from the individual meanings of each word” (Seidl & McMordie,1988)

To sum up, although there are some differences in viewpoint between many researchers and many linguists, in general idioms are often a phrase and their meaning is not always understandable in the literal meaning of individual words

1.2.2.2 Classification of English idioms

What characteristics should be chosen as the main criteria for an idiom classification system? The structural? The semantic? Those of degree of stability? Of origin? What characteristics should be chosen as the main criteria for an idiom classification system? The structural? The semantic? Those of degree of stability? Of origin?

It should be clear from the previous description that idioms are a complex phenomenon with a number of important features, which can therefore be approached from various points of view Therefore, there are a large number of different classification systems designed by different scholars and based on different principles

A, Based on Academician Victor Vladimirovich Vinogradov

The idiom classification system designed by this prominent scholar is considered by several language experts today for obsolete, but the value is

undoubtedly because it is the first classification system based on semantic

principles

Vinogradov’s classification is based upon the motivation of the unit, i.e the meaning of the whole and the meaning of its component parts” (Arnold, 1986, 170) “The more distant the meaning of ( ) [an idiom] from the current meaning

of its constituent parts, the greater is its degree of semantic cohesion [and the lesser its degree of motivation]” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189)

Vinogradov (1977, 124) pointing out three types of idioms, namely phraseological fusions, phraseological unities and phraseological combinations

1/ Phraseological fusions: “are word-groups with a completely changed

meaning but, in contrast to the unities, they are demotivated, that is, their meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of the constituent parts ( )” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 247) The metaphor, on which the change of meaning is based,, has lost its clarity and is unclear

For instances:+ At sixes and sevens (in confusion or in disagreement)

+ Once in a blue moon (very seldom)

+ Cried for the moon (to demand unreal)

+ To come a cropper (to come to disaster)

+ To leave smb in the lurch (to abandon a friend when he is in trouble)

+ To show the white feather (to betrayone's cowardice)

+ Under the rose (quietly)

+ To dance attendance on smb (to try and please or attract smb.;

to show exaggerated attention to smb.)

+ Kick the bucket (die)

+ Heavy father (serious or solemn part in a theatrical play)

+ Spill the beans (reveal a secreat)

+ Chew the rag (talk about events, affairs, ,in a complaining way)

2/ Phraseological unities: “are word-groups with a completely changed

meaning , that is, the meaning of the unit does not correspond to the meanings of its constituent parts ” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189) But different from fusion, Vinogradov recognizes this is a partially motivated type, whose meaning can be seen as a metaphorical extension of some original neutral meanings In other words, it means that it can usually be recognized through the metaphorically and

the metonymy denotation In addition,the metaphor, on which the change of

meaning is based, is clear and transparent

For example:

+ To stick to one's guns ( to be true to one's views or convictions The

image is that of a gunner or guncrew who do not desert their guns even if a

battle seems lost)

+ To play the first fiddle (to be a leader in something)

+ Old salt (experienced sailor)

+ To get on one’s nerves (to irritate)

+ Be at daggers drawn (if two people are at daggers drawn, they are extremely angry with each other)

+ To wash one’s dirty linen in public (make one’s quarrels public)

+ A snake in the grass (a person with harmful intensions)

+ To catch/clutch at a straw/straws (when in extreme danger,avail

oneself of even the slightest chance of rescue)

+ To lose one's head (to be at a loss what to do; to be out of one's

mind)

+ To lose one's heart to smb (to fall in love)

+ Blow off/ let off steam (give free expression to one’s feelings)

+ Show one’s teeth (take a threatening tone)

* Note: It is important to mention that the boundary between phraseological

fusions and phraseological unities is unclear-cut and often depends on linguistic

experience and speaker culture, namely for some speakers, the expression given

has a figurative that has not been fully fossil, but for others it is completely

opaque and lacks any motivation

3/ Phraseological combinations: “are word-groups with partially changed

meaning” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189) They are motivated, i.e in

phraseological combinations, the overall meaning can be understood from the

meaning of the components Moreover, phraseological combinations have one component used in a direct meaning, while the other (here the verb) is used figuratively

E.g + To draw a conclusion (to make judgment or judgments)

+ To have a bite (to eat, often a snack or a small meal that can be consumed quickly)

+ To make inquiries (to inquire)

+ To make haste (to hurry)

+ To offer an appology (to beg pardon)

+ Gospel truth (the absolute truth)

+ Bosom friends (very close, intimate friend)

+ To take something for granted (To nerver think about something because you believe that it will always be available or stay exactly the same)

+ In a big way (in great degree)

B, Based on I.V.Arnold (1986)

Arnold (1986) classifies idioms according to parts of speech This is also called syntactical classification Thus, idioms are categorized into seven types as follows:

- Nominal idioms:

+ the wot of the trouble

+ the last straw

used in all possible syntactic functions for nouns Therefore, a bed of roses or a

bed of nails is used only predicatively

Within each of these classes a further subdivision is necessary The following list is not meant to be exhaustive, but to give only the main characteristics of the types

* Idioms functioning like nouns:

 N+N:+ Maiden name (the surname of a woman before she

was married)

+ Brains trust (a committee of experts’ or ‘a

number of reputedly well in-formed persons chosen to answer questions of general interest without preparation)

+ Amateur hour (a display of incompetence)

+ Clock watcher (one who often checks the time during

an activiy or event, as due to boredom and/or a desire to leave)

 N’s+N:+ Anybody’s/Anyone’s guess (uncertain or unknown)

+ Cat’s paw (one who is used for the convenience of

a cleverer and stronger person)

+ Hob-son’s choice (a idiom used when there is no

choice at all, when a person has to take what is offered or nothing)

+ A baker’s dozen ( thirteen)

 Ns'+N:+ Ladies’ man (one who makes special effort to

charm or please women)

+ Ladies’s room (A woman’s toilet in a public

building such as a hotel or restaurant)

 N+prp+N: + The arm of the law ( the board, far reaching

power or influence of the police or legal system)

+ Skeleton in the cupboard ( to have an embarrassing or

unpleasant secret about something that happened in the past)

+ Eye of a needle ( A tiny aperture through which it would

seem impossible to pass)

+ Bird of omen (A person who brings bad news)

 N+A: + Knight errant (the phrase is today applied to any

chivalrous man ready to help and protect oppressed and helpless people)

 N+and+N:

+ Lord and master (husband) + All the world and his wife ( a great many people, especially

in a particular place at a particular time)

+ Bread and butter (necessities, the main thing)

+ Rank and file (the ordinary working members of an

+ A close call (a narrow escape; a close shave; a brush with

danger, nearly mising death)

+ A clean break (a clear and final breaking-off relations;

finally finishing and leaving for good)

+ A cushy job (an easy job that is not demanding or difficult;

a comfortable, enjoyable job that does not take too much effort)

+ High tea (an evening meal which combines meat or some

similar extra dish with the usual tea)

+ Forty winks (a short nap)

 N+subordinate clause:+ Ships that pass in the night (chance

acquaintances)

+ Fit as a fiddle (being in good heath)

* Idioms functioning like verbs:

 V+N:

+ Take advantage (to use an opportunity to achieve results, sometimes in an unfair way)

+ Cut the crap ( a very crude way of telling someone to stop

doing something that you do not like)

+ Keep promise (be faithful to your word) + To catch a straw (to make a desperate attempt to salvage a

bad situation)

+ To take to the cleaners ( to cheat orr swindle one for a lot

or all of their money)

+ Bear a grudge (continue to feel a bitter sense of resentment

against someone because of some harm he did to you in the past)

+ To grow roses (to cultivate)

 V+and+V: + Pick and choose (to take only the things you want from a

group)

+ Live and learn (learn from experience and from your

mistake)

+ Bound and determined (Dedicated to making a strong effort

in order to succeed or achieve a goal)

+ Cease and desist (stop what you are doing and don’t do it

again)

 V+(one’s)+N+(prp):

+ Snap ones fingers at (to dismiss with contempt) + To scream one's head off (to scream very loud) + To shake one's shoes (very scared and nervous) + To lose one's colour (to become pale)

 V+one+N: + Give one the bird (to fire somebody)

 V+subordinate clause: + See how the land lies (to discover

the state of affairs)

+ Look before you leap (take only calculated risks) + Know which way the win is blowing (understand the situation)

* Idioms functioning like adjectives:

 A+and+A: + High and mighty

+ Save and sound (out of danger and unharmed)

 (as)+A+as+N: + As old as the hills (very old)

+ As mad as a hatter (extremely silly and stupid) + Cool as a curcumber (very calm)

+ (As) nervous as a cat (very nervous or jumpy) + (As) weak as a kitten (especially weak, feeble

and vulnerable; completely unable to defend oneself)

+ As easy as pie (nothing could be more easy) + As good as gold (perfectly behaved)

* Idioms functioning like adverbs:

 N+N: + Tooth and nail (with all one’s resources or energy) + High and low (everywhere)

 Prp+N: + by heart

+ of course + on the spot (at the moment or place)

+ in cold blood

+ for good

 Prp + N+or +N: + by hook or by crook (by any method

possible)

 Conj+ clause :+ before one can say Jack Robinson

(something happens very quickly)

+ before one’s time (prematurely; unexpectedly)

+ before you very eyes (bearing immediate witness to

something that has happened right in front of you)

* Idioms functioning like prepositions:

 Prp + N + prp: + in consequence of

+ on the ground of

+ by reason of

* Idioms functioning like interjections:

 These sentences are often structured as imperatives: Bless the

soul (a person)! God bless me! Hang it (all)! My God! Goodness gracious!

C, Based on Fernando (1996)

Fernando's classification of idioms is based on degree of of lexical variance

in idioms He divided it into 3 three sub-classes: pure idioms, semi-idioms and literal idioms

* A pure idiom is a type of conventionalized, non-literal multi-word

expression whose meaning cannot be understood by adding the meanings of the words that make up the phrase In addition, these idioms are considered to be

opaque For example: the phrase pea overflow is a pure idiom, because its real

meaning has nothing to do with the pea

+ To see the light ( to understand)

+ To burn one’s boat (to pass responsibility)

+ Kick the bucket (to die)

+ Pull someone’s leg (to joke with someone)

+ Break a leg (the way to wish someone good luck)

+ Wrap my head around (to understand something)

+ Make no bones about it (to be certain)

+ A chip on my shoulder (to have a grievance)

+ Red tap (bureaucratic methods)