Luận Văn A study on English food-related idioms and proverbs and equivalents in Vietnamese

Khóa luận tốt nghiệp
Đề tài: A study on English food-related idioms and proverbs and equivalents in Vietnamese

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement . 1
Table of content . 2
Part I: INTRODUCTION 4
1. Rationale. . 4
2. Aims of the study. 5
3. Scope of the study. . 5
4. Method of the study. 5
5. Design of the study. . 6
Part II: DEVELOPMENT . 7
Chapter 1: Theoretical Background . 7
I. Idioms and proverbs. 7
1. Proverbs: 7
1.1. Definition of proverbs . 7
1.2. Some common features of proverbs . 9
2. Idioms: 9
2.1. Definition of idioms 9
2.2. Some common features of idioms . 10
II. Similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms
and proverbs. . 12
1. The distinction between idioms and proverbs 12
1.1. English idioms and proverbs. . 12
1.2. Vietnamese idioms and proverbs. 12
2. Similarities between English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs . 13
3. Differences between English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs . 15
10
Chapter 2: An investigation into English idioms and proverbs relating
to food and their equivalents in Vietnamese. . 18
I. The relationship between food and culture and the appearance of food
in English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs . 18
II. Some popular English idioms and proverbs relating to food and their
equivalents in Vietnamese. . 20
Chapter 3: Some difficulties facing learners of English when studying
idioms. 34
1. Some difficulties in studying idioms and proverbs 34
2. Suggested solutions . 35
Part III: CONCLUSION . 37
APPENDIXES 39
REFERENCES


PART I: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
English is considered a global language, so it is taught widespread all over
the world. The aim of the learners is to have good skills of communication in
English. In order to gain that aim, besides a good knowledge of grammar, learners
need to have a plentiful source of vocabulary. However, by mastering all the
English words somehow is always a question raised. Learners have many
difficulties is learning the vocabulary because of its formation and usages in
communication.
Practically, study on the similarities and differences between the English and
Vietnamese languages and the cultures they imply is one of my concerns when
studying English at University. It is clear that there are many differences between
the two languages of as those in grammar, lexicology, phonetic and a number of
other things, which leads to the differences in metaphorical meaning implied in
literature, idioms and proverbs expression.
This study of English idioms and proverbs has been traditionally associated
with the study literature; the use of idioms and proverbs is not restricted to this
kind of language. A good understanding of how idioms and proverbs are used in
daily language is not only important for students of English to increase their
vocabulary, but also to understand new and original idioms and proverbs when
hear or speak it. Because idioms and proverbs are a part of culture, understanding
them is the key for learners to know more about the target nation as well as its
custom and culture. Therefore, it is necessary and interesting to study English
idioms and proverbs. However, one language is different from another one.
Therefore, the way individual words used and the rules of making sentences are
dissimilar in different languages. As a result, it is not easy for learners to
understand and translate the metaphorical meaning of idioms and proverbs from
one language to another. To cope with this difficulty, I would like to conduct a
study on English idioms and proverbs. Due to the limitation of a graduation
12
paper’s scope and time, I would like to focus on English idioms and proverbs
relating to food which have a great occurrence in English idiom and proverb
system.
2. Aims of the study
This study is done with the hope to reach some aims at:
 Giving the knowledge of idioms and proverbs.
 Distinguishing the differences and similarities between English and
Vietnamese idioms and proverbs.
 Helping the learners use right idioms and proverbs relating to food in right
situation.
 Helping the learners solve problems when studying idioms and proverbs as
well as more understand the meaning and usage of English idioms and
proverbs relating to food.
3. Scope of the study
English idioms and proverbs vary. Thus it is impossible for me to go through
all of them. I would like to emphasize English idioms and proverbs which relate to
food because of the following reasons:
- The importance of food in life and its relation to its nation’s culture.
- Some popular English idioms and proverbs relating to food and their
equivalence in Vietnamese.
4. Method of the study
In order to learn English idioms and proverbs relating to food and their
equivalence in Vietnamese better, with a hope that learners could see the role of
idioms and proverbs in life, the following methods are used in studying process:
- Firstly, having discussion with my supervisor and friends.
13
- Secondly, collecting materials from internet, book, dictionary and other
documents.
- Thirdly, some English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs relating to food
are analyzed and compared to find out some differences and similarities
between them and the reasons leading to these similarities and
dissimilarities.
- Finally, acknowledging the differences and similarities between English and
Vietnamese idioms and proverbs, especially those relating to food, helps me
to have an insight into the difficulties facing Vietnamese learners of English
when studying such kind of English idioms and proverbs. From that, some
useful solutions are suggested to help Vietnamese students solve their
problems in understanding and using those English idioms and proverbs.
5. Design of the study
For a clear organization, I divide my study into three main parts:
 Part I is the "Introduction" that mentions to the reason, the aim, the scope,
the method and the design of the study.
 Part II is entitled "Development" consisting of three chapters:
Chapter1: Theoretical background, dealing with the definition,
common features about idioms and proverbs. The difference and
similarities between English and Vietnamese idioms and proverbs.
Chapter 2: An investigation into English idioms and proverbs relating
to food and their equivalence in Vietnamese
Chapter 3: Some difficulties and suggested solutions for learners of
English when studying idioms and proverbs.
 Part III is the "Conclusion", summarizing what have been discussed in the
previous parts.
14
PART II: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
I. Idioms and Proverbs
Idioms and proverbs are considered as special units of each language. They
reflect honestly and exactly the history, experience, spiritual values, religious
opinions and people of their country. So what are idiom and proverb? How can we
distinguish between them? And what are differences between English and
Vietnamese idioms and proverbs? The sections below will response to these
questions.
1. Proverb
1.1 Definitions of proverb
In general, proverbs are defined to be “popular sayings which contain advice
or state a generally accepted truth. Because most proverbs have their origins in oral
tradition, they are generally worded in such a way as to be remembered easily and
tend to change little from generation to generation, so much so that sometimes
their specific meaning is no longer relevant .” (www.readwritethink.org) For
instance, the proverb “penny wise, pound foolish” is a holdover from when
America was a British colony and used the pound as currency. Proverbs have a
function as “folk wisdom,” (www.readwritethink.org) therefore, they general
advice about how to act and live. In addition, they often strongly reflect the
cultural values and physical environment from which they arise. For example,
island cultures such as Hawaii have proverbs about the sea. Eastern cultures have
proverbs about elephants, and American proverbs, many collected and published
by Benjamin Franklin, are about hard work bringing success. Proverbs are used to
support arguments, to provide lessons and instruction, and to stress shared values.
In other words, a proverb is understood "a phrase, saying, sentence,
statement, or expression of the folk which contains above all wisdom, truth,
morals, experience, lessons, and advice concerning life and which has been handed