Aims of the study
This study investigates the significance of numbers in shaping the meanings of idioms in both English and Vietnamese It includes a comparative analysis of idiomatic expressions in these two languages to identify similarities and differences in how numbers contribute to their meanings Ultimately, the research aims to highlight the role of numerical elements in idiomatic expressions across cultures.
To explore the roles of numbers in the meanings of idioms in English and Vietnamese
To find out the similarities and differences in the contribution of numbers to the meanings of idioms in English and Vietnamese
In order to achieve these aims, the following question should be answered:
What are senses do numbers contribute to the meanings of idioms in English and Vietnamese?
Scope of the study
This study examines the role of numbers in the meanings of idioms, specifically focusing on English and Vietnamese expressions Due to constraints in time, resources, and expertise, the research aims to identify the types of idioms that incorporate numbers and their connotative meanings This analysis serves as a basis for a comparative exploration of how numbers contribute to the meanings of idioms in both languages.
Methods of the study
To achieve the stated objectives, the study utilizes a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods The quantitative approach involves gathering data from literary works, idiom and semantics books, newspapers, websites, and dictionaries in both English and Vietnamese Meanwhile, the qualitative method is employed to interpret the collected data effectively.
Design of the study
The study is consisted of three parts:
The first part is Part A “INTRODUCTION” This part provides a brief account of issues which are rationale, aims, scope, methods, and design of the study
Part B, titled "DEVELOPMENT," comprises two chapters Chapter 1 offers a theoretical background, detailing the meanings, senses, and idioms, along with a brief overview of numerical expressions in both English and Vietnamese, and a review of prior studies on idioms Chapter 2 focuses on the research question, outlining the methods of data collection, the analytical framework, and the subsequent data analysis.
The last part, Part C, “CONCLUSION”, summaries the major findings of the study, provides implications and suggestions for further studies
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 1.1 Meaning
Senses
According to Hoa, Nguyen (2004), the term "sense" refers to the philosophical concept of meaning, specifically the realization of meaning in speech The study of sense relationships is crucial in language, as words not only possess individual meanings but also contribute to the meanings of larger units such as phrases, clauses, and sentences For instance, the word "library" can convey different senses depending on its context within a sentence.
- He has a quite large library ( a collection of books)
- The library is at the end of this street ( a building where books are kept and organized)
According to Palmer (1976), sense pertains to the intricate relationships among linguistic elements, primarily words Hoa and Nguyen (2004) identify two types of sense relations: substitutional and combinational, which align with Saussure's paradigmatic and syntagmatic concepts Substitutional relations occur among members of the same grammatical category, while syntagmatic relations exist between items of different grammatical categories.
Substitutional relations exist among nouns such as "book," "car," and "pen," as they can replace one another within sentences In contrast, grammatical relations involve words from different grammatical categories, exemplified by "the," "book," "was," "bought," and "yesterday." Understanding these relationships enhances our grasp of language structure and usage.
Idioms are an essential part of the English language, frequently used in everyday communication For English learners, understanding idioms can be challenging, as their meanings cannot be derived from the literal definitions of the words involved This complexity can hinder effective communication in both spoken and written forms Therefore, grasping the concept of idioms is crucial for anyone learning English.
An idiom is defined as an expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of its individual components when they are not part of an idiomatic context (Cruse, 1986) According to Cruse, idioms possess two essential characteristics: they are lexically complex, meaning they consist of multiple lexical constituents.
The term "semantically simplex" refers to an expression that contains a single minimal semantic constituent This implies that non-idiomatic expressions can be broken down into multiple semantic components For instance, the phrase "at the eleventh hour" cannot be understood by analyzing its individual parts or structure; it signifies that an event occurs at the last possible moment Fernando (1996) supports this definition of idioms, viewing them as multi-word expressions whose meanings do not stem from their constituent meanings or syntactic structures Additionally, idioms can include restricted variations, such as the literal idiom "on the contrary" or the phrase "a happy new year."
Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary provides the definitions of “idiom” as “a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words”
An idiom, as defined by the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, is a fixed group of words that conveys a specific meaning different from the individual meanings of its components This colorful aspect of English enhances both informal and formal communication, making expressions more impactful by conveying emotions such as disapproval, admiration, or humor For example, the idiom “look daggers at someone” is a more vivid alternative to the phrase “look angrily at someone,” despite both conveying the same sentiment.
According to Palmer (1990), idioms are groups of words whose meanings cannot be deduced from the individual words While idioms function as semantic units similar to words, they are grammatically restricted Unlike regular words that can be modified with prefixes or suffixes, idioms cannot undergo such changes For example, the idiom "take a hand" can be transformed into the past tense as "took a hand," but it cannot be altered to "take hands," since "hand" does not accept a plural form.
According to the Vietnamese dictionary by the Vietnam Linguistics Institute (1997), idioms are defined as commonly used fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be simply inferred from their individual components In Vietnamese, idioms, or "thành ngữ," are typically incomplete groups of words that cannot stand alone and often appear as part of a sentence, contributing to its overall meaning For example, the idiom “Cái mặt búng ra sữa mà bày đặt bàn bạc chuyện yêu đương” illustrates this concept Additionally, idioms are frequently utilized in proverbs, literature, and folk songs within the Vietnamese language.
According to Nunberg, Sag & Wasow‟s (1994, p 492-93), six characteristics of idioms are as follow:
Idioms cannot be understood solely by analyzing the individual meanings of their components, as their meanings are derived from established conventions that govern their usage in context.
• Formal inflexibility: The numbers of syntactic frames in which idioms appear are limited Thus, idioms are syntactically restricted
Figuration in language refers to the non-literal meanings of idioms, which are enriched through metaphors, metonymies, and hyperboles Examples include metaphors like "take the bull by the horns" and conceptualizations of time as a substance or path, as well as love depicted as war Additionally, idiomatic expressions such as "lend a hand" and "count heads" illustrate metonymy, while hyperbolic phrases like "not worth the paper it's printed on" emphasize exaggeration.
• Proverbiality: Idioms are used to illustrate familiar situations of social life The situations are similar to folksy, familiar images (climbing walls, chewing the fat, spilling beans)
• Informality: Idioms have a tendency to appear in colloquial speech
• Affect: Evaluative or affective stances can be inferred from the use of idioms
Based on the scalar categorization, Fernando (1996: 35) divides idioms into three types: Pure idioms, semi-idioms and literal idioms
Pure idioms: They are multi-word expressions whose meanings are not derived from the meanings of their constituents or their syntactic structures For example, idiom
“shoot the breeze” has the meaning which is not related to the meaning of the words
Semi-idioms: “A semi-idiom has one or more literal constituents and at least one with a non-literal subsense, usually special to that co-occurrence relation and no other.”
A semi-idiom combines the meaning of one of its components with a concept that differs from its typical linguistic context For instance, the term "greenhouse" includes the literal meaning of "house," but not the color connotation of "green." Instead, a greenhouse refers to a structure designed for growing plants In contrast, when "green" appears with other words like "window," "door," "trees," or "pencil," it serves as an adjective indicating color and modifies those nouns accordingly.
Literal idioms exhibit less semantic complexity compared to pure and semi-idioms, allowing for limited variation Examples of literal idioms include phrases like "on the contrary" and "a happy new year."
Based on the Halliday (1985), Fernando (1996: 72) suggests the functional categorization of idioms which divides idioms into ideational idioms, interpersonal idioms and relational idioms
Ideational idioms convey message content and experiential phenomena, encompassing sensory, affective, and evaluative aspects They also characterize the nature of the message, distinguishing between specific and non-specific meanings For instance, the idiom "mess about with" indicates an action, while "have blood on one’s hands" signifies an event.
Actions : Tear down, wear different hats
Events : Have blood on one‟s hands, turning point
Situations : Be in a pickle, be up a gum tree
People and thing : A red herring, a man about town
Attributes : Matter – of – fact, lily-white
Evaluations : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a watched pot never boils
Emotions : Tear one‟s hair, lose one‟s heart
Specific information : What I am saying is, my guess is
Non-specific information : And so on, kind of
Interpersonal idioms: The kind of idioms has interactional function or
“characterize the nature of the message” such as say no more and as a matter of fact
Interactional strategies are concerned with:
Greetings and farewells : See you later, bye for now
Directives : Never mind, say no more
Agreement : Say no more, that‟s true
„ Feelers‟, eliciting opinions : How do you feel?, what do you think?
Rejections : I wasn‟t born yesterday, you‟re joking
Newsworthiness: Guess what!, what do you know?
Sincerity : As a matter of fact, believe you me
Calls for brevity : Get to the point, cut the cackle
Relational idioms: They make the discourse have coherence Thus, they can be
“grouped with conjunctions” such as and, but, because as having a textual function They can also be divided into :
Adversative : On the contrary, far from
Comparison : On the other hand, on the other
Causal : So that when, no wonder
Concessive : At the same time
Addition : What is more, in addition to
Sequencing meta-discoursal information : In the first place, last but not least
Sequencing temporal information : One day, up to now
It is essential to distinguish idioms and proverbs because language users tend to find it difficult to make differences
In Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary, a proverb is defined as “a well-known phrase or sentence that gives advice or says something that is generally true, for example
The proverb "Waste not, want not" emphasizes the importance of resourcefulness and prudence According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, a proverb is a concise statement widely recognized for conveying common experiences or advice Additionally, Vu Ngoc Phan defines a proverb as a complete expression that encapsulates a single idea, often reflecting on themes of morality, justice, or criticism.
Characteristics of idioms
According to Nunberg, Sag & Wasow‟s (1994, p 492-93), six characteristics of idioms are as follow:
Idioms possess meanings that cannot be inferred solely from the individual meanings of their components, as their significance arises from established conventions governing their usage.
• Formal inflexibility: The numbers of syntactic frames in which idioms appear are limited Thus, idioms are syntactically restricted
Figuration in language highlights that idioms possess non-literal meanings, largely due to their use in metaphors, such as "take the bull by the horns," which conveys a sense of confronting challenges directly Additionally, time is often depicted metaphorically as a substance or a path, while love can be framed as a battle Idioms also utilize metonymies, like "lend a hand" and "count heads," to convey ideas succinctly Furthermore, hyperboles, such as "not worth the paper it’s printed on," emphasize exaggeration in expression, showcasing the richness and complexity of figurative language.
• Proverbiality: Idioms are used to illustrate familiar situations of social life The situations are similar to folksy, familiar images (climbing walls, chewing the fat, spilling beans)
• Informality: Idioms have a tendency to appear in colloquial speech
• Affect: Evaluative or affective stances can be inferred from the use of idioms.
Classification of idioms
Based on the scalar categorization, Fernando (1996: 35) divides idioms into three types: Pure idioms, semi-idioms and literal idioms
Pure idioms: They are multi-word expressions whose meanings are not derived from the meanings of their constituents or their syntactic structures For example, idiom
“shoot the breeze” has the meaning which is not related to the meaning of the words
Semi-idioms: “A semi-idiom has one or more literal constituents and at least one with a non-literal subsense, usually special to that co-occurrence relation and no other.”
A semi-idiom combines the meaning of one of its components with a concept that differs from its usual linguistic context For instance, the term "greenhouse" retains the literal meaning of "house" but not that of "green," as it refers to a structure for growing plants rather than a green-colored house Conversely, when "green" appears with words like "window," "door," "trees," or "pencil," it functions as an adjective indicating color, modifying those nouns.
Literal idioms are less semantically complex than pure and semi-idioms, allowing for restricted variation Examples of literal idioms include phrases like "on the contrary" and "a happy new year."
Based on the Halliday (1985), Fernando (1996: 72) suggests the functional categorization of idioms which divides idioms into ideational idioms, interpersonal idioms and relational idioms
Ideational idioms convey message content and experiential phenomena, encompassing sensory, affective, and evaluative aspects They can also characterize the nature of the message, distinguishing between specific and non-specific expressions For instance, the idiom "mess about with" indicates an action, while "have blood on one's hands" illustrates an event.
Actions : Tear down, wear different hats
Events : Have blood on one‟s hands, turning point
Situations : Be in a pickle, be up a gum tree
People and thing : A red herring, a man about town
Attributes : Matter – of – fact, lily-white
Evaluations : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a watched pot never boils
Emotions : Tear one‟s hair, lose one‟s heart
Specific information : What I am saying is, my guess is
Non-specific information : And so on, kind of
Interpersonal idioms: The kind of idioms has interactional function or
“characterize the nature of the message” such as say no more and as a matter of fact
Interactional strategies are concerned with:
Greetings and farewells : See you later, bye for now
Directives : Never mind, say no more
Agreement : Say no more, that‟s true
„ Feelers‟, eliciting opinions : How do you feel?, what do you think?
Rejections : I wasn‟t born yesterday, you‟re joking
Newsworthiness: Guess what!, what do you know?
Sincerity : As a matter of fact, believe you me
Calls for brevity : Get to the point, cut the cackle
Relational idioms: They make the discourse have coherence Thus, they can be
“grouped with conjunctions” such as and, but, because as having a textual function They can also be divided into :
Adversative : On the contrary, far from
Comparison : On the other hand, on the other
Causal : So that when, no wonder
Concessive : At the same time
Addition : What is more, in addition to
Sequencing meta-discoursal information : In the first place, last but not least
Sequencing temporal information : One day, up to now
Idioms and proverbs
It is essential to distinguish idioms and proverbs because language users tend to find it difficult to make differences
In Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary, a proverb is defined as “a well-known phrase or sentence that gives advice or says something that is generally true, for example
The proverb "Waste not, want not" emphasizes the importance of conserving resources to avoid future scarcity According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, a proverb is a well-known, concise statement that reflects common experiences or offers advice Vu Ngoc Phan (2000: 39) further defines a proverb as a complete expression that conveys a single idea related to morality, justice, or criticism.
Proverbs and idioms share significant similarities, leading to the creation of books that compile both forms of expression Both are products of human thought, culture, and life experiences, passed down orally through generations as accepted truths They exhibit fixedness, meaning that any alterations in their structure can change their intended meaning Additionally, both utilize metaphor, conveying non-literal or figurative meanings that require understanding beyond the literal definitions of individual words.
While both proverbs and idioms share similarities, they possess distinct characteristics The primary difference lies in their grammatical structure: idioms function as phrases or word equivalents within sentences, whereas proverbs are complete sentences conveying full ideas Additionally, proverbs serve specific functions, including providing advice and expressing concepts related to morality, justice, or experience For instance, the proverb "Money makes the mare go" highlights the negative influence of money, encouraging awareness of its immoral control and advising against being blinded by its power Proverbs also possess an aesthetic function, delivering messages in a figurative and engaging manner In contrast, idioms like "be on cloud nine" convey emotions without imparting educational lessons or universal truths, lacking the perceptive, aesthetic, and educational functions inherent to proverbs.
In summary, the differences in structures and functions make proverbs and idioms distinguishable.
Idioms and collocations
Idiom and collocation have both similarity and difference Howard Jackson (1990:
Collocation is defined as a lexical relationship where the presence of a specific word increases the likelihood of related words appearing together According to McCarthy (1996), collocation refers to the occurrence of words in proximity, while Chistra Fernando (1996) describes it as the companionship of words Unlike idioms, whose meanings cannot be derived from their individual components, collocations maintain meaning based on the literal interpretations of their words Additionally, collocations allow for more flexibility in word substitution compared to idioms; changing a word in an idiom can alter its meaning entirely, while a collocation can still be recognized as such even with modified words Examples of common collocations include phrases like "catch a bus," "strong coffee," and "a biting wind."
Fernando Chistra (1996: 36) highlights that idioms and collocations exhibit a consistent co-occurrence of words These word combinations are easily recognized and understood, much like idioms themselves.
„spill the beans, foot the bill‟ and collocations „heavy/torrential rain, heavy /traffic/rain/snow‟.
Idiom and 'dead' metaphor
Cruse (1986) emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between idioms and dead metaphors A metaphor serves as a hidden comparison, referring to one specific object or concept that differs from its literal description In contrast, a dead metaphor occurs when the words lose their direct meanings and are understood solely in a figurative sense For example, in Hoa and Nguyen (2004), the term "ponder" originally held a different meaning.
The term "weigh" has evolved to mean "consider thoughtfully," illustrating how idioms and dead metaphors can be interpreted similarly In terms of syntax, both dead metaphors and idioms are fixed expressions; altering the syntactic structure of a dead metaphor can transform it back into a live metaphor.
1.9 Numbers in English and Vietnamese
This section offers a concise overview of the significance of numbers in everyday life and their cultural implications It explores the connection between numbers and the meanings of idioms in both English and Vietnamese, enhancing our understanding of their roles in language and culture.
This study focuses exclusively on idioms that incorporate cardinal and ordinal numbers Cardinal numbers, as defined by Graham Flegg in "Numbers: Their History and Meaning" (2002), are the fundamental numbers used for counting, such as one, two, or nine In contrast, ordinal numbers denote position or order, typically formed by adding the suffix -th to cardinal numbers, resulting in terms like tenth and eighth However, there are notable irregular cases, including first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd), and fifth (5th).
Numbers are an integral component of language, commonly utilized in everyday tasks like counting, organizing, measuring, and evaluating Given the inseparable link between language and culture, numerical words significantly contribute to human cultural communication.
In English culture, specific numbers hold significance as lucky numbers, reflecting human psychology According to the "Handbook of International Research in Mathematics Education" by Lyn D English and Maria Giuseppina Bartolini Bussi (2008), the world is divided into three components: land, sea, and sky Similarly, nature comprises three elements: animals, plants, and minerals Additionally, humans are made up of three aspects: spirit, flesh, and soul, highlighting the importance of the number three in various contexts.
The number "three" is prevalent in various sayings, such as "the third time is the charm" and "all good things go by threes," highlighting its significance as a symbol of luck and completion Pythagoras, the ancient Greek philosopher, regarded "three" as a perfect number, representing the essential stages of a process: the beginning, the middle, and the end Additionally, Sin-wai Chan and David E Polland (2001) in "An Encyclopedia of Translation: Chinese-English, English-Chinese," mention another number considered lucky, further emphasizing the cultural importance of numerology.
The number seven holds significant meaning across various contexts, particularly in relation to the seven celestial bodies: the Sun, Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn, which are often associated with divine influence In Christianity, seven symbolizes the seven days it took God to create the world Additionally, Western religious thought identifies seven virtues—trust, hope, tenacity, prudence, self-control, fairness, and benevolence—as well as seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy.
In various cultures, the number "two" is often viewed as unlucky, with English idioms like "two by four" and "two bits" reflecting negative connotations Similarly, the number thirteen is frequently avoided in Western culture due to its association with misfortune, rooted in the biblical narrative of Jesus being betrayed by his thirteenth disciple during the Last Supper This cultural significance of numbers is explored in Robert Johnston's book, "Numbers in the Bible: God’s Design in Biblical Numerology" (1999).
In the Bible, the number "1" symbolizes unity, representing both a cardinal sense of oneness and an ordinal sense of primacy This number is often interpreted positively or neutrally within English culture, highlighting its significance in conveying a sense of togetherness and importance.
The number "two" is often regarded as unlucky or associated with negativity, which is reflected in various English numerical idioms Phrases such as "two by four" and "two bits" typically convey unfavorable meanings, highlighting the cultural perception of this number as a source of misfortune.
In English, number “3” is considered as a lucky number and people often use it to divide things into three parts
In Western symbolism, the number four holds great significance, representing the physical world through the four elements—Fire, Water, Air, and Earth—as well as the four seasons and the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West.
The number five symbolizes the addition of one to four, representing the three persons of the Godhead and their presence in creation This new revelation introduces a distinct group of people, called out from humanity, who are redeemed and saved to journey with God from earth to heaven.
Redemption is essential following creation, as the fall of man subjected both humanity and the world to a curse, rendering creation "made subject to vanity." Consequently, both man and creation require redemption to restore their original purpose.
These are the five great mysteries, and five is therefore the number of GRACE
In English culture, the number six is associated with humanity, as it represents the day God created man However, it is often seen as a symbol of imperfection, falling short of the perfect number seven Consequently, six is generally not regarded as a lucky number.
Review of previous studies on idioms
Studies on idioms have been paid a lot of attention by many researchers Thus, it can be said that the collection of idioms researches is not small
In Viet Nam, there have been studies on English and Vietnamese idioms The research “Idiomatic expressions containing the word „dog‟ in English and Vietnamese” by
Tu, Dao Thanh ( 2007) was aimed at studying idiomatic expressions containing the word
The study examines the cultural significance of the word "dog" in English and Vietnamese, highlighting both similarities and differences In English culture, dogs symbolize night, darkness, and the afterlife, while in Vietnamese culture, they are revered as protectors of homes and spiritual well-being The research also reveals that idiomatic expressions involving "dog" tend to carry negative connotations in both languages However, English idioms often reflect positive personal traits, high social status, and good fortune, a contrast that is less prevalent in Vietnamese expressions.
In the study "An Investigation into the English Words and Idioms Denoting Happiness" by Lam, Nguyen Thi Van (2002), the research aimed to explore the grammatical features and semantic structures of the word "happy" and related terms The findings revealed that "happy" functions as a neutral adjective synonymous with terms like "glad," "pleased," and "delighted," while being nearly synonymous with "cheerful," "merry," and "jubilant," and antonymous to "unhappy" and "sad." The study identified a total of 8 adjectives, 6 nouns, 2 verbs, and 6 idioms that express happiness, with their grammatical characteristics varying based on their specific sub-classes.
This study addresses the notable gap in research on numerical idioms in Vietnamese, highlighting the lack of exploration in this area It investigates idiomatic expressions that incorporate numbers in both English and Vietnamese, aiming to uncover how numbers contribute to the meanings of these idioms in each language.
THE STUDY 2.1 Research question…
Data collection
This study focuses on idioms, specifically those related to lucky and unlucky numbers in both English and Vietnamese A total of 157 idioms were gathered from diverse sources, including books on semantics, newspapers, websites, dictionaries, and literary works The collection comprises 72 English numerical idioms and 85 Vietnamese numerical idioms.
Analytical framework
The analysis of data is based on the following theoretical framework by Fernando
(1996) introduced in the literature review Thus, the part will provide the brief summary of this theory
Fernando (1996) categorizes idioms into three distinct types: ideational idioms, interpersonal idioms, and relational idioms, to analyze their meanings and functions This classification allows for a deeper understanding of the roles that numbers play within these idioms.
Ideational idioms convey messages related to actions, events, situations, people, attributes, evaluations, and emotions, effectively characterizing the information as specific or non-specific For instance, the idiom "have blood on one's hands" signifies responsibility for someone's death, highlighting the gravity of the event Similarly, the idiom "be in a pickle" illustrates a challenging situation, emphasizing the difficulty one faces.
Interpersonal idioms serve as essential interactional strategies in communication, encompassing greetings, farewells, directives, agreements, and eliciting opinions These idioms, such as "bye for now" for farewells and "say no more" to indicate understanding, help convey sincerity, brevity, and the newsworthiness of messages while also expressing uncertainty or rejections.
„I agree; I will do it; I concede, no need to continue talking‟ Thus it is used to express agreement
- Relational idioms: Relational idioms provide integrative information such as addition or comparison, adversative, causal, concessive and supply sequencing meta-discoursal information and sequencing temporal information For example,
„in addition to‟ means „furthermore, besides, moreover‟ Thus, it is an idiom that denotes „addition‟ Another example is „in the first place‟ that is an idiom to denote
„the beginning‟ It has the function of pointing out the order of information mentioned Thus, it is called an idiom of sequencing meta-discousal information
This study investigates how numbers contribute to the connotative meanings of idioms in both English and Vietnamese, drawing on the theoretical framework established by Spangler and Werner (1989) The analysis categorizes the meanings of numbers in idioms into three distinct types: positive meanings that convey a favorable attitude, neutral meanings that reflect an impartial stance, and negative meanings that indicate an unfavorable attitude.
Data analysis
There are 157 idioms containing numbers which are collected Among which, there are
This article presents an analysis of 72 English numerical idioms alongside 85 Vietnamese numerical idioms, highlighting key findings in each section Detailed tables illustrate the results of the data analysis, followed by insightful commentary to enhance understanding.
2.4.1 Ideational, interpersonal and relational numerical idioms in English and Vietnamese
Table 1: Types of numerical idioms in English and Vietnamese by Fernando’s model Types of idioms English Vietnamese
Table 1 presents a comprehensive analysis of numerical idioms in English and Vietnamese, categorizing them by their functions: ideational, interpersonal, and relational The study identifies a total of 72 English numerical idioms and 85 Vietnamese numerical idioms The first column outlines the three types of idioms, while the second and third columns detail the respective counts of English and Vietnamese numerical idioms analyzed.
The article presents three key functions of idioms, highlighting the significance of each type Understanding the function of each idiom enhances clarity of meaning, allowing for better interpretation Additionally, the role of numbers within these idioms can be inferred, revealing how they contribute to the overall idiomatic meaning.
The significance of numbers in idioms can enhance the understanding of human emotions, actions, and interactions, such as greetings or agreements Each idiom's meaning is clarified, allowing for an evaluation of how numbers contribute to their significance For instance, the idiom "in two minds" illustrates a state of confusion, showcasing how the number 2 plays a crucial role in conveying this everyday scenario In this context, the number does not serve to create rhyme or function as a conjunction, but rather enriches the idiomatic expression itself.
The study revealed that the majority of idioms are ideational, comprising 142 idioms in total, with 62 from English and 80 from Vietnamese The data analysis prioritized significant findings, highlighting noteworthy trends and patterns.
In English, ideational idioms are the most prevalent, with a total of 62 idioms identified, highlighting the significant role numbers play in conveying the overall meaning of these expressions Rather than serving a rhyming purpose, numbers in idioms primarily contribute to the message being communicated For instance, the idiom "be in seventh heaven" signifies a state of great happiness, while "in two minds" describes a scenario where an individual struggles to make a decision.
In Vietnamese, numbers play a significant role in the meanings of idioms, contributing to the expression of ideas and messages There are 80 ideational idioms in Vietnamese, indicating the importance of numbers in conveying figurative meanings alongside other words For instance, the idiom "một công đôi việc" illustrates the concept of achieving two things simultaneously, while "ba trợn ba gạo" describes an audacious person who is often unreliable.
Vietnamese ideational numerical idioms, totaling 80, surpass the 62 found in English, indicating a greater tendency for Vietnamese idioms to convey detailed information This suggests that numbers play a more significant role in enriching the meanings of Vietnamese idioms Conversely, in English numerical idioms, numbers serve a broader range of functions, highlighting the differences in how each language utilizes numerical expressions within idiomatic contexts.
In Vietnamese, idiomatic expressions play a crucial role in conveying messages, particularly through numerical idioms that facilitate interpersonal communication and relational information For instance, the phrase "one day" signifies "in the future," serving as a relational idiom that effectively communicates the concept of temporal sequencing.
The study of numerical idioms in English and Vietnamese reveals that 12 English idioms share the same meanings with their Vietnamese counterparts, specifically those containing the numbers 1, 2, 5, and 6 Notably, 8 of these idioms are classified as ideational, indicating that the numbers in both languages enhance the meaning of the idioms, emphasizing message content rather than interpersonal strategies or coherence For instance, the English idiom "in two minds" parallels the Vietnamese idiom "tiến thoái lưỡng nan," both illustrating a scenario where an individual struggles to make a decision.
Among the 12 idioms analyzed, 8 English idioms correspond to Vietnamese idioms with the same numerical elements, while 4 English idioms align with Vietnamese idioms that feature different numbers For instance, the English idiom "cut two ways" is equivalent to the Vietnamese "con dao hai lưỡi," both of which include the number "2." This number plays a crucial role in conveying the idea of duality or opposing effects in both languages, highlighting the significance of numbers in shaping the meanings of these idioms.
Numbers 1 and 2 appear the most in English idioms having Vietnamese idioms with the same meaning There are four English idioms containing numbers 1 have their Vietnamese idioms with the same number and meaning Four idioms describe people and action (ideational idioms), show agreement (interpersonal idiom), and express sequencing temporal information (relational idiom) For example, „one of the boy‟ has the same meaning as „ một hội một thuyền‟ Number 1 appears in these ideational idioms to bring about a message content which is „a member of a group‟ Besides, there are also four English idioms containing numbers 2 have their Vietnamese idioms having the same meanings and number They describe situation and express evaluation (ideational idiom) or show comparison (relational idiom) For example, „two peas in a pod‟ has the same meaning as „như hai giọt nước‟ They are relational idioms to make a comparison It can be inferred that numbers 1 and 2 in English and Vietnamese idioms are the numbers which are used to create the same idiomatic meanings in two languages more than other numbers
In the study of English and Vietnamese idioms, there are four instances where idioms share similar meanings but differ in numerical representation Notably, idioms featuring the number six are the most prevalent, with two Vietnamese counterparts that convey the same meanings These idioms, such as "at sixes and sevens" and "six of one and half a dozen of the other," serve to express emotions and draw comparisons For instance, "six of one and half a dozen of the other" parallels the Vietnamese idiom "kẻ tám lạng, người nửa cân," highlighting minimal differences between two entities In this context, the number six in English idioms plays a role akin to the number eight in Vietnamese expressions.
In conclusion, the number 6 holds distinct meanings in English and Vietnamese idioms, highlighting the cultural differences in their interpretations Additionally, it is evident that various numbers can convey similar meanings across idioms in both languages, showcasing the rich interplay between numerology and language.
2.4.2 The frequency of appearance of numbers in English and Vietnamese idioms
Tables 2 and 3 provide an in-depth analysis of numerical idioms, focusing on their specific functions These tables detail the frequency of each number's appearance in idioms, categorized by function, allowing for a clearer understanding of the role each number plays in idiomatic meanings For instance, we can identify which numbers are predominantly used in idioms that convey messages about actions, situations, or sincerity This analysis enables us to conclude which numbers in English and Vietnamese idioms significantly contribute to various types of idiomatic meanings.
Table 2: The frequency of appearance of numbers in English idioms
Implications
The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding the connotative meanings of numbers in English idioms for both learners and teachers It emphasizes that the same numbers can convey different meanings in various idiomatic contexts across English and Vietnamese Consequently, when translating English numerical idioms into Vietnamese, it is crucial for language users to consider the implied attitudes of the speakers to ensure accurate and contextually appropriate translations.
Suggestions for further studies
This study presents a limited collection of English and Vietnamese numerical idioms, focusing primarily on how numbers contribute to their meanings However, it does not encompass all semantic and grammatical aspects of numbers within these idioms Therefore, further research is recommended to uncover additional numerical idioms, delve deeper into their semantic and grammatical features, and investigate the significance of specific numbers in both English and Vietnamese idiomatic expressions.
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29 http://books.google.com.vn/books?idEdf-
The article discusses the significance of idioms in language, highlighting their role in enriching communication and conveying complex ideas succinctly It emphasizes how idioms can reflect cultural nuances and enhance the expressiveness of speech Additionally, the text notes that understanding idioms is crucial for language learners, as they often encounter these expressions in everyday conversations Overall, the article underscores the importance of idioms in both written and spoken language, making them essential for effective communication.
30 http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=agBZW09QRqkC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139
According to Cruse (1986: 37), an idiom is defined as an expression whose meaning cannot be derived from the individual meanings of its components when they are used outside of idiomatic contexts.
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31 http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/words-stories/Words-and-Their- Stories-Numbers-Part-Two-103201259.html
32 http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/Words-and-Their-Stories-Number- One-102455484.html
33 http://books.google.com/books?id=UWJSaxH9GiMC&printsec=frontcover&hl=vi
&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&fse
35 http://vietlion.com/ebk/download-ebook-tuyen-tap-thanh-ngu-tuc-ngu-ca-dao-viet- anh.html
36 http://www.chiasekinhnghiem.com/kinh-nghiem-hay/y-nghia-cua-cac-con-so.html
37 http://d.violet.vn/uploads/resources/558/1930819/preview.swf
38 http://www.doc88.com/p-57086777012.html
39 http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=I6Z9H- eRSgoC&pg=PA230&lpg=PA230&dq=proverbiality+of+idioms&source=bl&ots Xaygx1VTAG&sig=Uhh- vsm5zbfcXTCYTmEMPi15HNo&hl=vi&eik1Tt3_N8rPmAWfkMCsBA&sa X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&vedCoQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q
40 http://www.docin.com/p-219274005.html
41 http://khoaanh.net/_upload/CA2009/4C06-PhamAnhTuan-
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42 http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/PUB/WPL/03papers/rosa.pdf
43 http://wenku.baidu.com/view/890905d376a20029bd642d8c.html
44 http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=xDSBaet2uSsC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq semantics+functions+of+idioms&source=bl&ots-
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45 http://books.google.com/books?id=PgJTSYeEnNkC&pg=PA43&dq=english+lucky +numbers&hl=vi&eiuFTr6DMO6UmQW6_5gn&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=re sult&resnum=2&vedDAQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=english%20lucky%20n umbers&fse
46 http://books.google.com.vn/books?idOWf1WlCStcC&pg=PA113&dq=lucky+nu mbers+in+english+culture&hl=vi&ei=O8qFTqILhZ6IB_P_rIkP&sa=X&oi=book_r esult&ct=result&resnum=1&vedC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=lucky%20num bers%20in%20english%20culture&fse
47 http://books.google.com.vn/books?id=fY8lLOAAguEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=t he+significance+of+numbers+in+English&hl=vi&ei=bMyFTpKLCuGwiQfsz6yZ Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&vedC8Q6AEwAQ#v=onep age&q&fse
48 http://books.google.com/books?id=DL31CUOX8igC&pg=PA21&dq=english+luck y+numbers&hl=vi&eiuFTr6DMO6UmQW6_5gn&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=r esult&resnum=3&vedDcQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=english%20lucky%20n umbers&fse
English numerical idioms having Vietnamese equivalent numerical ones with the same meanings
As one = Hai mặt một lời
At sixes and sevens = Trăm đường nghìn nỗi
Fall between two stools = Bắt cá hai tay
Two of a kind = Cá mè một lứa
One day = Một ngày kia
Two peas in a pod = Như hai giọt nước
In two minds = Tiến thoái lưỡng nan
Six of one and half a dozen of the other = Kẻ tám lạng, người nửa cân
Cut two ways = Con dao hai lưỡi
One of the boys = Một hội một thuyền ( Cùng hội cùng thuyền)
Kill two birds with one stone = Một công đôi việc( Nhất cử lưỡng tiện)
Once in a blue moon = Năm thì mười họa