A Study Of English Idioms And Its Implications

English is a universal language, which is being spoken by all races every minute in the world. China is a dominant country in the large international family. In order to give full play to its decisive role, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the universal education of English in schools at all levels but it produced very little effect, for most learners can only speak Chinglish, and what is worse is that many of them have only mastered silent English after many years' study. Quite obviously, every language-learner would hope to speak a pure language. But why can't they attain this goal? In my opinion, the most probable cause is the lack of idioms. As everyone knows, vocabulary is the most important component part of any sound language known to the mankind. And idiom is just a brightest star in the countless lexes. English is exceptionally rich in idioms, but the systematic study of English idioms has been relatively neglected in Chinese academic circles. Therefore, there is still a big gap which needs to be filled. Facts have proved that without a good command of English idioms there would be no idiomatic English, especially no pure spoken English.The study of English idioms was chiefly within the domain of idiomatic phrases and sentences proper in the past. Most scholars and idiomatologists both at home and abroad spare no efforts to collect and compile dictionaries of idioms from the perspective of practicality. They seldom discuss the idioms systematically from the angle of the theory of linguistics, though a few scholars (such as M. A. K. Halliday, C. Fernando, L. P. Smith) had indeed dealt with the functions and sources of English idioms from a certain aspect. This thesis will provide a comprehensive treatment of English idioms and its implications from almost all aspects of idiomatology:significance, definitions, characteristics, classifications, sources, cultural differences, stress, role, translation and acquisition.The author first points out the importance of idiom study in English learning in the present situation, especially with China's entry into WTO. Then he gives a general review of the study of English idioms by scholars both at home and abroad up to now and at the same time, he shows the research aim of this thesis. After that he begins to discuss almost all the aspects of idioms such as definitions, characteristics, classifications, sources, cultural differences, stress, role, translation and even acquisition under the guidance of linguistics, applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, lexicology, taxonomy, etymology, contrastive linguistics, phonetics, translation, biology and philosophy, etc. In the aspect of cross-cultural communication, the author particularly gives it a sharp contrast between English and Chinese idioms at full length in order that the Chinese students, whether English major or non-major, can both benefit from this paper. In the end, he shows the problems unsolved in the fields of English idioms.The thesis consists of seven chapters.Chapter 1 first points out the significance of English idiom study and then looks back on the study done by now. After that, this chapter also defines the English idiom and finally puts forward the author's own study plan.Chapter 2 analyzes the five features of English idioms (i.e. conventionalized, semantic, structural, stylistic and rhetorical features) in detail.Chapter 3 first sums up the former classificatory methods of English idioms and then expounds the author's own categorizations (i.e. living and non-living idioms).Chapter 4 first outlines the main sources of English idioms (i.e. material and spiritual life) and then demonstrates the miscellaneous birthplaces one by one.Chapter 5 makes a comparison between English and Chinese idioms in culture, paying special attention to their differences concerning living surroundings, local customs, and religious beliefs.Chapter 6 provides the implications of this research for English learning touching upon role, stress, and translation of English i...