UNDERSTANDING ENGLISH IDIOMS: A STUDY OF LEXEMIC STRUCTURES, LITERARY ORIGINS, AND COMPREHENSION BARRIERS AMONG EFL (ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) LEARNERS
Keywords:
Idioms of decoding and encoding, lexemic idioms, sememic idioms, problems.Abstract
An idiom is one of the parts of language used in speech, written texts
and mass media. The purpose of this study is to identify idioms, their types, dominant
type and problems in understanding them. The data was obtained by reading,
identifying the theories proposed by Makkai on this topic. There are four problems in
understanding the meaning of an idiom: distinguishing between phrasal verbs that are
idioms; translating an idiom; understanding the closest meaning of an idiom; and the
lack of a grammatical rule for forming an idiom. Therefore, readers should understand
the idiomatic expressions used in the novel to understand the meaning of idioms and
the whole context of the novel.
References
1. Khofiana Mabruroh. (2015). An Analysis of Idioms and Their Problems
Found in the Novel the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
2. Makkai, A. (1972). Idiom Structure in English. The Hague: Mouton.
3. Mc Carthy, M. & O’Dell, F. (2003). English Idioms in Use. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
4. Walker, Read, A. Et. al. (2003). The New International Webster’s
Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language. Columbia: Trident Press
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5.
https://www.nationalworld.com/news/offbeat/idioms-literature-p
