VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
 NGUYÊ
̃
N THI
̣
THA
̀
NH A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING WORDS
DENOTING FOOD AND DRINK IN ENGLISH AND THEIR
VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS FROM CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE (










MA. MINOR THESIS

Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60 22 02 01

Hanoi – 2014

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
 NGUYÊ
̃
N THI
̣
THA
̀
NH A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING WORDS
DENOTING FOOD AND DRINK IN ENGLISH AND THEIR






















)

MA. MINOR THESIS
ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On the completion of this thesis, I am grateful to many people.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thom for his enthusiastic guidance and valuable
advice and help, without which, this thesis could not be completed.

I also wish to thank all my lecturers of Post Graduate Department, College of
Foreign Languages, Vietnam National University for their helpful instruction during
my whole course of studying.

In addition, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, friends and colleagues,
whose encouragement and assistance play an important part in my doing this thesis.

Finally, I am all too aware that despite all the helpful advice and assistance, the
project is far from perfect. Therefore, I have sole and full responsibility for any
inadequacies and shortcomings that the thesis may be considered to have.


iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
ABSTRACT iii
PART I: INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale to the study 1
2. Research aims and research questions 1
3. Objectives of the research 2
4. Scope of the research 2
5. Methods of the study 3
6. Significance of the research 4
7. Design of the research 4

PART II: DEVELOPMENT

4.3. Similarities and differences in syntactic and semantic features of idioms
containing food and drink in English and Vietnamese 26
4.3.1. Similarities 27
4.3.2. Differences 28
4.4. The equivalence of the English and Vietnamese idioms containing food
and drink 31
4.4.1. Idiomatic equivalence 31
4.4.2. Conceptual equivalence 32
4.4.3. Lexical equivalence 33
4.4.4. Semantic and pragmatic equivalence 37
4.5. Cultural characteristics of English and Vietnamese idioms containing
food and drink 37
4.6. Implications for teaching and learning idioms containing food and drink39

PART III: CONCLUSION
1. Conclusion 40
vi

2. Limitations of the thesis and further study 40
3. Suggestions for further study 41
REFERENCES 42
APPENDIXES I
1



This research has four main aims as the followings:
1. To investigate syntactic and semantic features of English and Vietnamese
idioms related to food and drink, from which explore the cultural values underlying
the literal words.
2. To find out the similarities and differences in the cultures of the two
countries which are reflected through their idioms containing food and drink.
3. To equip both those learning English and those learning Vietnamese as
their foreign language with rich knowledge on both English and Vietnamese idioms
in general and on food and drink in particular. Moreover, to help teachers, learners
and translators avoid difficulties in translating English idioms into Vietnamese and
vice versa.
4. To supply some suggested implications for teaching and learning method,
which contribute to improve ability of using English idioms in general, idioms
related to food and drink in particular.
To achieve the above aims, the following research questions are put forward:
1. What syntactic and semantic features are reflected in the food and drink
idioms in both English and Vietnamese?
2. What are the similarities and differences between Vietnamese and English
cultures through idioms related to food and drink? What factors lead to such
differences?
3. Objectives of the research
My study is carried out with the aim to help Vietnamese learners have a
better understanding of English and Vietnamese idioms related to food and drink,
which would encourage them to use idioms more confidently not only in receptive
skills like listening and reading but also on productive skills like speaking and
writing and avoid communication breakdown.
4. Scope of the research
I have found idioms such an interesting English aspect that I decide to
choose them as my thesis topic. However, due to the limited time and knowledge, I

those idioms.
4

- Compare and find the differences and similarities between English and
Vietnamese idioms containing food and drink from cultural perspective.
The descriptive method is used to describe the syntactic, semantic and
cultural features of idioms containing food and drink in English and Vietnamese.
The comparative method is used to identify the similarities and differences in
their syntactic, semantic and cultural features.
6. Significance of the research
(i) Theoretical significance: The study supplies Vietnamese teachers and
learners with a deeper understanding of idioms in general and idioms containing
food and drink in particular in term of their syntactic, semantic, and cultural
features.
(ii) Practical significance: The study provides Vietnamese learners with
suggestions to improve their language skills when using idioms containing food and
drink, particularly communicative skill and avoid culture shock.
7. Design of the research
This thesis consists of three main parts
Part one is the Introduction, which consists of the rationale, the aims and
research question, the objectives, the scope, the methods, the significance and the
design of the study.
Part two is the Development, which is the main part of the study dealing with
English idioms containing food and drink and their equivalents in Vietnamese. This
part is divided into four chapters:
Chapter I: Literature Review
Chapter II: Theoretical background including Overview of idioms, The
Relationship of Language and Culture, Idioms and Culture.
Chapter III: Methodology and procedure
Chapter IV: Findings and discussion as well as some implications for






(2008), 








 (2006), 
















University Press - 1995) defines idiom as 
not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a
 (1995: 67).
Chambers English Dictionary of Idioms (1996:5): 
easily defined one  it can refer to many kinds of words and phrases. The
             

In short, there are different ways of defining an idiom. In general, most of the
linguists share the same point that an idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning
can not be worked out by looking at the meaning of its individual words. To put it
another way, the actual meaning of an idiom is not the total of the meanings of its
7

components. Moreover, idioms may also carry a particular attitude of the person
using them, so learners must use them with a lot of care.

2.1.2. Typical features of idioms
2.1.2.1. Syntactic features
Mona Baker (1992) in her book titled In Other Words states that idioms are
frozen patterns of language which allow little or no variation in form and often
carry meanings which cannot be deduced from their individual components. From
that definition five conditions for idioms are introduced as follow:
1. The order of the words in an idioms cannot be changed. The
way the words are put together is fixed and they can not change their place.
2. The words in an idiom cannot be omitted. We as the users of
the language are not permitted to delete some of the words of a particular element.
3. There are no extra words that might be added to an idiom.
4. No words in an idiom can be replaced by another word.
5. The grammatical structures of an idiom cannot be changed.
Let us see a well-. Its meaning is to reveal

2.1.2.2. Semantic features
Idioms are, in a very broad sense, metaphorical rather than literal. Most of
English idioms share this characteristic. Idioms often contain images, which result
from metaphor, in themselves. These hidden images can be either easy or difficult
for readers to imagine. Therefore, the surface structure has a little role to play in
understanding the meaning of the whole expression. It is the figurativeness of
idioms that makes the expressions lively, impressive and deep in the meaning.
In some cases it is possible to have a guess at the meaning of an idiom,
 (very
sour/


other cases it is nearly impossible to do so. The meaning of idioms must sometimes
be explained by referring to historical and cultural knowledge, which is one of the
reasons that make it difficult to learn and understand idioms thoroughly.
9

According to A.V. Kunin, the meaning of an idiom is either partly or
as red as beetroot(


cheap as chips( ) are some examples of partly different

(

 ,  from soup to nuts(

 )
cannot be guessed. All these idioms are embodied with metaphorical expressions
and they must be understood metaphorically.

 ). 
two peas in the pod (



 /

  the
carrot and (the) stick(





) are idioms of neutral meaning.
Furthermore, among many idioms including one same word there is often
one dominant image. If we take the numerous idioms that include the term BREAD,
the overriding metaphoric image is that of bread being the symbol of survival. For
example, bread and butter - , 
nhai / thu nh  ) (the basic things that you need to
live, especially food - 





).

2.1.3. Idioms and other similar language units
Idioms share some common syntactic and semantic features with other

indiscreet when they are drunk) or An apple a day keeps the doctor away (Fruit is
an important part of a healthy diet) are some examples of proverbs.
Similarities:
From their definitions we can find that idioms and proverbs have many in
common and that they are often put side by side to study is not a surprise. Firstly,
the components of idioms and proverbs are stable and not able to be substituted. In
addition, the meaning of most idioms and proverbs is understood metaphorically
11

rather than literally. We can not usually discover their meanings by looking up the
individual words in a normal dictionary.
Secondly, in many cases idioms are part of proverbs; for example the
proverb       is formed from the idiom 
 (one bad person who has a bad effect on others in a group); or the case of
the idiom   (things that you must not have or do are always the

Differences:
In terms of syntactic structures, idioms are phrases which are parts of
sentences; so, they are equivalent to words. In contrast, proverbs are complete
sentences or phrases which can express the whole idea by themselves.
In terms of functions, proverbs express the whole idea of judgment, general
truth about life, advice or moral lessons. They contain three main literature
functions namely perceptive, aesthetic and educational functions. For example, the
 Alcohol will preserve anything but   demonstrates a remark as
well as a criticism about the negative side of alcohol. Its perceptive function is to
make people aware of the bad effect of alcohol which can reveal secrets. The
educational function is to criticize the negative side of alcohol and urges people to
be aware of that ill effect. And its aesthetic function lies in the way to use the phrase

with the actual meaning of the statement  


supposes that language is the origin of every culture. If language, along with
working, creates human being, it is language, along with working, that is the origin
of every culture.
In conclusion, language and culture are inseparable. They interact with each
other and shape each other. Language is part and the carrier of culture which in turn
is the content of language. We can find out cultural features from language and
explain language phenomena with culture.
2.2.3. The Relationship between Idioms and Culture
13

Culture has a great influence on the origin and development of language.
This is the reason why content of language is closely connected to culture. Apart
from words and expressions, idioms are regarded as special language units which
reflect cultural characteristics of different countries.
Idioms, like language in general, are strongly influenced by culture.
According to Gluckberg 
As a part of language, idioms
transfer cultural values and daily life features of the people who speak that
language. They are the heritage of history and product of cultural evolvement.
Consequently, we know much about culture through studying idioms and in turn get
better understanding of idioms by learning the cultural background behind them.
There are great differences between English and Vietnamese idioms as the result of
respective geographic environment, national experience, cultural inheritance and
formation of thinking. Many English idioms connect with ocean as the result of the
oceanic culture (e.g.    ), some
with the traditions of Britain, which traditionally belongs to commercial and marine
economy (bring home the bacon, cast one's bread upon the waters, the world is
 ) while Vietnamese idioms with agricultural economy (


Chapter III: METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE
3.1. Research design
The research design has been made with the aim of providing guidelines for
systematic data gathering and finding the diversity of idioms containing food and
drink in English and Vietnamese. It further helps discover the typical underlying
cultural features of idioms containing food and drink.
3.2. Research methodology
The study describes and compare the syntactic, semantic and cultural
features of idioms containing food and drink in English and their equivalents in
Vietnamese. In order to achieve the aims and objectives of the study, the descriptive
and comparative methods are utilized combined with the qualitative and
quantitative approaches.
The descriptive method is used to describe in details the syntactic, semantic
and cultural features of idioms containing food and drink collected from referent
books, stories, novels, dictionaries and Internet websites.
In addition, the comparative method is used to identify the similarities and
differences in the syntactic, semantic and cultural features of idioms containing
food and drink in English versus Vietnamese.
3.3. Data collection
a. What is food?
A long time ago, people could eat only what they grew or what they could
catch. Today, most of the food is supplied by the food industry.
According to Digital Journal (http://digitaljournal.com/blog/829) some of the
foods we eat come from animals, including beef, veal, lamb, pork, fish and chicken.
They may be produced from the flesh or internal organs of animals, such as: beef,
lamb, pork and mutton (red meats), chicken and fish (white meats), heart, liver,
kidneys and brains (organ meats).
15

Other animal foods, such as eggs and milk, are produced by animals over

desire, disposition, etc., due to its prominent importance in human survival and
pleasure (Berrada, 2007).
b. What is drink?
nguage,
4th Edition: drink is a liquid that is fit for drinking; a beverage.
         
drink.
c. Choosing idioms containing food and drink
From those definitions of food and drink, I call all idioms related to any kind
             

fo in 
for tho, 

(party) 

, (food) 




In general, the researcher collected data from dictionaries, books, and the
websites on the Internet of idioms. After that, the researcher read and pick out all
idioms containing food and drink literally and sort them out figuratively. In order to
select idioms easily and quickly while doing analysis, we put all the idioms
collected in alphabetical order.
3.4. Data analysis
After collecting 380 idioms including 190 English idioms and 190
Vietnamese idioms of food and drink from various sources, we categorize them into
two main aspects: syntactic and semantic ones.