Introduction: A Global Language
All languages employ idioms, which are expressions that communicate meanings that cannot be determined from the meanings of the words in the expression or their placement in a sentence. In fact, one of the biggest challenges in learning to use a new language is to learn its idioms.
How we speak is impacted by our history and environment, so that a word or phrase that means one thing in a particular English-speaking context may mean something different in another context--or it may be completely unintelligible altogether. Idioms are often creative or playful, and often refer to cultural artifacts past and present. Where do they come from? What do they mean? We often use idioms so much we do not recognize when we are doing so. Learning about our own idioms and the idioms of others can provide a mirror to examine our own culture as well as a window into that of another. Learning about the idioms we use can help us reflect upon our own culture. Sometimes we might think that we know the origin of an idiom, but we do not. Sometimes an idiom can have a different meaning depending upon context. Learning about idioms teaches us that our language comes from somewhere. Learning about how we use and play with words helps us to understand how much of our language (and really, any language) is not always by the book, assuming that book is a dictionary. Because idioms have history, stories, or humor behind them, they can create a connection that simple translated words or phrases cannot. For native English speakers, learning new idioms can help us understand how challenging it would be to learn English, and how challenging it would be to communicate with others in a different cultural environment, even if they knew the language. |