CULTURAL FEATURES IN IDIOMTIC EQUAL COMPARISONS IN ENGLISH (IN COMPARISON WITH VIETNAMESE)

Abstract

In this paper, the author analyses cultural characteristics embeded in idiomatic equal comparisons in English and Vietnamese to highlight cultural features of  each of the languages and also to shed light on similarities and differences in the uses of idiomatic equal comparisons in the daily life of the English and the Vietnamese. English and Vietnamese idiomatic equal comparisons are analysed and described in details with examples through a selection of idiomatic uses of: (i) images of  human beings in societies and communities (ii) images of the natural world in English and  Vietnamese  idiomatic  equal  comparisons.  The  analysis  provides  a  thorough  view  on  the cultural features of the two peoples, English and Vietnamese, through images related to geography, weather, climate, ha itat, customs  characteristic of each people.