Idioms Related to Animals in English and Vietnamese: A Cultural and Semantic Contrast

Abstract

By examining animal-related idioms in both English and Vietnamese, this study highlights the cultural and linguistic differences between the two languages. The research emphasizes how animals are viewed and symbolized differently when Western and Vietnamese cultures employ similar idiomatic expressions. In this study, idioms are analyzed by comparing their literal, metaphorical, and cultural meanings. The findings show that while some idioms share similar animal imagery, their meanings often diverge due to differences in traditions, beliefs, and cultural contexts. This demonstrates that idioms provide valuable insights into how each language reflects the worldview of its speakers. To enhance reliability, the dataset was expanded to 300 idioms (150 English and 150 Vietnamese) and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.