Titel: English and Swedish Animal Idioms - A Study of Correspondence

and

Variation in Content and Expression

Idioms are found in every language and learning them is an

important aspect of the mastery of a language. The English
language is no exception as it contains a large number of idioms,
which are extensively used. However, because of their rather rigid
structure and quite unpredictable meaning, idioms are often
considered difficult to learn. Although little research has been
done to date on the nature of idioms as well as how they are used,
a better understanding of variations in idioms can nevertheless be
acquired by looking at some theories and thoughts about their use
and their structure.

The aim of this paper is to examine a number of animal

idioms, focusing primarily on English idioms and the similarities and
differences found in equivalent Swedish idioms, even when the
Swedish idioms do not contain an animal. Two types of studies are
presented. In the first one, the English and Swedish animal idioms
collected are grouped into four categories. The results of such a
categorization show that half of the English animal idioms found
have an equivalent in Swedish containing an animal. In the second
study, the content, structure, wording, semantics and
metaphorical meaning of the animal idioms are analysed and
compared. The results indicate that the Swedish animal idioms that
correspond to the English animal idioms have, for the most part, the
same structures and similar variations in degree of literalness, fixity,
manipulation and transformation. Furthermore, the use of
metaphor, personification and simile appears to be common both in
English and Swedish animal idioms. The role of context and literal
and figurative translation are also addressed in this study.

Nyckelord: English and Swedish animal idioms, literal translation, role of

context, underlying conceptual metaphor, personification, simile,
semantics.
Western culture from English Idioms
Abstract Today the success of English learners must first have enough vocabulary to
understand the meaning of idioms. At the same time, we must in order to absorb a
large number of extensive reading on the relationship between idioms and knowledge
of Western culture. So as to in-depth understanding of the nature of Western
culture and thus its capability in society. 

Keywords: in English idiom; Western culture; origin; reflect the 

Idioms are the crystallization of language development, learning to use the language

the user a long time, and the form of a concise and insightful meaning of the
stereotypical phrase or phrases. Vocabulary of English as the world's richest one of the
languages, English idioms is diverse and vast, in which Western culture permeated with
rich flavor, and is intertwined with the impact of other nations, giving us a colorful
cultural show of the picture, deductive out in English the national language and
cultural development and evolution. 

Through the analysis of the source of English Idioms, we can clearly know their
generation have their own cultural background, such as geography, history and life
practice and so on. Idiom that is formed on the basis of these and widely circulated,
also bound with the marks of their culture. It can be said that if the Western culture is a
mighty ocean, then English is the fish swimming in the ocean, both seamless, closely
linked. Fish can not leave the sea to survive, but not the fish of the sea will also be no
vitality in the doldrums. 

Here's history, geography, social customs, religious beliefs, fables myths, and political
background of several major side analysis of English Idioms mapping of Western
culture. 

The Relationship between Social Custom and English Idiom

Ⅰ.Introduction
Idioms as a special form of language that carry a large amount of cultural information, such as history,
geography, religion, custom, thinking pattern and so on. Therefore, they are closely related to the
culture, especially idioms have an inseparable relationship of social customs. From a dynamic view,
language and culture interact with each other and shape each other. Idiomatic expressions are even
difficult for native English speakers because their meanings cannot be determined through an analysis of
their individual words. For instance, “to fall out” means “to quarrel”, but neither “fall” nor “out” has a
sense of quarrel. Another example is “a feather in one’s cap”, which means “an honor or a success, of
which one can be proud”. The meaning of this idiom is a metaphorical one. “Under the rose” is also very
difficult to understand from the literal meanings of its component words, its true meaning is “secretly”.
“To have a bee in one's bonnet” means “to have a strange fixed idea about something”. “To kick the
bucket” means “to die”. The figurative interpretation of “shoot the breeze” is “to talk without purpose”.
Unlike literal language, it is impossible to explain the idiom from the literal meaning of the individual
words. Thus, English idioms are difficult to understand, because they are a combination of two or more
words, which function as a unit of meaning.
For our Chinese students, English idioms are a stumbling block. It is very possible that they often not
only feel at a loss in understanding conversations because of a key idiom but also misuse idioms.  In this
paper, I am going to make a study of    the relationship between idioms and social custom cultures and
throw some light on the learning of English idioms. As we all know, language is closely related to culture
and can be said as a part of culture. They are the heritage of history and product of cultural evolvement.
Consequently, we can know much about social custom culture through studying idioms and in turn get
better understanding of idioms by learning the cultural background behind them.

Cultural Connotations in English Idioms

As one of the most important and used language in the world, English has its own splendid culture. An
idiom most often refers to a phrase or expression that cannot be understood byknowing what
the individual words in the phrase mean. And an idiom is the reflection of
itsculture in history, geography environment, customs, religion, fables and myth, arts andliterature and
sports and other entertainments. The connotative meaning in idioms should bestudied by English
learners. The connotative meaning is discussed in several areas.

CONNOTATION OF ENGLISH IDIOMS

History Notes in English IdiomsThe development of history had great influences on language. And lots of
culture historytraces was left to language in this development. As one of the most important parts
of language, idioms absorb a lot from history. A look back to history, the changes of the earth,
ethnic migrations, conquers and assimilation in nationalities and wars of nationalities are themain
factors in the developments of idioms.Essayair (cultural connotations, 2010, December) defines a
number of historical events inidioms:

Roman, Germanic Tribes, Scandinavians and Normandy’s ConquestRoman, Germanic tribes (Angles,
Saxons, Jutes), Scandinavians and Normandy’s conquesthave immense impacts on the history
development of Great Britain. These conquerors broughttheir war, their lives their names, their
language and others belong to them to England. For example:1. “Do in Rome as the Romans do”: Rome
is a country far from England. We can get lots of information from this proverb.2. “Rain cats and dogs.”
In old Scandinavians (Norsemen), their God is Odin. Dogs andwolves are the symbol of wind and cats
represent rain in this mythology system.

Independence of North American Colonies.Great Britain set her first colony Virginia in North America in
1607 and then English starts itsnew development history. Though American English comes from its basic
British English, ithas some differences from British English. For example:1.   “Ok”: It is a typical American
English idiom. It comes from an Indian words “Okeh”.

First and Second World WarsWars especially world wars are important events in human’s society; they
are also big bombsto language. The two world wars” influences on the two main English spoken
countries aregreat. It is said that more than 6000 words were made in WWI. For example:1. “A-bomb”:
It referred to atom bomb in the war time. It means a very fast racing car in slangand something drugs
related.

Conclusion

 The formation of idioms and the language in the national culture is close connected. Theculture
produces idioms in a sense. Idiom has the great national characteristics; moreover it is one of the most
remarkable parts between one language and another language. Therefore, we should learn the
connotation meaning if we want to move on advanced study. Idioms, as aspecial form of language exist
in both of the language and culture and carry a large amount of cultural information such
as history, geography, religion, custom, nationality psychology,thought pattern and so on, and therefore
are closely related to culture. They are the heritage of history and product of cultural evolvement.
Consequently, we can know much about culturethrough studying idioms and
in turn get better understanding of idioms by learning thecultural background behind them.
Ⅵ.Conclusion
Idioms is a part of culture, it is reflect the cultural needs. Language is not neutral codes or grammatical rules.
Culture and language are intertwined and are shaping each other. It is impossible to separate the two.
Therefore, to know the cultural background will help us to understanding what information of the author
want to tell us is; to know the cultural background will help us to know the true meaning of idiom, especially
when we know the relationship of the social custom and idiom, we can better understanding the hiding
meaning of idiom.
Each time we select words, from sentences, and send a message, either oral or written, we make cultural
choices. We all agree that language helps us in communicating with people from different backgrounds.
However, we may be less aware that cultural literacy is necessary in order to understand the language being
used. If we select language without being aware of the cultural implications, we may at least not
communicate well and at worst send the wrong message. Therefore, we know the social customs for the sake
of understanding the hiding meaning of idiom. (Linda Beamer & Iris Varner, 2003: 31-32)
Today, the type of figurative language is highly used in the daily life in Britain and America. It is necessary for
us to have such knowledge of how to comprehend. The ability to understand idioms is an important way to
successful communication. As we all know, English idioms have close relationship in social customs and the
relationship reflects the English culture. The difficult comprehension of English idioms may also lead to
communication breakdown for the persons from different language communities. Failure to grasp the
meanings of idioms can impinge upon an individual’s understanding of language in social, academic, and
vocational settings. In order to communicate with each other fluently, the ability to know the hiding meaning
of idioms is important. We study of the relationship between English idiom and social culture so as to
understand the hiding meaning of idiom. To know the relationship of social customs and English idioms can
help us better to understand the true meaning of English idiom.