Comparing idioms related to animals in english and vietnamese culture and suggestion for learners in learning english idioms

Similarities and Differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture.. Table 6: Frequency of the factor FISH in English and Vietnamese Table 7: Brief descript

HỒNG ĐỨC UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

HOÀNG LÊ QUANG

GRADUATION THESIS

COMPARING IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE CULTURE AND SUGGESTION FOR LEARNERS IN LEARNING ENGLISH

IDIOMS

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English Language

THANH HOA, 2023

HỒNG ĐỨC UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

GRADUATION THESIS

COMPARING IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE CULTURE AND SUGGESTION FOR LEARNERS IN LEARNING

ENGLISH IDIOMS

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English Language

Student : Hoàng Lê Quang Class: : K22- English Linguistic Supervisor : D.r, Nguyễn Thị Quyết

THANH HOA, 2023

Declaration

I certify that this thesis that is entitled:

“Comparing idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture and suggestions to learners in learning English idiom” is the result of my own research and all

the substance and ideas of this thesis have not been submitted for a degree to any other universities or institution

Thanh Hoa, April, 2023

Hoàng Lê Quang

Acknowledgments

To complete this thesis, I sincerely thank many people who have contributed their valuable advice and suggestions for my thesis

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Mrs Nguyen Thi Quyet, who gave me the benefits of her wisdom and her varied experiences of guiding students to do graduation thesis Without her profound advice, enthusiastic support and helpful encouragement, I will not be able to complete this thesis perfectly

In addition, thanks for the assistance of the librarians at Hong Duc University because of their encouragement and valuable materials I wish to thank the lecturers at Foreign Language Department that supported me during the process of my research

Last but not least, I also send my words of thanks to my class K22 at the Faculty of foreign language HDU for their cooperation and support I will not be able to complete the thesis without their support and cooperation

And finally, I am grateful for any comments from people who are interested in this thesis All your comments will make the thesis more profound and perfect

Abstract

Idioms are an essential part of language that add depth and meaning to our conversations These expressions are culturally significant, often reflecting the values, beliefs, and traditions of a society The use of animal idioms is prevalent in many cultures, and Vietnamese and English cultures are no exception Despite the appearance of these expressions, variations in language and culture can lead to significant differences in the use and meaning of idioms

This research aims to investigate the similarities and differences between animal idioms in Vietnamese and English cultures Specifically, the study will examine the semantic and pragmatic aspects of animal idioms, such as their literal and figurative meanings, usage in different contexts, and cultural associations The research will also explore the role of animal idioms in communicating cultural values and beliefs, such as attitudes towards animals and their place in society

Through this research, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the use and significance of animal idioms in Vietnamese and English cultures This study may also contribute to the fields of linguistics and cross-cultural communication, providing insights into the role of language in shaping cultural perceptions and attitudes

2 Objectives of the study 10

3 Scope of the study 10

4 Research questions 11

5 Methods of the study 11

5.1 Data collection method 11

5.2 Analytical method 11

5.3 Interpretation method 12

5.4 Statistical method 12

6 Design of the study 12

PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT 14

CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 14

1 Idiom and general knowledge of idiom in English 14

3 The traditional concept of Vietnamese and English people about animals 21

3.1 Concept of Dog in English and Vietnamese cultures 21

3.2 Concept of Cat in English and Vietnamese cultures 22

3.3 Concept of fish in English and Vietnamese cultures 22

3.4 Concept of mouse in English and Vietnamese cultures 22

3.5 Concept of cow and buffalo in English and Vietnamese cultures 23

3.6 Concept of horse in English and Vietnamese cultures 23

3.7 Concept of wolf and fox in English and Vietnamese cultures 24

3.8 Concept of tiger in English and Vietnamese cultures 24

3.9 Concept of Sheep in English and Vietnamese cultures 25

3.10 Concept of bee and butterfly in English and Vietnamese cultures 25

CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY 26

1 Approach to the study 26

CHAPTER III: FINDING AND DISCUSSION 31

1 Compare English idioms and Vietnamese idioms that related to animals 31

1.1 Idioms contain metaphor of animals: ―animal is a person or a thing‖ 31

1.1.1 The Factor: Dog 31

1.1.2: The factor: Cat 34

1.1.3.The Factor: Fish 36

1.1.5 The Factor: Mouse/rat 41

1.1.6: Sheep 44

1.1.7: The Factor: Wolf/Fox 46

1.1.8.The Factor: Horse 49

1.1.9 The Factor: Tiger 52

1.1.10: The Factor: Bee/ Butterfly 54

1.2 Other types of English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals 57

1.2.1 Idioms that contain metaphors of two animals factors 57

1.2.2 Idioms containing a metaphors of ―noun associated with an animal‖ 61

2 Similarities and Differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture 62

2.1: Similarities of English and Vietnamese idioms related to Animals 62

2.2 Differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture 63 PART THREE: CONCLUSION 65

1 Recapitulation 65

3 Suggestion for studying English idioms related to animals 66

4 Conclusion 67

REFERENCES 69

APPENDIX 1: ENGLISH IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS 72

APPENDIX 2: VIETNAMESE IDIOMS RELATED TO ANIMALS 76

LIST OF TABLE Table 1: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor DOG………

Table 2: Frequency of the factor DOG in English and Vietnamese

Table 3: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor CAT………

Table 4: Frequency of the factor CAT in English and Vietnamese

Table 5: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor FISH………

Table 6: Frequency of the factor FISH in English and Vietnamese

Table 7: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor COW/BUFFALO………

Table 8: Frequency of the factor COW/BUFFALO in English and Vietnamese

Table 9: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor RAT/MOUSE………

Table 10: Frequency of the factor RAT/MOUSE in English and Vietnamese……

Table 11: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor SHEEP………

Table 12: Frequency of the factor SHEEP in English and Vietnamese………

Table 13: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor WOLF/FOX………

Table 14: Frequency of the factor WOLF/FOX in English and Vietnamese……

Table 15: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor HORSE ………

Table 16: Frequency of the factor HORSE in English and Vietnamese………

Table 17: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor TIGER………

Table 18: Frequency of the factor TIGER in English and Vietnamese………

Table 19: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor BEE/BUTTERFLY………

Table 20: Frequency of the factor BEE/BUTTERFLY in English and Vietnamese

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale

Idioms are an essential part of any language, as they provide a window into a society's values, beliefs, and traditions Idioms often have themes related to things and works in daily life and animals is a topic that ancient people usually used to create idioms Animal idioms are particularly interesting because they often reflect the way people perceive and interact with other people or things by using animal images as metaphors By comparing and contrasting animal idioms in two different cultures- Vietnamese and English culture, this thesis aims to shed light on the similarities and differences of animal idioms in two cultures

Nowadays, English is an international language that is used by many countries all over the world In Vietnam, The need of learning English is more and more urgent because people consider it as a tool of international communication and integrity Studying idioms is an important part that many people have to achieve in English Idioms are not only found in Vietnamese but also very common in English In contrast, Vietnamese learners are still not aware of the importance of learning idioms Therefore, they still cannot distinguish the similarities and differences between idioms in English and Vietnamese, thereby causing misunderstandings in communication Wanting to learn English idioms well helps you a lot in life Idioms are really useful and beneficial to us when communicating because it gives you a whole new, creative style of acting to express yourself in front of a crowd, avoiding boredom in conversation In this thesis, we only discuss the idioms related to animals- It is a branch of Idiom in English and compare them to the other idioms in Vietnamese culture

The study of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture is significant for people who desire to master English speaking and writing skills It is very beneficial for the investigation and awareness of English learners Firstly, it contributes to the understanding of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world Animal idioms in both Vietnam and English are closely connected to their culture So study of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture help people to enhance their knowledge and language ability It provides insight into the role of animals in different cultures, including their symbolic meanings, cultural significance, and perceived characteristics as well Furthermore, this thesis will help people to promote cross-cultural communication and understanding by identifying areas of similarity and difference in the use of idiomatic expressions

The thesis about this topic aims to reveal a significant number of similarities and differences between animal idioms in English and Vietnamese culture The similarities may be attributed to common human experiences and the sharing of cultural values across borders The differences may be explained by cultural, historical, and linguistic factors The results of this study may have implications for language learning, cross-cultural communication, and intercultural studies In idioms related to animals are hidden many metaphors of animals By analyzing those metaphors, readers can understand more about the similarities and differences in the perception of people in English culture and Vietnamese culture In this thesis, I also focus on comparing metaphors in idioms related to animals This helps readers understand more about the unique cultural features of the two countries hidden deep under the surface of the language, thereby helping readers easily distinguish and identify idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese

I decided to choose the topic ―The similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture‖ to provide a valuable insight into the role of animals in different societies By examining the similarities and differences between animal idioms in the two cultures in terms of metaphor, this thesis will provide readers with a lot of useful information about traditional concepts, culture as well as contribute to a deeper understanding of the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world

2 Objectives of the study

By all the status shown above, the study is handled with purpose that:

- To Collect a comprehensive list of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures by using various sources such as dictionaries, online resources

- To identify the similarities and differences in the use, meaning, and cultural context of animal idioms in the two languages

- To provide insights into the cultural attitudes towards animals in English and Vietnamese cultures through metaphorical expression

- To contribute to the understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote cross-cultural communication and understanding

3 Scope of the study

Idioms in Vietnamese and English culture show different views about characteristics

focus on compiling a comprehensive list of animal idioms from English and Vietnamese culture I also compare the metaphors that are in both English and Vietnamese idioms After that, categorize and analyze them based on semantic, syntactic and culture features to make them more comprehensive to all the readers In addition, this thesis will go deep into the common mistakes of using English and Vietnamese idioms in order to avoid these mistakes The scope of the study is limited to the analysis of animal idioms so that it can not cover all the aspects of language

4 Research questions

To achieve all these purposes, this study will try to find the answers by these questions:

1 What are the similarities and differences between idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures, and what cultural factors contribute to these similarities and differences?

2 How do the cultural attitudes towards animals in English and Vietnamese cultures influence the use and interpretation of animal idioms in the two languages?

5 Methods of the study

In order to address the research question and give readers a better view of the study, I used some methods The main methods of this study about the English adverbial clause are:

5.1 Data collection method

To point out all the characteristics of the idioms in two different cultures, the data collection method will be applied A comprehensive list of animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures will be collected from various sources, such as dictionaries, online resources

5.2 Analytical method

All the data will be analyzed after collecting All the animal idioms will be categorized and analyzed that are based on semantic, syntactic and culture features

5.3 Interpretation method

The findings of the study will be interpreted and analyzed to identify the similarities and differences between the animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures and to draw conclusions about the cultural attitudes towards animals in the two languages

5.4 Statistical method

Finally, I do a survey so that I am able to comply all the mistakes made by English learners So that I can find the solution to avoid these mistakes and study English Idioms effectively

6 Design of the study

This study includes 3 main parts and references They are:

Part one: Introduction

The introduction is made to show the reasons, the aims, the research questions, the scope, the methods and the design of the study

Part two: Development

The introduction will be divided into 3 chapters:

Chapter One : Theoretical background of the study: This section provides general

knowledge related to idioms such as: Definition of idioms, Types of idioms, definitions of metaphors, types of metaphors, metaphors in idioms From this knowledge, readers will have a more general view in analyzing and comparing idioms

Chapter two: Methodology: The aim of this part is to review the methods of

identifying in Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals, identifying the metaphor of the idioms On the other hand, this part shows the source of these data and how to collect the data for the thesis

Chapter three: Finding and Discussion: This part focuses on analyzing the

metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals, pointing out the similarities between metaphor in English and Vietnamese animal idioms in particular and English and

Part three: Conclusion:

This part of the thesis aims to make a summary of the study and a brief restatement of the findings From the result of the study, giving some suggestions for learning English idioms

PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1 Idiom and general knowledge of idiom in English

1.1 Definition of idiom

In English, people define idioms in many aspects The Dictionary of Mariam- Webster defined idiom as ―an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the combine meanings of its elements or in its grammatically typical use of words‖

Eg: "A rare bird." (An unusual thing)

Some scholars define the meaning of ―idiom’’ in many different ways A traditional definition of idiom was given in the book ―Semantic‖ by Palmer (1990 p.94) [1] called Idioms is ―an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meaning of its parts‖ ― An idiom is a number of words, taken together, mean something different from the individual words of the idiom when they stand alone‖ defined Ricoeur, P (1975).[2]

An idiom develops when its meaning no longer requires analysis by fluent language users: you instinctively understand it as a whole phrase because you are a competent member of a language community

Unlike English, Vietnamese people have a different way to define idiom:

Hoang Van Hanh (2002, p.25) [24] defined idiom in the book ― Kể chuyện thành ngữ, tục ngữ‖ is that: ―Idiom are some set expression which are stable in their form and structures, complete and figurative in their meaning, used widely in daily communication.‖ According to Hoang Tat Thang: ― Idioms are the fixed phrases available in a language that carry a nominal function such as word used to name things, phenomena, states, actions, properties….and have symbolic properties.‖

E.g: ― Chó ăn đá, gà ăn sỏi‖ ( If you use this idiom to describe a land or a region, it mean that place is harsh and hard to develop agriculture)

Although there are two different ways to define the term ―idiom‖ in Vietnamese and English cultures they still express the same meaning that ― Idiom is a collection of symbolic word‖ and ― It can’t be deciphered by defining individual word‖

1.2: Different types of idiom 1.2.1 Types of idioms

In English, people traditionally categorize English idioms into 4 types: pure idioms, binomial idioms, partial idioms, and prepositional idioms

1.Pure idioms

Pure idiom is a typical type of idiom Pure idioms are idioms whose original meaning is lost to the extent that there is no possible way to analyze the phrase logically to come to an understanding of its meaning Pawley and Syder (1983) [3] argue that pure idioms are examples of formulaic language, which are memorized and stored in memory as a single unit, rather than being composed on-the-spot

Eg Spill the bean, A chip on my shoulder

Unlike some of the other types of idioms, these idioms tend not to have significant overlap with figures of speech like metaphors and similes, because there is no comparison or meaning that could possibly be derived from it

2.Binomial idioms

Binomial idioms consist of a pair of elements that collaborate or contrast with each other to express a statement These idioms involve two interconnected or contrasting parts that convey a particular meaning or expression According to Moon (1998): ― Binomial idioms are examples of lexical bundles, which are frequently occurring sequences of words that are processed as a unit by speakers and have a distinct meaning.‖ [4]

Eg: Safe and sound, day and night

From there, we can easily recognize binomial idioms that often appear in poems or songs in English

3 Partial idioms

A partial idiom consists of both a literal component and a non-literal component It is an idiom that has been condensed into a single part, with the second part typically implied and understood by proficient speakers For example, The idiom ―keep an eye on‖ It is a partial idiom because it is a fixed expression that has a literal meaning based on the words

themselves ( to observe or watch something), but it can also have a figurative meaning ( to monitor or be cautious about something ) when used in a certain context According to Gibbs (1994, p.265) [5], a "partial idiom" is "an idiom that is partially compositional, meaning that some of its constituent words contribute to its overall meaning, but that the idiom as a whole cannot be fully predicted from the meanings of its parts"

Eg: Break the ice, take a rain check

Partial idioms are very common in English They appear frequently in everyday communication

4 Prepositional idiom

We have some definitions of prepositional idiom According to Moon (1998)[6], He explained that prepositional idioms are fixed expressions that create a figurative meaning by combining a verb and a preposition, which cannot be inferred from the literal meanings of the words alone Fraser (1970)[7] defined prepositional idioms are lexical units that consist of a verb and a preposition with a figurative meaning that is not transparent from the literal meaning of the words In fact, prepositional idioms need to be placed into a sentence and can not be used independently

Eg: Look into, get on with, take care of

Prepositional idioms appear frequently in communication and writing These idioms need to be put into a specific context in order to understand their meaning

All the idioms that are collected are idioms related to animals because I mainly focus on that topic in this thesis Most of the idioms collected in this thesis are pure idioms and partial idioms

In Vietnamese, Idioms are classified in many different ways According to Nguyen Thien Giap (1998)[25]:‖ Idiom are phrases that in their syntactic and semantic structure have special properties, only found in that phrase In other words, an idiom is a phrase whose meaning is not made up of the meaning of the words that make it up‖ From this comment, we can infer that there is no specific method to classify idioms in Vietnamese People define idioms based on many criteria such as: Origin, Rhetoric used, The number of words in each idiom

1 According to the origin, it can be divided into two types: pure Vietnamese idioms and Chinese idioms (Sino-Vietnamese idioms) For example, pure Vietnamese idioms like : Ăn xổi ở thì/ Buôn thúng bán mẹt… Sino-Vietnamese idioms like: Thâm căn cố đế…

2 According to the rhetoric used can be divided into categories: comparative (khỏe như trâu, nhanh như cắt, …) , metaphor ( Ngựa quen đường cũ, …), duality ( cao chạy xa bay, )

3 According to the number of words that can be classified into categories: 3 words ( Nhanh như cắt, khỏe như vâm, ), 4 words ( thẳng như ruột ngựa, đá mèo quèo chó, …), 5 words ( Chó chê mèo lắm lông…)

1.2.2 Idioms related to animals

Idioms that are related to animals are a branch of idiom Ancient people created idioms that related to animals by using the image of animals or their behaviors to describe or compare with the characteristics or activities of humans or compare with activities that happen in daily life

Eg: Wolf is in sheep’s clothing

Scholars have their own way in defining idioms related to animals According to

Gibbs (1999)[8], ―animal idioms are fixed expressions that contain a metaphorical

comparison between humans and animals” Kovecses (2010)[9] defined Animal idioms by his ideas : ―Animal idioms are idiomatic expressions that use animal names to describe human experiences or actions in a figurative way‖ In Vietnamese, ―idioms related to

animals‖ is an interesting topic for many scholars

2 Metaphor

2.1 Definition of metaphor

People define ―metaphor‖ in many different ways According to Lakoff and Johnson

(1980, p.5) [10], a metaphor is "understood as a mapping from a source domain to a target domain, where the source domain provides the concepts and inferential structure that we use to reason about the target domain" Black (1962, p.25) [11]defines metaphor as "the application of a name or descriptive term or phrase to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable" In spite of being defined in many different ways, we could briefly

define:‖ Metaphor is a kind of expression used to describe a person or object by comparing them with another thing or object that have similar characteristic‖

People use metaphors in many everyday communication activities It also appears in novels, poetry, promotional activities etc Many people confuse metaphor and simile But simile is a kind of direct comparison (something like/as something) for example:‖ She looks like a queen in this dress‖- In this sentence, The girl is directly compared with a queen when she is wearing the dress But metaphor is ―implicit comparison‖, for example: ―Time is money‖- Time and money sound like they don’t have anything in common but time is compared with money because they are both valuable and that creates a metaphor

Because the topic of this thesis is about Idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese cultures, this part of the thesis contains the characteristics, types of metaphor and I also mainly focus on the functions of metaphors in idioms to point out the similarities and differences between Animal idioms in Vietnamese and English

2.2 Types of metaphors

There are several types of metaphor that are commonly used in literature and daily life I will briefly summarize 7 types of metaphor usually used

1 Standard Metaphor: It is a direct comparison between two things, people, objects ,

etc Example of a standard metaphor: Love is a journey The ―Love‖ is compared with the journey although there is nothing in common between them

2 Implied metaphor: This is a metaphor that does not explicitly state the comparison

between two things, but rather suggests it indirectly For example, "the flowers nodded in the wind" implies a comparison between flowers and people Although flowers are objects, people still used a verb that describes a human action to depict the action of an object

3 Dead metaphor: A dead metaphor is one that has become so overused that its

original meaning has been lost or forgotten ―Body of an essay‖ is a dead metaphor, as it has become a standard way of referring to the main part of an essay

4 Mixed metaphor: A mixed metaphor is a combination of two or more metaphors that

are inconsistent or incompatible with each other For example, "we'll have to jump that bridge when we come to it" mixes the metaphors of "jumping a hurdle" and "crossing a bridge."

5 Extended metaphor: An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is developed over

Not Taken" by Robert Frost uses the extended metaphor of a journey to represent the choices we make in life

6 Visual metaphor: The visual metaphor is representation of a noun through a visual

image that demonstrates the relationship or association that creates the metaphor For example, ―a flag‖ is one of the most common examples of a visual metaphor, as are religious symbols, graffiti, etc

Metaphors are very common in idioms These metaphors play a very important role in conveying the meaning of idioms By analyzing metaphors in idioms, we can understand the layers of meaning deeply hidden in those idioms

2.3 Features of metaphors

Because metaphors are commonly being used in literature or in daily life, people are able to easily point out the characteristics of metaphor First, The most prominent function of metaphor is to use it to compare, but not simply to compare two things with each other For example, "My love is a rose" creates a comparison between love and a rose, implying that love is beautiful and delicate, like a flower Words often used in comparisons such as "like" or "as" do not appear in the metaphor Ortony(1975) [12] commented about the comparative feature of metaphor: ―Metaphors are a fundamental aspect of human thought and communication, as they allow us to make connections between seemingly disparate ideas and experiences" Metaphors also have figurative feature This creates emotional resonance For example, "The world's a stage" creates a sense of the grandeur and drama of life, even though the world is not literally a stage One of the most special features of metaphor is abstraction Concepts and emotions are conveyed by using metaphor According to Larkoff and Johnson

(1980, p.5) [13] “Metaphors can be used to create a sense of unity and coherence in a work of literature, as they can help to establish a central theme or idea that is explored throughout the text” For example, "He has a heart of stone" creates an image of someone who is cold

and unfeeling, even though the heart is not literally made of stone Metaphors can be extended or developed over the course of a work of literature, creating a sense of unity and coherence We call this feature is extention For example, in William Golding's "Lord of the Flies", the metaphor of the island as a microcosm of society is developed throughout the novel, as the boys' behavior reflects the flaws and strengths of human nature Finally, Metaphor can be used to create a wide range of effects Gibbs (1994, p 27) [14] stated that Metaphors are a versatile and flexible tool for writers, as they can be used to create a variety of effects, from humor and irony to pathos and emotional resonance For example, in the line

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage" from Shakespeare's "Macbeth", the metaphor of life as a play creates a sense of transience and futility, highlighting the impermanence of human existence To conclude, there are 5 obvious features of metaphor that can be pointed out, they are:

1 Comparison: Metaphors create a comparison between two things, without using the

words "like" or "as"

2 Figurative language: Metaphors use language in a way that is not meant to be taken

literally, but rather to create imagery or emotional resonance

3 Abstraction: Metaphors are often used to express abstract concepts or emotions in a

concrete and relatable way

4 Extension: Metaphors can be extended or developed over the course of a work of

literature, creating a sense of unity and coherence

5 Effects: Metaphors can be used to create a wide range of effects, from humor and irony

to pathos and emotional resonance

2.4 Metaphor in idioms

Metaphors are an important tool in language, allowing us to communicate complex ideas and emotions in a more efficient way Idioms, which are expressions that cannot be understood through the literal meaning of their individual words Idioms often rely on metaphors to convey their intended meaning, so that metaphor is considered as a vital factor in the formation of idioms

Idioms related to animals are a particularly rich source of metaphors For example, the idiom "a wolf in sheep’s clothing" is a metaphorical expression that means to be suspicious and dangerous It describes someone who seems to be harmless but actually dangerous and unpredictable In another example, the idiom "a pig can fly" is a metaphorical expression used to describe something that could not happen and it could be made up Pigs can't fly and this image is used to refer to a myth, not real

The use of metaphor in idioms serves several functions First and foremost, it makes your conversation more interesting and attractive By using metaphors, speakers can paint a picture in the listener's mind, allowing them to more easily understand and remember the intended message

Metaphors in idioms can help to convey cultural values and beliefs All the images, objects, animals,etc in the idioms are familiar with native people, so they are commonly used to create idioms These things not only contain the cultural values of nations but also show the native people’s belief However, it is important to note that the use of metaphor in idioms can also pose challenges for language learners For non-native speakers, idioms can be confusing and difficult to understand, because they are familiar with their cultural references and unable to grasp the native culture This underlines the importance of cultural awareness in language learning and communication

Metaphor is an integral part of language, especially in idioms The function of metaphor is shown very clearly in idioms Therefore, metaphor is an important aspect of idiomatic research, especially for idioms related to animals

3 The traditional concept of Vietnamese and English people about animals

The concept of the English and the Vietnamese about animals has many similarities and differences The reason is because of the difference in culture as well as the living environment of the two countries In this thesis, the subjects studied include: Dog, Cat, Fish, Horse, Cow/buffalo, mouse, wolf/fox, tiger, sheep, bee/butterfly because many animals appear in English and Vietnamese idions and cannot be analyzed within this thesis,

3.1 Concept of Dog in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, dogs are commonly seen as loyal companions and often referred to as "man's best friend." They are known for their affection nature, companionship, and ability to form strong bonds with humans Dogs are often kept as pets in households, where they provide emotional support, security, and joy to their owners The English concept of a dog extends beyond their role as pets Dogs are also valued for their working abilities and are commonly employed in various roles such as: Sheepdog, policedog, guidedog, etc English-speaking societies recognize and appreciate the intelligence, versatility, and trainability of dogs, which has led to their utilization in a wide range of practical and specialized tasks In addition, some bad traits of dogs are also recognized in English culture such as: dirty, messy, aggressive and so on We can see that the English concept of dog is quite special and diverse

In traditional Vietnamese beliefs, dogs are associated with luck, protection, and prosperity In the Vietnamese zodiac, each year is represented by an animal, and the dog is one of the zodiac signs Although the Vietnamese concept also recognizes the good qualities

of dogs such as loyal, intelligent, and trainable In contrast, the Vietnamese concept of dogs has many different points from English concept Vietnamese people often associate dogs with bad personalities and often use dogs as metaphors for people or things with bad personalities Therefore, in the Vietnamese concept, the image of a dog is sometimes very negative

3.2 Concept of Cat in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, cats are often regarded as independent and mysterious creatures They are commonly kept as pets and are known for their grace, agility, and ability to form unique bonds with their owners Cats are appreciated for their companionship and their ability to provide comfort and relaxation English-speaking societies often associate cats with qualities such as curiosity, mysterious and playfulness Characteristics related to cat behavior such as gestures, sleep, or the way they fight are also recognized in British culture Cats were kept in households to deter rat or mouse and protect food stores Although this role has diminished nowaday, the idea of cats as skilled hunters and guardians against rat or mouse is still present

In Vietnamese culture, cats hold a somewhat different position compared to English culture Cats are generally seen as independent, intelligent animals They are appreciated for their hunting abilities, especially in controlling rats and mouse in agriculture According to the Vietnamese concept, cats are intelligent and close to humans But they also have bad traits Metaphors of cats often appear in Vietnamese culture to refer to people with bad personalities The relationship between cats and rats also appear in Vietnamese culture These are two animals associated with each other in both English and Vietnamese cultures

3.3 Concept of fish in English and Vietnamese cultures

Fish is a common animal in British culture It is not only food but also a domestic animal In British culture, fish symbolizes abundance, fertility and luck The image of fish is used with many different meanings But in general, fish in English often has many good meanings

In Vietnamese culture, fish is a common animal associated with human life The image of fish is also a symbol of abundance and affluence In addition, the image of fish has many other meanings The image of fish is sometimes a metaphor for freedom or great opportunity

3.4 Concept of mouse in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, mouse or rat are generally seen as small creatures with round bodies, small ears, and long tails They are sometimes depicted as clever, industrial, and adaptable creatures They are known for their ability to scurry and move quickly However, in some contexts, the concept of a mouse is negative Mouse and rat are commonly seen as pests when they infest homes or agricultural areas, causing damage and health risks The bad traits of mouse or rat such as smelly, dirty often appear in the British concept Mouse and rat sometime symbolize the weekness and coward because of their small and weak appearance

In Vietnamese culture, the mouse is an animal associated with agriculture Rats are a symbol of abundance and prosperity Rats are agile and intelligent animals In addition, they are also a rodent that harms the crops of the Vietnamese people The metaphorical image of the mouse appears a lot in Vietnamese culture

3.5 Concept of cow and buffalo in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, the cow holds significant symbolism and importance Cows are distinguished for their role in agriculture and farming The images of cow are sometimes used as symbols of domesticity and tranquility, with their image evoking a sense of calm and serenity The image of the cow is used as a pretty common metaphor in British culture Meanwhile, buffalo is an un uncommon animal to the English people, so they don't often appear in British culture

In Vietnamese culture, buffaloes and cows have an important position in the life of Vietnamese people Cows and buffaloes are highly valued in Vietnamese culture, especially in rural areas where agriculture plays a vital role They are considered as working animals and are preeminent associated with farming and rice cultivation Cows and buffaloes are used for farming fields and pulling carts, serving as an essential means of labor in traditional agricultural practices Buffalo and cow images are often associated with each other and are used as a metaphor in many idioms Cows and buffaloes are also seen as symbols of wealth and prosperity, industrious and hard- working

3.6 Concept of horse in English and Vietnamese cultures

Horse is an animal associated with English people since ancient times Horses played a crucial role in transportation and were essential for travel, trade, and communication Horses help people to explore territories and were instrumental in the development of trade routes In British culture, horses symbolize strength, and endurance In addition, horses symbolize freedom, grace, and nobility in English culture They often feature in literature, art,

and mythology as powerful and majestic creatures Horses are celebrated for their beauty, loyalty, and their ability to form strong bonds with humans

In the Vietnamese concept, horses also have very special characteristics They are symbols of freedom, and strength Since ancient times, horses have been considered as a means of human transportation Therefore, horses also possess outstanding characteristics such as agility and endurance The horse has become a cultural symbol with many traits It is bravery, resilience, loyalty and devotion In the Vietnamese concept, the image of a horse brings health and success

3.7 Concept of wolf and fox in English and Vietnamese cultures

In British culture, wolves are quite common Wolves are dangerous predators Therefore, people think that wolves are cruel animals The metaphor of wolves is often used to refer to people who are cunning, powerful or independent British culture also has a special place for foxes Foxes are predators Although not as dangerous as wolves, they also have outstanding features such as intelligence, sly and cunning Therefore, the image of a fox usually refers to people with a cunning personality

The Vietnamese concept of wolves also has many similarities with the British concept The Vietnamese consider wolves to be dangerous and cruel animals Therefore, metaphorical images of wolves often refer to people with cunning and dangerous personalities In the Vietnamese concept, fox is an animal with personality traits such as sly and cunning The image of foxes is also quite common in Vietnamese culture and has many similarities with British culture

3.8 Concept of tiger in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, the tiger is a symbol of strength, courage, and untamed beauty With its majestic appearance and powerful presence, tiger represents the wild and primal aspects of nature, reminding us of the untamed energy that resides within us all At the same time, the tiger's stripes symbolize individuality and uniqueness, highlighting the importance of embracing our own distinct qualities However, the tiger also carries an air of danger, symbolizing the raw power of the natural world

In Vietnamese culture, the tiger symbolizes the strength and wildness of nature As an animal associated with Vietnamese culture in many aspects, the image of a tiger always represents courage and strength This is a symbol of Vietnamese culture The metaphorical

image of the tiger appears a lot in Vietnamese idioms They are metaphors for the bravery, strength and power of human

3.9 Concept of Sheep in English and Vietnamese cultures

In English culture, the concept of a sheep is often associated with innocence, purity, and gentleness They are seen as docile creatures, known for their soft woolly coats Sheep symbolizes conforming and herd mentality Sheep is often used as a metaphorical image to represent those who follow the crowd without independent thinking The concept of a sheep in English culture embodies qualities of gentleness, compliance, and reliance on others In the Vietnamese concept, sheep also have characteristics such as innocence and dependence But the image of sheep is not common in Vietnamese culture

3.10 Concept of bee and butterfly in English and Vietnamese cultures

In British culture, bees are animals with traits like hard work and diligence and discipline The image of bees is common in British culture Bee often appears in idioms as a metaphor refers to with a hard-working personality In English culture, butterflies are often associated with beauty, and freedom Butterflies are also seen as symbols of lightness, joy, and delicate grace It is also used to describe a state of emotion

In Vietnamese culture, Bees are also ascribed to characteristics such as hard work and industriousness The butterfly is a symbol of beauty But sometimes, the images of bees and butterflies often go together as a metaphor for illicit relationships, or the fading of a woman's beauty These metaphorical images appear quite a lot in Vietnamese idioms

CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY

In the second chapter of this study, I want to clarify the cultural values underlying the metaphor of animal idiom The main aim of this study is on metaphors in English and Vietnamese culture, so the main topic that I focus on study is limited to metaphor in idiomatic sentences specifically in terms of animals First, through the expression of linguistic metaphor, I am able to find the answers for the questions regarding the availability of metaphors in English and Vietnamese Second, I will compare the metaphor that conveys the same concepts By examining different concepts, I am able to point out factors that can determine similarities and differences between concepts Some kinds of approach methods could be applied in the next part such as data collection, description, interpretation, comparison metaphors in two cultures

1 Approach to the study

There are 2 approaches that are mainly used in the study - Deductive and Interpretive approaches Deductive approach will be applied to help us have the theoretical foundation for the study that is based on the literature synthesized in the works of scholars who create the fundamental ideas for the research Some scholars provide ideas in the study: Lakoff and Johnson (1980) [15] Steen (2011)[16], Gibb R.W [17] (2006) N.Lân (2011) [26], D.T.Lạc [27] anh P.V.Hòa(2022) [28], etc By these theoretical foundations, I am able to make a framework for the study and clearly identify the metaphor in both animal English and Vietnamese idioms After that, the Interpretative approach will be applied to carry out this study This is the most important approach to identify and distinguish the similarities and differences between metaphors in idioms of both cultures The vital data will be collected by this method to analyze and synthesize them to conclude and point out the characteristics of both English and Vietnamese idioms which are different and in common These differences and similarities are valuable material for people to learn English, especially English idioms and help people to have a clear view on English and Vietnamese idioms

2 Selection of idioms

The idioms in this study were taken from different sources of document Specifically, There are 220 idioms that include 110 English idioms and 110 Vietnamese idioms.I have collected idioms related to animals in English from the following sources: [18] Oxford dictionary of idioms by Cowie, A.P ; [19] The great book of American Idiom: A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases by Lingo Mastery; [20] Dictionary of

Seidl, Jennifer & McMordie ; [22]Longman American Idioms by Urbom In addition,Official documents are also used by me to select common idioms related to animals They are the following documents: [29] Từ điển thành ngữ & tục ngữ Việt Nam by Nguyễn Lân; [30] Từ điển giải thích thành ngữ tiếng Việt by Nguyễn Như Ý et al; [31] Tục ngữ ca dao và dân ca Việt Nam by Vũ Ngọc Phan; [32] Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam by Vũ Dung, Vũ Thùy Anh and Vũ Quang Đào;[33] Từ điển Thành ngữ Tục ngữ Việt Nam dành cho Học sinh by Nguyễn Phương Nga

Because the number of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese is very large, So in this thesis, I mainly focus on analyzing and compare idioms related to the following animals: Dog, Cat, Fish, Buffalo/Cow, Rat, Sheep, Wolf/Fox, Horse, Tiger, Bee/Butterfly All idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese have been carefully selected by me to ensure the appropriate criteria for this thesis These are idioms containing metaphors of animals that I have carefully selected from a variety of sources In particular, they are all official and common idioms, commonly used in English culture and Vietnamese culture

The use of idioms clearly shows the linguistic and cultural characteristics of idioms in two cultures so that they are vital to identify the metaphor in the idioms

3 Identification of metaphor

To identify the metaphor I need to acquire the methods of recognizing metaphor The definition of metaphor is defined differently by their own ways but there are some commons in identifying metaphor

Lakoff and Johnson proposed Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) According to Lakoff and Johnson (1980) , metaphors are not just linguistic expressions but also reveal how people think and reason CMT suggests that metaphors map concepts from a source domain onto a target domain, thereby highlighting similarities between them

Richard Patt and Weber also have the same recognition about metaphor: Metaphor is defined as the substitution of one idea or object with another, used to assist expression or understanding In Steen's Cognitive Linguistic Approach, Steen (2011) [23] suggests that metaphors involve a mapping between two mental spaces: a source domain and a target domain This mapping creates a blended space that allows us to understand and interpret the metaphorical expression Steen proposes a set of linguistic and cognitive criteria for identifying and interpreting metaphors in text

From all the ideas of recognizing metaphors above, I can easily acquire the methods of identifying metaphors First, I needed to identify the hidden meanings of the idiom in order

to recognize the metaphor In most cases, through inconsistency in the apparent meaning, the absurdity in the linguistic sense can be a latent metaphor By going through all the metaphorical idioms, I will have a systematic view on metaphor and be able to easily identify and compare between metaphors

From a cognitive perspective, by changing the conceptual system, people can create a metaphor The criteria are specified as follows: a metaphor is a result of a change in the usage of a word or phrase from the context or in which it is expected to occur with another context or domain where it is not expected to occur, it causes semantic tension

These ideas above provide the background to define a metaphor in general However, in some particular cases of metaphor, knowledge from different perspectives should be applied to deal with it It is necessary to combine the criteria such as linguistic, pragmatic and cognitive These criteria which one needs to bear in mind to help point out and understand metaphors People have their own method to handle metaphor to accord with their research aim about the process of defining and understanding metaphor

All of the above suggestions are useful ideas in identifying metaphors In this thesis, metaphors are identified, analyzed and compared mainly from idioms related to animals Metaphors are analyzed and classified based on characteristics of behavior or appearance of animals used in idioms that are similar to human characteristics or an event occurring in life

4 Data collection

This section contains the way data were collected, the data in this study are idioms that related to animals The documents that contain the idioms are also listed in this section

4.1: Data collection

The use of animal idioms is a common feature in many languages, including English and Vietnamese Animal idioms are a type of figurative language that uses animals to convey a meaning beyond their literal definition The use of animal idioms in language is an interesting reflection of cultural attitudes and beliefs towards animals, as well as the way in which cultural values and beliefs are expressed through language This methodology will explore and compare animal idioms in English and Vietnamese cultures By analyzing the usage and meaning of animal idioms in each culture, this methodology aims to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural values and beliefs associated with animals in English and Vietnamese cultures Through this comparative analysis, this methodology will shed light on the similarities and differences between animal idioms in the two languages, as well as the cultural context in which they are used Ultimately, this methodology will contribute to a

compare and correctly point out the features of idioms related to animals between two cultures I have collected a list of animal-related idioms commonly used by people in Vietnam and England This list of idioms is necessary for us to cover and find the similarities and the differences between animal- related idioms in Vietnamese and English

All the data in this research are collected from varied sources of documents These are from both English and Vietnamese sources

4.2 Defining metaphors in selected idioms

The first step to define metaphors in idioms is to synthesize the metaphors from idioms Idioms with metaphors related to animals in English and Vietnamese have been collected from the sources listed in the ―Collection of idioms‖ section Because in Vietnamese and English idioms related to animals, not all idioms have metaphors, so the idioms synthesized for this thesis are all idioms containing metaphors

Once a list of idioms has been collected, the next step is to analyze each one to identify its metaphorical meaning To do this, we must understand the meaning of the idioms that have been synthesized From there, we can find the metaphors and their meanings in idioms For example, in the English idiom ― Fish out of water‖, the meaning of this idiom is ―A person away from his or her usual environment or activities.‖ From the meaning of this idiom, the metaphorical image of the ―fish‖ could be pointed out The factor ―fish‖ in this idiom refers to a person The same method applies to idioms containing metaphors of other animals

After completing the steps of analyzing metaphors in idioms Metaphors in idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese are synthesized and compared with each other This action aims to highlight the features of metaphor in English and Vietnamese idioms From there, point out the similarities and differences of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese

The above steps are important to define, analyze and compare metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals In this way, it becomes easier to synthesize and compare metaphors in idioms related to animals

5 Data Analysis

After defining general definition about Idiom, Metaphor, etc and collecting data, the analysis will be carried out step by step as follows:

The first step is that the metaphor will be pointed out from the idioms It will be described in two languages In this study, the metaphor is determined by the recognition and understanding based on the principle definition of metaphor and method to identify metaphor

Secondly, metaphors in idioms related to animals in both cultures are explained their meaning by analyzing the words in these idioms It is the fact that metaphors are not easy to explain But metaphors can be specifically interpreted depending on the features of meaning that are perceptible to the reader In analyzing metaphor, I need to apply a process that includes 3 steps: Collect, Generalize and Conclude Firstly, I need to collect metaphors in the idiom After that, generalizing them to identify the meaning of these metaphors in order to find the characteristic of metaphor in idioms Finally, from the data that are collected in step two and draw conclusions

The last step is that from the data that are collected in step two I will be able to compare, comment, analyze the data and draw out conclusions These conclusions are vital for the aim of the research- to point out the different and similar characteristics of idioms related to animals in English and Vietnamese culture especially in terms of metaphor, structure, and culture

6 Concluding Remark

All my methods to identify metaphor, and characteristics of animal idioms have been presented as above I have also introduced essential concepts relevant to our research such as idioms, metaphors, common metaphors, and types of metaphors that often appear in idioms The framework of the data analysis process is also introduced I believe that the above steps will help the research to bring satisfactory results for the research

CHAPTER III: FINDING AND DISCUSSION

1 Compare English idioms and Vietnamese idioms that related to animals

In this part of chapter III, I will make an effort in describing and analyzing metaphors in English and Vietnamese idioms related to animals The main purpose of this part is distinguishing the uses of metaphors in both English and Vietnamese animal idioms By using these data, I will be able to easily point out the similarities and differences between Vietnamese and English animal idioms in terms of metaphorical uses

1.1 Idioms contain metaphor of animals: “animal is a person or a thing”

1.1.1 The Factor: Dog

The metaphors related to the image of dogs in idioms are collected and listed in the following table From this table, we will get an overview of the mappings of metaphors related to the image of dogs After that, we can go into specific analysis in each metaphors

Table 1: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor DOG

Metaphor Dog is a problem or issue Dog is a bad and greedy person Dog is the bad or useless thing

idiom With preposition: IN, ON, OF,

etc

No use of prepositions

In English, there are 21 idioms realated to dog and in Vietnamese, there are 20 idioms Overall, dog is a familiar animal that have a close relationship with both Vietnamese and English so that we can easily find idioms related to dogs in both cultures

For example:

(1) You shouldn’t hang out with such a bad guy like him Remember if you lie

down with dog, you will get up with fleas (2) It's a dog-eat-dog world out there

(3) He has so much money that it would be no effort at all for him to help a lame dog over a stile , but the man is adamant that not a penny of his fortune be

used toward charity of any kind

(4) Every artistic decision we make in the movie has to go back and be approved

by the head office I wish they'd let the dog see the rabbit and just let us get

on with it!

(5) I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie

(6) Thằng đấy có ra gì đâu mà chê con bé ấy xấu Đúng là chó chê mèo lắm lông

( He is not good enough to criticize her He is such a bad guy try to judge the other)

(7) Lão ta cố gắng cất giấu hết số tiền để không phải chia cho ai cả Đúng là cái

loại chó già giữ xương (He tried to hide all the money to not share for anyone What a greedy guy)

(8) Hắn gặp may như kiểu chó ngáp phải ruổi vậy, bỗng nhiên nhận được một

hợp đồng lớn (He got lucky like a yawn dog, suddenly got a big contract) (9) Jack đã không biết gì còn thích thể hiện Đúng là đồ chó ông thánh cắn ra

chữ (Jack knows nothing but try to show off himself like a dog bark words)

(10) Lão ta là chẳng làm gì nên hồn Đúng là loại chó cỏ rồng đất (The old

man is not doing anything right He’s so useless)

Dog is an animal that is very close to humans, so the image of dog often appears in idioms in English and Vietnamese culture In particular, the image of a dog is often used as a metaphor to refer to humans The characteristics of dogs are observed by humans and then put into idioms to refer to people or human actions In the idiom "If you lie down with dog, you will get up with flea" The image of a dog is a metaphor for a person, meaning that if you sleep with a dog you will get fleas, just like people who play with bad people will also get bad habits." Here, we have two domain concepts: dog and human The characteristics of dogs are also used to relate to humans Therefore, the image of the dog is used to refer to humans in idioms such as ―dog eat dog‖- referring to the behavior of fighting between humans to gain benefits, ―help a lame dog over the stile‖ - refers to someone in difficulty who needs help, etc In another idiom‖ Dog of war‖ (A mercenary soldier) The dog is a domain in creating metaphors The image of a loyal dog represents a soldier

In Vietnamese, the image of a dog is also used a lot in metaphors referring to people Unlike English culture in which people consider dogs to be man's best friend, Vietnamese people often consider dogs as animals and assign them many bad traits In the idiom: "Chó già giữ xương" (The greedy dog keeps bones) - The image of an old dog is a metaphor for a person with a greedy personality, "Chó ngáp phải ruồi‖ (a dog yawns at a fly") - referring to the person who receives a good reward by chance The image of a dog is also a metaphor for things that have no value as in the idiom: "Chó cỏ rồng đất" (Earth dragon grass dog), etc In English, ―dog‖ is also an conceptual metaphor that refers to a problem For instance, the idioms ―Let sleeping dog lie‖ This idiom means ―ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult‖ In this idiom, the factor: ―dog‖ is a problem In Vietnamese idioms, the prepositions are rarely used due to the structure, whereas in English, many idioms contain prepositions

Table 2: Frequency of the factor DOG in English and Vietnamese

1.1.2: The factor: Cat

We have a summary table of the similarities and differences of idioms and metaphors of idioms related to cats in English and Vietnamese as follows:

Table 3: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor CAT

Metaphor Cat is a thing or an action

Cat is a powerful/rich person

Cat is a person with bad traits

idiom With preposition: IN, ON, OF,

etc

No use of prepositions

One of the most popular animals in both Vietnamese and English culture is the cat Because of being familiar in both cultures, we usually meet the image of cat in many Vietnamese and English idioms Idioms with metaphors ―Cat is as a person, thing or an action‖ appear quite common in both English and Vietnamese For example, in the idiom:

"All cats are gray in the dark" (Tất cả mèo đều màu xám khi trong bóng tối) The metaphor

"Cat is a person" helps us infer that the metaphorical meaning of this idiom is not important in appearance between people Another example of the metaphor ―cat is a person‖ is the

idiom ―Curiosity kills the cat‖ The nature of cats is curious, so in the above idiom, the

image of cats is a metaphor for curious people who are often in danger We can deduce that the image of a cat in the above idiom is a reference to a human Sometime, the metaphorical

image of a cat is about a powerful person such as in the idiom ― The fat cat‖ Similarly, in the idiom: "put the cat among pigeons" The conceptual metaphor (The cat is as a thing or

an action) appeared quite clearly in this idiom This idiom means: ―An action or a thing that causes trouble or makes a lot of people very angry‖ As we can see, the image of the cat appearing in each different context will be a metaphor for each different type of person or action of different nature There are some examples for the conceptual idioms ― Cat is a person, think or an action‖ in English

(11) I can't believe you're going on a date with someone you've never met before! What if you don't think he's attractive?

B: "Eh, all cats are gray in the dark [Tất cả mèo đều xám trong bóng tối]—it will be fine."

(12) You can't keep us out of the student council office just because we're

underclassmen! A cat may look at a king], after all!

(13) 'All right, I've been reading it So what?'—'Curiosity killed the cat ,

that's what.'

(14) The bank is poised to put the cat among the pigeons this morning by

slashing the cost of borrowing

(15) They're the fat cats in our town They've got tons of money

Sometimes, the image of a cat appearing in an idiom is only one element of an action expressed by the idiom, for example in the idioms ``No enough room to swing a cat" and "Let the cat out of the bag" There are some examples:

(16) There is no room to swing a cat in this tent

(17) It’s time to let the cat out of the bag

(18) Không biết ông ta đang tức giận điều gì mà đá mèo quèo chó cả buổi

sáng hôm nay

The appearance of the cat in this idiom is not a metaphorical image The cat is only an

abstract matter In the idioms "Let the cat out of the bag" and "No room to swing a cat" in English and ― Đá mèo quèo chó” in Vietnamese, the metaphor is the cat image but the idiom

itself is a metaphor In Vietnamese, there are also many idioms containing the image of a cat

as a metaphor for a person For example, in the idiom: "Mèo nhỏ bắt chuột con" (A small

cat catches a small mouse), the image of a cat is a metaphor for a person This idiom implies

that a person should be aware of his/her ability to achieve success Or in the idiom "Mèo mù vớ cá rán" (A blind cat with fried fish), the image of a cat is a metaphor for a person This

idiom means a person who earns unexpected success

Unlike the English, the image of cats in Vietnamese idioms is often used as a metaphor for

people with bad traits For example, in the idiom "Mèo mả gà đồng" (rave cat, chicken in the

field), the image of cats is used as a metaphor for people who have bad personalities Or as in the idiom "Mèo già khóc chuột", the image of a cat is taken as a metaphor for a wicked person In general, due to cultural differences, the image of cats is placed in different metaphorical concepts in English and Vietnamese cultures We have some examples of idioms related to cats in Vietnamese as follows:

(15) ―Mày đừng có cố gắng trèo cao làm gì cho vô ích Mèo nhỏ chỉ nên bắt chuột con thôi‖ (Don't try to climb up for nothing Small cats should only catch

small mice)

(19) ― Bỗng dưng lão ta đang khó khăn lại nhận được tiền của người thân

gửi từ nước ngoài về, đúng là mèo mù vớ cá rán‖

(He was having a hard time but fortunately receiving money from his relatives sent back from abroad, what a blind cat with fried fish)

(20) ― Lão Nam vừa nói xấu hắn với sếp lại còn vừa tỏ ra thông cảm cho

hắn Đúng là mèo già khóc chuột”

(Mr Nam said bad things about him to his boss while showing sympathy for him It's true that an old cat cries a mouse)

This table below show the number of idioms related to cat in English and Vietnamese

Table 4: Frequency of the factor CAT in English and Vietnamese

1.1.3.The Factor: Fish

Fish is also a common animal and appears a lot in English and Vietnamese idioms From the collected data, the similarities and differences between the idioms related to fish in

Table 5: Brief description of similarities and differences between metaphor in English and Vietnamese idiom with the factor FISH

idiom With preposition: IN, OF, etc No use of prepositions

From the data that I have collected as well as after the analysis process, I can infer that the image of fish is used as a metaphor to refer to people quite commonly in Vietnamese idioms We have the following examples:

(21) ― Người phụ nữ trong xã hội phong kiến phải sống kiếp cá chậu chim lồng, bị quản thúc bởi chính những người chồng của mình‖

(The woman in the feudal society had to live the life controlled by her own husbands)

(22) ― Ngay khi vừa hoàn thành sản phẩm và bán ra thị trường, anh ta đã

được nhiều khách hàng ủng hộ Đúng là cá rô gặp mưa rào‖

(As soon as he finished the product and sold it to the market, he was supported by many customers What an advantage)

(23) ― Sau những ngày tháng chăm chỉ học tập, cuối cùng thì cá chép cũng hóa rồng khi anh ấy trúng tuyển vào trường đại học mơ ước‖

(After days of studying hard, the success came when he entered the university of his dreams.‖

(24) ― Ngay khi buổi học đầu tiên, Nam đã bị lũ học sinh cũ bắt nạt Đúng

là cá mè đè cá chép‖

(Right on the first day of class, Nam was bullied by former students It's true that the former bully the latter.)

(25) ―Hắn không đến của hàng kịp để mua cái vòng tay ấy đấy Bây giờ nó

đã lên giá gấp hai lần Đúng là cá sẩy là cá to‖

(He didn't get to the store in time to buy that bracelet Now it has doubled in price It's true that the lost bargain is a big bargain)

The above idioms are typical for fish which are metaphors for people or things in Vietnamese The image of a fish can be used as a metaphor for people who are restrained and

lose their freedom in the idiom "Chim lồng cá chậu" , which is a metaphor for people who

receive an unexpected opportunity in the idiom "Cá rô gặp mưa rào" (perch meets showers)

or as a metaphor for the stronger to bully the weaker in the idiom: "Cá mè đè cá chép" The

natural features of fish as well as our behavior are observed and used in idioms that have metaphorical meanings to refer to people In addition, the image of fish is also used as a

metaphor for things - specifically, a bargain or an opportunity in the idiom "Cá sẩy là cá to"

(The lost fish is the big fish)

Metaphors of fish in idioms appear infrequently in English culture But the image of fish is still used as a metaphor to refer to people as well as things in many idioms such as:

―The big fish‖ The image of fish is used to refer to a person who has power and authority Similarly in the idiom ―A big fish in a small pond‖ refers to someone who has potential and talent but is limited by the environment This idiom is a bit similar to the idiom "Chim lồng cá chậu'' in Vietnamese Similar to Vietnamese, the image of fish is also a metaphor for a thing and specifically in the idiom "There are plenty more fish in the sea" is an

opportunity This idiom means: "There are more potential opportunities available‖ There is a noticeable feature among fish-related idioms in English, which is the appearance of prepositions such as in, of, etc Prepositions do not appear in this Vietnamese idiom There are some examples of idioms related to fish in English:

(26) In school he was a big fish in a small pond [ Cá to trong ao nhỏ], but

once he moved to the city he was just another struggling actor