A Contrastive Study of Idiomatic Similes in English and Vietnamese Literature

Abstract

"This research conducts a contrastive analysis of idiomatic similes in English and Vietnamese literary works. Comparative idioms are highly figurative phrases that go beyond mere decoration; they play a vital role in enhancing aesthetic and stylistic qualities of literature while simultaneously reflecting deep-seated cultural values, philosophical outlooks, and unique worldviews of the two linguistic communities. Employing a systematic contrastive approach, the study examines a carefully selected corpus of ten representative short stories and novels from both English and Vietnamese literature. Through close textual analysis, it identifies and categorizes the structural patterns and semantic characteristics of these idioms. The analysis reveals both striking similarities and significant differences in how English and Vietnamese authors employ comparative idioms, shedding light on universal human experiences as well as culture-specific ways of conceptualizing reality. A key argument of the thesis is that accurate comprehension and appropriate use of comparative idioms demand far more than knowledge of their surface grammatical structure. Successful interpretation requires awareness of underlying psychological associations, religious influences, historical and sociocultural contexts, and situational pragmatic factors that shape their meaning and usage in each language. By exploring simile-based idioms from both linguistic and cultural perspectives, the study not only maps cross-linguistic parallels and divergences but also explains why certain images, metaphors, and comparisons are favored in one culture while being absent or altered in the other. In doing so, it uncovers how these idiomatic expressions function as cultural markers and carriers of collective identity. The research makes a valuable contribution to the fields of contrastive linguistics, literary stylistics, and cross-cultural studies. Its findings have practical implications for literary translation, highlighting challenges and strategies when rendering culturebound idioms, foreign language teaching, stressing the necessity of cultural competence alongside linguistic proficiency, intercultural communication, and the training of translators and interpreters. Ultimately, the thesis underscores the indispensable role of cultural awareness in decoding and appreciating the richness of idiomatic language across English and Vietnamese literary traditions."