Idiomatic: problematic or unavoidable and enjoyable?

Going home for Thanksgiving break and seeing my parents again, I spoke Vietnamese extensively for the first time in two months, and found myself in the exact same problem I had when I first learned to speak English: I automatically reach for idioms to compose my speech when I talk, only to immediately after realize I have used the wrong proposition or noun. (In Vietnamese, idioms often rhyme internally. An idiom would still sound right to the ears, at least initially, if a wrong noun is used that still keeps up with the internal rhyme scheme.) While talking with my mother one morning, for example, I used the expression "Chuột chạy cùng sào mới vào sư phạm," which literally translates to "Only a rat at the end of its stick would go to ____ college," and figuratively stating that only a college hopeful with no other choice would go to such a school. Of course, being the temporarily Vietnamese-deficient daughter that I was, I said "rào," which is the word for "fence," instead of "sào," which is the word for "stick." Not only does my idiom still rhymes, it still makes complete sense ("only a rat at the end of the fence..."), and in my opinion communicates the exact same idea as the original idiom. But it was still wrong, and still gave my mother a prime opportunity to "comment" on my "neglect" of my native tongue. Some idioms are not perfect; many, such as "kick the bucket," are even nonsensical, their denotative meaning having nothing to do at all with their figurative meaning. As Gina Kim's article "Idioms Are Testimony to Language's Torturous Path" points out, an idiom's existence and popularity paradoxically also mark the beginning of its death: "an idiom starts as a phrase, becomes an idiom when it catches on, and then dies as a cliché" because it catches on. Defying the value placed on individuality and originality at the very center of the American culture, idioms are not even necessary for communication. Saying "to die" is definitely easier, shorter, and more to the point than saying "to kick the bucket." And we still use a large amount of idioms in our everyday language. Why?

A large part of the answer might lie in the claim that idioms are "not considered a part of the language, but rather a part of the culture." In order to process and understand an idiom, a person must draw upon his cultural knowledge and experience. Idioms seem to force a person to connect with his cultural background, to put himself in local context, to identify with something larger than himself. In other words, the use of idioms suggests belonging and loyalty to a culture in a way. In this way, idioms assume a role of language at large: just as a common language connects and opens two people up to each other in a way few other things can, the use of idiom implies common background and experience to connect people. After all, humans are made of their experiences, and what can be better than similar experiences to start conversation, instill trust, and inspire connection.

Also, though an idiom may not be the only way to communicate an idea, it is generally one of the most polished and poetic ways. This is especially true for many of the American idioms currently in use that were coined by Shakespeare. Between risking inarticulateness to sound original, and using an idiom--a perfectly acceptable practice, opting for the idiom seems like a safe, rational choice for everyday conversation. In Vietnamese, idioms--with their elaborate rhymes, imagery and sometimes even historical references--also reflect the best and most beautiful of the language. Behind every idiom can be a moral, a life lesson, a reflection of society, a philosophy, or even a suggestion for a way of life. "Trời đánh tránh bữa ăn," (Using "God" loosely to refer to the omnipotent Force, this translates to "Not even God will punish/become angry at you during a meal") for example reveals the importance of meals in the Vietnamese culture, the time when families get together to share food and stories. The analysis, understanding and use of idioms then even become an elegant game of class and culture, something to expand cultural knowledge, evaluate personal philosophies, and enrich personalities.



Sources:

• Article: "Idioms are Testimony to Language's Torturous Path"
• Wikipedia - Idiom