Interpreting Imageable Idioms across Cultures

• Published in: 영어어문교육, 31(2) pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: 정규태, 민수정
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국영어어문교육학회 01.06.2025
• Subjects: 영어와문학
• ISSN: 1226-2889

Imageable idioms are figurative expressions that call up a conventional scene in the mind of language speakers (Lakoff, 1987). This study investigates the factors shaping Korean L2 learners’ comprehension of imageable English idioms within the framework of Conventional Figurative Language Theory. Imageable idioms evoke conventional mental imagery among native speakers, yet their interpretation poses challenges for L2 learners. Forty Korean university students with intermediate or higher English proficiency participated in a task requiring the interpretation of unfamiliar idioms with and without contextual support. The findings demonstrate that learners strategically employed analogies with familiar Korean idioms, decomposition of idiomatic structures, literal imagery analysis, and the exploration of motivational links between literal and figurative meanings. Contextual cues significantly facilitated comprehension by anchoring mental imagery and guiding inferential processes. The study underscores the critical role of imagery in idiom comprehension and highlights the impact of cross-linguistic and cross-cultural variation on learner interpretation. These results suggest pedagogical approaches that emphasize the motivated nature of idiomatic meaning and giving due attention to the comprehension problems, rather than treating idioms as arbitrary. A heightened focus on imagery and cultural context may foster deeper, more intuitive understanding among L2 learners, ultimately enhancing figurative language competence. KCI Citation Count: 0