Phraseological Universals and Particulars: A Cross-Cultural Examination of English Expressions

Abstract

Phraseological units (fixed multi-word expressions such as idioms and collocations) are linguistic tools that reflect both shared human experiences and distinct cultural worldviews. This study explores universal and culture-specific aspects of English idioms through comparison with Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian, and French expressions. Using English and bilingual idiom dictionaries, major corpora (e.g. the BNC and COCA), and consultations with native speakers and language professionals, we analyzed idioms by thematic category (e.g. body parts, animals, emotions) and metaphorical structure. Our findings confirm that many conceptual metaphors underlying idioms (such as anthropocentric mappings of body terms or universal animal traits) recur across languages. At the same time, idioms in each language bear unique features – for example, cultural allusions or linguistic conventions (Turkish/Azerbaijani idioms often reflect Turkic folklore elements; French idioms frequently invoke historical or heraldic imagery). These parallels and divergences influence translation and language teaching: awareness of universal metaphors can aid learners and translators in finding equivalents, while knowledge of language-specific items is crucial to avoid misinterpretation. We discuss pedagogical applications, recommending explicit instruction in idiomatic mappings and cultural background. Future work might leverage AI tools for idiom alignment or develop curricula that systematically integrate contrastive phraseology.