On the Use and Modification of English Idioms to Achieve Expressivity and Humour
On the Use and Modification of English Idioms to Achieve Expressivity and Humour

Summary/Abstract: In recent decades, considerable attention has been devoted to fixed and semantically opaque expressions, generally called idioms. As often happens, specialists have not found a definition that best illustrates the multifaceted nature of these patterns, nor have they reached a consensus regarding the types of fixed word combinations that fully qualify as idioms. Although the form or structure of idioms is important, it has often been emphasized that their semantic opacity distinguishes idioms from other types of fixed lexical patterns. From a stylistic point of view, the hidden metaphorical meaning of idioms transforms these structures into more expressive and entertaining means of conveying thoughts, feelings, and emotions, particularly in oral communication. This is why idioms tend to be avoided in formal and neutral contexts and are generally chosen in informal and stylistically marked contexts where speakers need to communicate their ideas in an expressive and/or entertaining way. A diachronic approach to idioms clearly shows that such fixed lexical patterns are closely influenced by significant changes in language, culture, and society, with two or more idioms sometimes simultaneously available in certain languages to convey the same meaning. The frequent use of idioms in communication and their constant updating to linguistic, cultural, and social realities explains why such semantically challenging lexical patterns represent a valuable resource that deserves to be exploited and studied.

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