tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830185733955295921.post6206443670872769396..comments2023-08-01T05:24:03.104-05:00Comments on Beyond Talk: TRULY SPEAKING: Idioms, Not IdiotsKealah Parkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899647308524248002noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830185733955295921.post-90933322949569538522009-12-21T11:40:59.858-06:002009-12-21T11:40:59.858-06:00EXCELLENT points, Sabina. Thank you for sharing yo...EXCELLENT points, Sabina. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this. And I like your encouragement to others to use their own voices & their own modes of expression, too. This is very important -- especially in a diverse world where the former "shorthand" of colloquialisms & idioms is often outdated.<br /><br />My father-in-law, who grew up in Peru and also speaks English as a 2nd language, often does what you do, changing just one word to make the idiom sound comical to native English-speakers (who grew up hearing the same phrases said the same way all their lives). After 30+ years living in the U.S., he's become one of those people who overuse idioms. I believe he does this as a means of fitting in, as well as flaunting the knowledge of everyday English he's acquired. (And he also likes to be a joker, so he doesn't mind when he gets one wrong & makes people laugh.) <br /><br />I confess that there are plenty of idioms I DON'T use, because to this day, I just don't understand them.Kealah Parkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01899647308524248002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830185733955295921.post-92181744404495984762009-12-19T11:56:30.475-06:002009-12-19T11:56:30.475-06:00This is a very interesting topic for me. As a '...This is a very interesting topic for me. As a 'English as a second language' speaker, idioms have frequently made me look like an idiot, or a comedian (I choose the lather for self-esteem purposes). Not because I don't understand the meaning (although, some are hard to grasp), but more my misuse of them. I can't think of an example right now, but typically I'd try to use an idiom (which, btw, are very common here in America), but I would misplace a word, or say it wrong. In your example, it would be like saying:"She wore her her heart on her shirt". <br /><br />Another thing I would add, I think such abundance of idioms in American English is another reflection of fast-food nation. A single sentence replaces a paragraph. Use of idioms bring our point across in the fastest and shortest way possible.<br /><br />Here's another shout-out to people that speak primarily in idioms (yes, there are such people): stop abusing idioms, and instead, come up with your own way of expressing yourself!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14137462463327340132noreply@blogger.com