I am doing a course on how to be a writer, and I have decided to share with you through my publications, the knowledge I am acquiring. This way we can learn together.
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This time we will talk about the idiom, which is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be defined from the words that compose it. This is a linguistic custom that allows reflecting an idea in a few words and transmitting this concept to all those who share the same language. On several occasions, idioms are confused with sayings, although the latter have a pedagogical intention and, in addition, usually express a rhyme.
We will see an example of an idiom in the Spanish language to understand how these idiomatic customs work. The expression "irse por las ramas" is used to refer to someone who does not approach a subject in a direct way, but tries to approach situations in a subtle way and giving certain detours, either voluntarily or unwittingly.
Example:
1- "The policeman told the suspect not to beat around the bush and to explain clearly what he was doing there."
2- "Drowning in a glass of water". It is used to refer to the fact that a person gets overwhelmed very easily.
In the same vein, let's say that one of the most important tasks for writers is to be the living voice of the people. And part of this task, we develop it when we can collect in our writings how people speak, the way they do it, the way they handle the language and how the same action or object is different in how it is named. For example in Mexico in different regions people do not speak the same even though it is the same country. Not only in the intonation of words, but the same words have different meanings. The word "chucho" in the state or province of Quintana Ro, is a way of calling a person named Jesus, while in the state of Chiapas, "chucho" is a dog.
This way of expressing things gives a more interesting voice to what we say, because it brings us closer to the reality of how people speak. Idioms are a very interesting element in my opinion, because we talk about these colloquial expressions. It means what the speakers have wanted it to mean. That is, the idiom "estar asfixiado" does not mean to suffer respiratory asphyxia. We use this hyperbole to explain that one is exhausted or feeling stress from a certain activity.
Idioms and figurative phrases are an integral part of the way we communicate with each other. In a sense, they are a form of grammatical platitude, similar to the use of sarcasm, but it is much deeper than that. Some experts suggest that our language reflects the true complexity of our mind, indicating that we are not meant to function only on a logical, literal basis. The way we speak is artistic in a way, and can help bring people of the same culture together.
It can also help unite individuals from different cultures when they realize that they have the same phrases, unique to the same expression. In this way, language becomes more than just a way to exchange information, it brings us together in a human and personal way. It is no secret that authors use a variety of tools to keep their audience entertained. They use comparisons, the emotion of dialogue and humor.
Finally, we must remember that expressions such as idioms are many in Spanish. They are part of the language and culture and are sometimes difficult to understand for a foreigner learning Spanish. The meaning of these words is subjective, not literal, that is, it cannot be deduced from the words that make up the expression and they are often difficult to translate. The important thing is to understand the meaning of the expression. The advantage of an idiom is that it is a fashion that brings dynamism and vitality to a language, which is always in need of renewal arising from popular practice.
Can you identify when there is an idiom in the text?
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Disclaimer: I would like to let you know that English is not my mother tongue, I may even make some mistakes in the elaboration of sentences in my posts. Feel free to correct me attentively. It will help me in my learning process.
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