English Color Idioms and Arabic Color Idioms

A Comparative Study

  • Israa B. Azeez Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7735-3072
  • Marjan ‎ Abbasian Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1869-3151
  • Huda Y. Abdulwahid Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8980-3886
Keywords: Color Idioms, connotation, literal meaning, comparative study, Arabic and English idioms

Abstract

This study is an attempt to make a comparative study between Arabic and English regarding color idioms. It tends to make a comparison by shedding light on similarities between Arabic and English regarding Color idioms. Eighteen color idioms have been chosen; ten from English and nine from Arabic. Each idiom has been analyzed literally (dictionary meaning) and non-literally (figurative meaning).  The analysis has displayed that both languages share some common connotations and literal meanings for a number of idioms.  It has showed some differences as well.  It can be drawn that although these languages are aliens, descending from two various origins, yet they share some meanings. Besides, the analysis has explored that some idioms might have more than one meaning depending on the context.  As a last point, the meaning of these color idioms may differ according to culture, language, customs and traditions, religion, and situations. 

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Author Biographies

Israa B. Azeez, Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Israa B. Azeez is an assestant lecturer at the Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Her rsearch interests are languages and linguestics. 

Marjan ‎ Abbasian, Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Marjan ‎ Abbasian is an assestant lecturer at Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Her research interests are  Foreign languages and English literature

Huda Y. Abdulwahid, Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Huda Y. Abdulwahid is an assestant prof. at the Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Her research interests are English language, Literature, and phonetics. 

 

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Published
2023-04-30
How to Cite
Azeez, I., AbbasianM. ‎., & Abdulwahid, H. (2023). English Color Idioms and Arabic Color Idioms. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(1), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v7n1y2023.pp91-97
Section
Articles