English idioms in workplace discourse: functional, semantic and structural features 

Abstract.

ENGLISH IDIOMS IN WORKPLACE DISCOURSE: FUNCTIONAL, SEMANTIC AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES

Nataliia Ishchuk

Department of English for Specific Purposes, Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

Oleksandra Kvasnytska

Fourth-year student, Faculty of Economics, specialization “International Business. Business Translation”, Vasyl’s Stus Donetsk National University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine.   

Abstract

Background: In today's fast-paced work environment, effective communication is essential for success. By mastering idiomatic expressions, individuals can improve their ability to express themselves clearly and concisely, build stronger relationships with colleagues and clients, and advance their careers.

Both foreign and domestic scholars show growing interest in analyzing the functional, semantic and syntactic features of English idioms. However, due to the lack of comprehensive exploration regarding their usage in workplace discourse, this concern requires a more thorough and extensive investigation.

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to delve into the functional, semantic and syntactic features of English idioms used in workplace discourse.

Results: Based on the semantic criteria, identified were 9 thematic groups of idioms used in the workplace discourse: Business Negotiations, Finance, Decision Making, Planning, Working Process, Leadership, Firing, People, and Sales.

By the degree of opacity, the selected idioms were divided into three groups: pure idioms (119 idiomatic expressions, or 49.6%), literal idioms (79 idioms, accounting for 32.9%), and semi-idioms (42 idiomatic expressions, comprising 17.5%).

The analysis of the idioms according to their functions shows that idioms with both nominative and communicative functions dominate (159 idioms, constituting 66.3%), followed by idioms with a nominative function (56 idiomatic expressions, or 23.3%), idioms without any distinctive nominative and communicative functions (15 idioms, accounting for 6.3%), and idioms with a communicative function (10 idioms, comprising 4.2%).

The study shows that verbal idioms occupy the most significant share of the vocabulary under analysis, constituting a substantial 57.5% of the overall distribution; nominal idioms contribute 23.3% to the distribution; adverbial idioms account for 12.1%; sentence idioms emerge at a frequency of 4.2% and adjectival idioms comprise 2.9% of the overall classification.

Discussion: The investigation into the functional, semantic and syntactic features of English idioms used in workplace discourse carries significant implications for both academia and real-world application. A deeper understanding of how idiomatic expressions function within professional settings can lead to enhanced cross-cultural communication, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding. However, the continual evolution of language gives rise to new idiomatic constructs, thereby beckoning for further research into their semantic and syntactic features. Such aspects hold substantial implications not only for advancing our understanding of how idioms function within workplace communication, but also for enriching communication in professional domains.

Keywords: workplace discourse, English idioms, semantic, functional, syntactic, structural, features.

Vitae:

Nataliia Ishchuk is PhD in Education, Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Department of Foreign Languages for Specific Purposes at Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University. Her areas of interest include difficulties in translating economic texts, linguistic features of economic vocabulary, structural features of economic terminology, idioms in business discourse, neologisms in business discourse.

Correspondence: ischuk.n@donnu.edu.ua 

Oleksandra Kvasnytska is a 4th-year student at the Faculty of Economics, specialization International Business and Business Translation at Vasyl’s Stus Donetsk National University. Her areas of interest include semantic and syntactic features of idioms in workplace discourse.

Correspondence: kvasnytska.o@donnu.edu.ua 

Article.

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