A Formal Literature Review: The Roles of Cross-language Similarity and Context in Adults’ Idiom Learning of a Second Language

Abstract

This essay reviews some existing papers to understand how the similarities between a person’s native language and the new language they are learning, and the context affects adult learners’ ability to acquire idioms in a second language. Idioms are a common form of communication in any language. Therefore, it is essential for truly mastering a new language. However, due to their rich cultural connotations and the need for communicative contexts, learning these idiomatic expressions can be quite difficult. Previous studies have shown that in the process of learning a second language, idioms in the new language are easier to master when they are very similar in meaning or structure to those in the learner’s first language. In addition, the rich context can also help learners better understand and use them. Future studies should delve into the influential mechanisms and create more effective strategies to help adults become proficient in using idioms of a second language.