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4. Readers
For the readers, this investigation does help because they can use some of the strategies to help them to understand the meanings of English idioms. By
adopting certain strategies, the readers can enhance their knowledge on comprehending English idioms.
F. Definitions of Terms
It is crucial to clarify some terms used in this investigation to avoid misunderstanding. They are presented as follows:
1. Idioms
The researcher uses the definitions proposed by Cruse and Poole in this investigation. Cruse 1986, p. 37 argues that traditionally, idioms are defined as
expressions that the meanings cannot be guessed from the meanings of each word which constructs certain idioms. Different from the compositional rules that
people can acquire the meanings of certain phrases by combining the meanings of each word that builds the phrases, idioms are a special case in which the rules of
compositional cannot be applied. The phrase, pink bag is an example of a noun phrase which can be defined from each word which shapes the phrase. Pink is a
pale of red color while bag is container made from plastic, leather or other
material and usually used to carry personal things. By knowing the meanings of each word, people can get the meaning of the phrase. However, when people see
this phrase:
to put one’s head in a lion mouth, they cannot directly decode the
10 meaning by defining each word. This expression has its own fixed meaning: take
a great risk. It must be understood that idiomatic expressions, the meanings of which
cannot be acquired from the meanings of each word, will have different intended meanings when people are forced to do so. Poole 1999, p. 29 also claims the
same thing that idioms are phrases that can only be understood and meaningful when it is seen as unity.
2. Strategy
Since this investigation discusses the strategies to process the intended meanings of English idioms by semester four students of ELESP, it means that
this investigation will relate to language learning process. Regarding this reason, the term
“strategy” that the researcher uses will be related to the strategy in teaching learning process. There are two definitions which will cover the
explanation of strategy in this study. The first is proposed by Latif n.d., p. 19 who claims that strategy means actions, procedures, methods, behaviors, steps, or
thought used by the learners to solve problems they encounter in their language learning process and when they use language. The second definition states that
strategy is a special understanding or behavior that people use to learn new information Chamot
O’Malley, 1990, p. 1.
3. Meaning
It is not easy to define what is called by meaning. Although not many people know
exactly the meaning of ‘meaning’, yet they can understand what is
11 said to them and they can produce meaningful utterances when they are in
conversations. If they do not understand meaning, then they will not be able to create such conversations. Akmajian, Demers, and Harnish 1988, p. 241 state
that meaning is sort of unit or thing which has its own independence existence. To
make the definition clear, the researcher will give an example: pen. The meaning of the word pen is a long thin object which is usually used to write or draw with
ink. This definition is supported by Bergman, Hall, and Ross 2007, p. 233, who say that meaning is things that can be understood, collected, and combined in the
minds of both speakers and interlocutors who use and speak a certain language.
4. Literal meaning
Literal meaning means the basic meaning from certain words. The term literal which will be used in this study comes from Matthews 1997, p. 743, who
says that literal itself means the meaning of a certain word is based on its letters, meaning to say that literal meaning does not have imaginative meaning. The
meaning is not based on the context of where the word is used but from the word itself original meaning.
5. Intended meaning or figurative meaning
Different from literal meaning, figurative meaning or usually called as intended meaning which will be used in this investigation is proposed by
Akmajian, Demers, and Harnish 1988, p. 238, who say that figurative meaning actually refers to something which is different from what the words actually mean.
Intended meaning usually appears beyond the word. People also know it as
12 unpredictable meaning because sometimes the meaning cannot be produced by
combining the meaning of words which compose certain phrases or sentences.
The example of intended meaning is in idiomatic expression such as in a snake in the grass
. Perhaps, some people think that this phrase talks about animal and plant. However, it actually has a figurative meaning beyond those words which
compose the phrase: dangerous person. This type of meaning will be discussed further in this study of English idioms.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
