A Review Paper on the Studies Published on Idioms in the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals

Abstract

The present work is a review paper of a total of (47) studies on idioms published in the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals by different Iraqi researchers after discarding the irrelevant and repeated ones. The study has first reviewed chronologically the definitions of idioms as stated by various scholars, covering the periods from 2024 downwards to 1925. Second, the study investigated the various types of the statements of problem covered, and grouped them into three major areas: The role of culture in translating idioms, the role of context in translating and teaching idioms, and the role of idioms in enhancing and improving foreign language learners’ linguistic skills. Third, the different classifications of idioms as covered by (16) studies were reviewed and then diagramed by the researcher for ease of reference. Finally, the (47) studies were briefly reviewed chronologically arranged from 2024 to 2006, and tabulated to derive the conclusions and suggest a set of recommendations. The data of each study was tabulated to specify the theme, nature and size of data tackled. The study has concluded that still many more studies need to be conducted, specifically in the major of linguistics. The study finally suggested a set of recommendations, such as: Researchers should be encouraged to investigate qualitatively every single theme of idioms separately in Arabic and English languages aside; examining the role of culture of assigning various meanings to a specific word; the various sources of deriving idioms meaning; and finding the best way for teaching or deriving the meaning of idioms.