A Semantic Study of Idioms in Mark Twain’s Novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Abstract

This paper highlights the meaning of idioms in the novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, which is written by the famous American Author ‘Mark Twain’. As observed by the researchers, the novel is full of idiomatic expressions. The paper identifies the idioms, types, functions and features. The model is presented for the analysis of data, called the ‘semantic analysis of idioms’ which is taken from Fernando (1994) and Nunberg, Sag, and Wasow (1994) classifications. According to the model, the samples of data will be analyzed according to pure, semi, and literal idiom. Second, they will be analyzed according ideational, interpersonal, and relational function. Additionally, compositionality, conventionality, and transparency are the last part of the model. The analysis used a mixed method that comprises both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The results revealed that semi and pure idioms are the most used types in the novel. While the most used functions are ideational and interpersonal. At the end, conventionality and transparency idioms are the dominant elements.