Idiom comprehension in terms of analyzability across languages

This study aims at investigating if analyzability plays a role in understanding the idioms in a native language as well as in an unfamiliar language. Toward this end, 180 English and Persian idioms (each language containing 90 were picked out from reliable dictionaries of both languages in terms of three meaning domains of revelation, anger, and secrecy. The idioms were then divided into three categories of analyzable, abnormally analyzable, and unanalyzable by native speakers of each language. Consequently, English idioms were literally translated into Persian so that they would be understandable to participants. Finally, two different groups of participants were asked to sit at computer screens and allocate each presented idiom to one of the meaning domains of anger, secrecy, or revelation. The results of statistical analysis indicated that unanalyzable idioms were judged less accurately and slower than analyzable and abnormally analyzable ones which added evidence to analyzability as an important factor in understanding idioms across languages.