NON-NATIVE USERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ESP CONTEXTS. THE CASE OF ANIMALIDIOMS

In a world ever-increasingly marked by global trends, migration of all kinds, and ongoing exchanges, English, as a language for international communication, is shaped and affected by the socio-linguistic characteristics of its speakers. Every user of English in various contexts inevitably brings to the table specific aspects of their mother tongue. Through this investigation we aim to establish how non-native users of English perceive idiomatic expressions in professional communication. Idiomatic expressions are widespread in everyday English and hold particular significance in specialized areas of communication, such as business English. They have the ability to enhance communication by conveying complex ideas through metaphorical representations. By analyzing various online contents and classroom selections, we aim at clarifying how these function in ESP, i.e. and if communication in professional settings is affected because of limited understanding of such structures. More specifically, we attempt to establish if common English idioms undergo structural or semantic transformations in ESP contexts because of users of other languages. Following this broad overview, the study narrows its focus to the use of animal idioms in ESP contexts, investigating how these expressions contribute to clarity, professionalism, and cultural nuances in workplace communication. We seek to shed light on the extent to which animal idioms can either facilitate or obscure effective communication in professional settings and if users of other languages change the way they are used.