TheFunctionsofIdiomintheEnglishEconomicNewsTextViewedFromthePerspectiveofLanguageMetafunction

毕业论文（设计）AbstractIdiom is an element of a language that possesses a unique way of expression basedon its time-honored use.As a language used most widely in the world,English is oneof the languages having most prolific expressive means and a brilliant culturaltradition,and English idioms are the linguistic gems of English language.With regardto the importance of idiom in English,scholars study the idioms from differentperspectives,namely focusing on its patterns,semantics,syntactic features and themental processing and comprehension of idiom.However,these studies attach somuch importance to the structures and the properties of idiom itself that they neglectthe functions of English idiom in text.Based on Halliday's metafunction theory and the authentic data collected fromEnglish economic news texts,this paper attempts to study the use of English idiom intext.By means of statistical classification,exemplification and analysis of largequalities of examples,it is found that idiom has important textual,ideational andinterpersonal functions.The application of idiom in the English economic news textsis not entirely optional.First,some English idioms are metaphorical in nature,the useof idioms that have connection with the context in the literal meaning and also suitsthe contents of the text is a way to express new concepts or certain unfamiliar events,which is its ideational function;In addition,the interpersonal function is achieved bythe popularity and familiarity of idiomatic expressions,which makes the dull and dryeconomic articles more readable and fascinating,facilitating the two-way interactionbetween speakers and listeners or writers and readers.The textual function,often