鈥淗ow do I learn thee? Let me count the ways鈥�

Did you get it?

To 鈥榞et鈥� the title of this post, you must first recognize that it is based on the famous opening line from Elizabeth Barrett Browning鈥檚 Sonnet 43, published in 1850. Then you need to understand that 鈥渢hee鈥� is an old form of the word 鈥測ou鈥�. Next, you need to appreciate the pun on the word 鈥渓ove鈥�, which has been changed to 鈥渓earn鈥�. Lastly, you need to figure out the full meaning of the phrase, which likens the idea of learning English to the idea of love, or a labor of love (also an idiom), and the many different ways you can do it.

That鈥檚 a lot of steps, but a fluent English speaker would likely pick it up. That鈥檚 because they've learned the language from childhood in an English-speaking country, probably studied some poetry at school and have absorbed this quote through news media, popular culture or at a wedding.

Understanding jargon, idioms and colloquialism is one of the hardest parts of learning any new language. It鈥檚 only achieved by repeated exposure to 鈥� and immersion in 鈥� speech. In the Global Scale of English Learning Objectives for Adult Learners, listening to, and recognizing a wide range of idioms and colloquialisms doesn鈥檛 appear until 83, at the very upper edge of C1. For speaking, joining a conversation in progress with fluent speakers on complex topics comes in at 81. Reading idiomatic or non-standard language appears at 76, again within C1. It all adds up to a very sophisticated level of understanding.

Yet jargon and idioms are huge parts of English. They are also constantly changing, and jargon morphs with new innovations, professional disciplines, and generations.听

When an idiom is over-used, it becomes a clich茅. Sometimes idioms stick out like a sore thumb because they鈥檙e unrelated to context 鈥� but not always.

Even fluent English speakers don鈥檛 necessarily realize an idiom is an idiom. Take the phrase 鈥淚鈥檒l call you tomorrow鈥�.听Most fluent English speakers would see that as a simple declarative sentence. The expression comes from the idea of 鈥渃alling on鈥� someone in person, or calling their name to get their attention, but a听second-language English speaker may not immediately grasp the fact that it now involves a phone, and can be achieved over long distances.

English is both complex and rich in figurative language; we know this. That鈥檚 one of its beauties and also a challenge of learning it. But at what point do these kinds of figurative language become incorrect?

As ,听second-language English speakers now outnumber fluent English speakers globally, which means the balance is tipping. Fluent English speakers are doing business with, learning from and interacting with second-language English speakers more than ever. Billions of pounds in trade and countries鈥� fates can hinge on those written and spoken conversations; the stakes are high.

Second-language English speakers find idioms and jargon difficult and therefore see far less need for them. Although sayings can be lovely, charming and fun, these linguistic devices mask meaning by their very nature. This makes language less efficient when not every participant in a conversation can decode them. The proportion of people who can鈥檛 is growing, which might affect what is considered to be 鈥渃orrect鈥� in the coming decades and have implications for what is taught.

Want to learn some idioms? Check out - Eerie English idioms and phrases