The International Spread Of The Language
Vietnamese people are everywhere. They had moved to various parts of the world in search of opportunities and settled in many countries.
You will find them in most big economies like the USA, China, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, and Japan the list is endless.
Studying Vietnamese can be like adding a feather to the hat in the global market. It enables communication with these locals who have become successful entrepreneurs and business players.
Interacting with their language would help score some brownie points and help with ease and clarity of communication. It can also be quite helpful in financial markets and help in easy trading.
Learning Vietnamese could be of great use in building networks. It is always a great conversation starter to open with a Vietnamese phrase or idiom suited to the context.
It also promotes the image that the learner is well accomplished and intelligent. This would boost networking and connectivity with people.
People subconsciously perceive someone speaking many languages as approachable and connected to humanity. Thus making them seem very approachable. It helps to feel connected and have extensive networks that significantly contribute to work and personal life.
It enables ease of communication and improves understanding, as each language has the features that make it better.
The Ty Language A Vietnamese Language Related To Thai
The TÃ y language belong to the Tai language family, which is the same as Thai, the language of Thailand. There are around 1,7 million speakers of TÃ y in Vietnam. It is spoken in the North-Eastern part of Vietnam in the region of Cao Bng, close to the borders of China and there exists about 5 different dialects of the Language. Like Vietnamese and Thai, itâs a Tonal language, and itâs written in a modified version of the Vietnamese alphabet.
The TÃ y language, or variants of it is equally spoken in Laos, Cambodia, India, Myanmar and In China in the regions just north of Vietnam.
While I havenât been able to find a good sample of the TÃ y language, I have found this TÃ y news-program that you can try and give a listen.
What Is Difficult About Learning Vietnamese
Vietnamese is an incredibly challenging language to learn for English speakers due to its tonal system. This means that different tones can be used to convey different meanings, and if they are not used correctly, it can completely change the meaning of the word. In addition, it has a complex grammar system with multiple verb tenses and a range of different sentence structures, making it difficult for English speakers to grasp.
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The Influence Of French On Vietnamese Language
Languages are often the privileged witnesses of the cultural melting pot that shapes a country. Thus, the French language multiplies its legacies: from Latin to Greek through Arabic or even English.
Conversely, the language of Molière also influenced foreign languages, this being due in particular to French colonialism but not only. Cultural exchanges leave traces and are thus found in the different linguistic strata of each country.
Vietnamese is no exception. Lets have a quick overview of the influences of the French language on Vietnamese!
The Origin Of Vietnamese: Language And Influences
by Asian Absolute Team | Aug 6, 2018 | Culture and Languages |
Around 75 million people around the world are native speakers of Vietnamese, the language of Vietnam. Its also widely used in neighbouring Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, the sixth most-spoken language in Australia, as well as being officially recognized as a minority language in the Czech Republic.
Wait. Hold on. Yes, that does say the Czech Republic. Well get to that
In this article, well look at the origin of Vietnamese, the Chinese and French influences on the evolution of the language, as well as the Vietnamese writing system and its possible future. The languages spoken in Vietnam About 86% of Vietnams population are native speakers of Vietnamese. That leaves a solid 14% who are part of the countrys 54 other recognised ethnic groups which have their own separate languages.
In addition, the Vietnamese language has several dialects. Most prominently:
- Hanoi dialect this prestige dialect is the basis for the standard language
As you might expect, there are quite a few differences in pronunciation and vocabulary between the three dialects. But they are mutually understandable at around the same level as US and UK English.
Asian Absolute is a translation company that specialises in Vietnamese to English translation.
The history and origin of the Vietnamese language
French influence on the Vietnamese language
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Official Language Of Vietnam
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese, or as in Vietnam, it is called Ting Vit. It is the first language of Vietnam, spoken by 85% of the population.
Some ethnic minorities in Vietnam speak Vietnamese as their second language. Vietnamese is hard to learn.
It is a tonal language that has six tones. It hasfive main dialects and 29 letters.
In the history of the Vietnamese language. Written Vietnamese used Chinesecharacters. Although later on in the 13th century, Vietnamese people developed their own characters.
Vietnamese is closely associated with Cambodias official language, Khmer.
In Vietnamese, each syllable has six different tones. And each tone creates a different meaning. Because of that, it is very hard for foreigners to learn Vietnamese.
Recently, Vietnam has been in contact with western nations. For that reason, English has become popular in the country.
In most Vietnamese schools, English has become part of compulsory education.
English Is The Most Popular
English has gained its popularity all around the world, and Vietnam is not an exception. Due to globalization, many international firms, as well as tourists, have considered Vietnam as a potential destination. Therefore, English has inevitably become a tool to satisfy increasing needs.
In big cities like the Capital of Vietnam âHanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, it is normal for many kids to have English classes after their compulsory studying time at school. However, in some rural areas, lots of students struggle with the totally opposite situation, mostly because of the lack of teachers. For tertiary education, English also plays a key role. Many universities require their students to achieve certain English certificates to qualify for graduating. As reported by the Ministry of Education and Training Vietnam , English is taught in all the provinces and municipalities of Vietnam, taught in 60% of primary schools and in 100% of secondary schools, registering 99% of students with a foreign language subject in their curriculum.
Learning English is a crucial part in the study plan of any Vietnamese student
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Can You Find Chinese Speakers In Vietnam
Chinese is a minority language spoken in Vietnam by Chinese-Vietnamese citizens . According to the 2019 census, there were 749,466 Chinese-Vietnamese citizens in Vietnam. These people are living mainly in the mountainous regions in the north of Vietnam, near China. However, you can also find Chinese-Vietnamese people living in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
The Chinese dialects spoken in Vietnam are Cantonese , Hokkien, and Mandarin. They are spoken in daily life within the community. Many seniors dont even speak the official Vietnamese language but the Chinese language.
Is Vietnamese Latin Based
Present-day Vietnamese is written with a Latin-based alphabet developed in the 17th century by a French Jesuit missionary Alexandre de Rhodes who based it on the work of earlier Portuguese missionaries. The script was used mainly for religious texts, but was eventually extended to other types of writing.
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Languages Spoken In Vietnam: Introduction
The official state or national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese , a tonal MonKhmer language which is spoken by the majority of the countrys citizens. In the early history of the language, Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters however in the mid-13th century, the Vietnamese people developed their own set of characters, referred to as Ch nôm.
Vietnamese is closely associated with Cambodias official language, Khmer. In the Vietnamese language, with each syllable there are six different tones that can be used tones that change the definition of most words making it difficult for foreigners/non-native speakers to pick up, much less master, the language. In written form, Vietnamese now uses the Roman alphabet and accent marks to show tones. This system of writing, called Quoc ngu, became widely popular and brought literacy to the Vietnamese masses during the French colonial period. The aforementioned alphabet was developed in the 17th century by the Jesuit priest Alexandre de Rhodes and several other Catholic missionaries as a way to translate the scriptures. Eventually this system, particularly after World War I, replaced the one using Chinese characters , which had been the unofficial written form used for centuries.
In addition to Vietnamese, there are several other minority languages spoken in the country of Vietnam languages that are either the mother-tongue or second language of a wide section of the countrys population. These minority languages include:
The Future Of The Vietnamese Language
The Vietnamese language already has a long history, from its origin to its modern version. It has adopted many elements of the Chinese, French language, and the Roman alphabet. However, this will not stop the language from changing to adapt to the development of the Vietnamese society, economy, technology, and so on.
Nowadays, many English words are used widely in Vietnamese, such as Marketing, OK, Uhm, VIP , and Golf. These loanwords will not replace or negatively affect the Vietnamese vocabulary but will make the language more diverse and meet the needs in daily conversation.
Vietnamese people also generate more new Vietnamese words or more meaning to the same words, such as chém gió , bó tay , trà xanh .
The Vietnamese language is expected to have more new words and phrases in the future, including loanwords from other languages like English, French, Chinese, and new native Vietnamese words. No one can say exactly how the Vietnamese language will be like in ten years or a century, but we can say that it will not be the same.
To learn more Vietnamese vocabulary and sentences, check out the Ling App. You might find some loanwords which are similar to English, Chinese, or French. The Latin-based Vietnamese alphabet is also introduced in the writing lessons. Enjoy learning Vietnamese!
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What Are The Most Common Jobs In Vietnam
In 2020, almost 17.73 million people worked in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector in Vietnam, making this sector the largest employer among all industries. By comparison, the manufacturing industry employed approximately 11.3 million people, the second-highest number of employed population that year.
What Is Easy About Learning Vietnamese
Despite the challenges of learning Vietnamese, there are also some elements that make it easier to learn. For starters, the pronunciation is relatively straightforward and there is no need to learn any new alphabet or symbols. In addition, the grammar system is relatively simple compared to other languages, with basic sentence structures and verb conjugations that are relatively easy to master.
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Despite The People It Is Still A Rare Language
Vietnam is a homogenous country in terms of language and culture. Everything in Vietnam is written in Vietnamese, and everyone speaks that language.
Although there would be enough English for you to navigate, it is not common. Outside Vietnam, it is a less familiar language.
A significant Vietnamese population exists outside the country. Still, it is more likely that it has adapted to the local culture and language .
Learning Vietnamese thus will put you in one of the rarer communities in the world. It can also boost your charm when you can easily converse in Vietnamese.
You will face less competition for jobs involving language like this one. This is because the number of learners and speakers outside Vietnam is limited.
Top Reasons To Learn Vietnamese
For various reasons, learning a language like Vietnamese is always an excellent decision.
It is complex, yet its fun and rewarding. It also gives a fresh perspective on thinking and philosophy by providing a new window to look into another universe.
This article talks about ten benefits one can derive from learning Vietnamese. So with no further ado, lets explore more!
phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic AlphabetHelp:IPAIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters
Vietnamese uses all the letters of the ISO basic Latin alphabet except for f, j, w, and z. These letters are only used to write loanwords, languages of other ethnic groups in the country based on Vietnamese phonetics to differentiate the meanings or even Vietnamese dialects, for example: dz or z for southerner pronunciation of v in standard Vietnamese.
In total, there are 12 vowels and 17 consonants .
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Is French Spoken In Vietnam
In Vietnamese history, the French language was added to the education system in Vietnam from 1884 to 1945, under the Frenchs colonization. By that time, several Vietnamese people could speak French fluently, such as Ho Chi Minh . However, French did not become an official language in Vietnam.
Nowadays, French a foreign language learned by Vietnamese people. French is also a language subject in some schools curriculum.
Why Is Vietnam Friendly To The Us
U.S. relations with Vietnam have become deeper and more diverse in the years since political normalization. The two countries have broadened their political exchanges through regular and regional security. Also, Vietnam is globally one of the countries with the most favorable public opinion regarding the US.
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Vietnamese Is Easier Than You Think
The script of the Vietnamese language is written in the Romanized alphabet, meaning its a lot easier for English speakers to pick up. You wouldnt have to worry about learning a brand-new script to learn Vietnamese.
Also, it doesnt have gender-based differentiation and is gender-neutral in most instances. Plus, it does not use plurals or articles. All these make grammar very simple to study.
The simplicity does not stop here. The Vietnamese language also has very simple verbs, conjugations, and tenses. None of which will be challenging to pick up and pretty easy to learn.
As with every language, there are some complex parts.
For example, it has its hurdles with its 6 tones. Besides, the high number of vowel sounds, more pronouns, and usage of classifiers make it tricky.
Yet, apart from this and certain pronunciations, it is not challenging. It would be more like neither hard nor easy. But if you have an interest and purpose, you can pick up more quickly than you imagine.
As per FSI studies, Vietnamese falls in category 3, i.e., hard languages. This implies that English speakers will take 2200 hours to master the language and work in any Vietnamese setting.
Although Vietnamese Language Is Originated From Austroasiatic Language Family Its Linguistic Characteristics Are Different From Those Of Other Languages In The Region Like Chinese The Neighbor Of Vietnam
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In recent study, Vietnamese language originated from Viet Muong which contains Vietnamese and Muong languages. Viet Muong is the subdivisions of Vietic languages group, sub-branch of Austroasiatic language family. In Vietic languages group, apart from Viet Muong language which are spoken in Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, Nguon language is also seen as the closest language to Vietnamese language. The official language of Vietnamese people also has relation with some languages such as Chut, Pong, Ahoe, Maleng, and Thaveung which belong to Pong Chut language group. Some others believe that the Viet Muong languages were not divided from Mon-Khmer languages, but Proto Vieto-Katuic languages, which occurred 4000 years ago. Vietnamese language is different in voices from north to south. In particular, the northern voice in Ha Noi, middle voice in Hue, and southern voice in Saigon South are three main classifications. These dialects differ from tone and local vocabulary.
In term of Vietnamese phonology, like languages of other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnamese has a relatively large number of vowels, including high, upper mid, lower mid, and low vowels consonants, but it has distinct tones.
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Languages Spoken In Vietnam
The Southeast Asian nation of Vietnam is the Indochina Peninsulas easternmost country. The country is inhabited by about 90.5 million inhabitants and is the 8th most populous country in Asia. The country is bordered by Cambodia, China, Laos, and Malaysia. Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam.
Vietnam was ruled by Imperial China for over a millennium till AD 939 after which an independent Vietnamese state took form following the Vietnamese win in the Battle of Bch ng River. Soon, Vietnamese dynasties flourished in the nation and it expanded rapidly. However, in the mid-19th century, Vietnam came under the control of the French Empire. In 1954, the French were expelled from the country after years of war for independence. After the French had left, Vietnam was divided into the rival states of North and South Vietnam. After North Vietnam won the Vietnam War in 1975, the country was unified under communist rule. The languages of Vietnam have been influenced over the years by the immigrants, ruling kingdoms, colonial powers, and governments of Vietnam.
Vietnamese: The National Language Of Vietnam
Introduction
Vietnamese and its several dialects are spoken primarily in the nation of Vietnam and a few other East Asian countries, but there are now large communities of Vietnamese speakers in the United States and Australia, as well. Increased travel between the Northern and Southern regions of Vietnam have led to a mixing of accents in the twentieth century, becoming more pronounced as the dialects of the country continue to evolve. It is a heavily influenced language, especially by Chinese in earlier centuries, and later by French and English .
The Roots of the Vietnamese Language
Linguists have had a great deal of trouble classifying the origins of the Vietnamese language. The reason for this difficulty is that Vietnamese has consistently borrowed from other foreign languages, in places near and far, over the course of so many centuries. This borrowing has resulted in several superficial characteristics that might seem to tie it to one group or another. The true roots of the Vietnamese language are still obscured by the huge impact foreign languages have had on its development, and the linguistic community has yet to reach a full consensus.
Characteristics of the Vietnamese Language
Like Chinese, Vietnamese is a tonal language and therefore has a large number of vowels and different ways to pronounce them. Subtly changing the tone of a vowel can change the meaning of the entire word, making the written language at times easier to understand than the spoken one.
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