There are a number of offensive words in Vietnamese. Some examples are:
Di chet di (go kill yourself) , cha (dad) or me (mom), do quy (evil), do ngu (stupid), do khung (mad).
This is, she informed me, merely a short list, and she could have gone on, but I did not think an exhaustive list was required.
Like in the United States, using these towards a close friend in a joking manner is often acceptable, but even then they have to be careful to ensure it isn't misconstrued. Typically, hateful speech is not directed at other groups, and is mostly used within the Vietnamese culture between individuals who dislike each other.
Hate speech is not protected speech, and is prohibited in schools, but she does not think the government has ever prosecuted anyone for using it. Rather, it's typically the family who punishes a person for using it out of an acceptable context, and generally by less educated families.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Gender Relations
Before, women were treated very poorly in Vietnam. At home, they had no voice, and were required to do whatever it was their husbands said. Nowadays, they're permitted a great deal more freedom, and if a woman happens to earn more money than her husband, she has significant authority.
There is no morphological difference in Vietnamese with respect to gender, and men and women both speak the same way grammatically and lexically. However, men do speak more quickly, loudly, and aggressively than women do, though she said this is not as prevalent as it was before women started to gain more social liberty.
As mentioned before, men do like to stand closer to one another than women do. There is no real difference in genders, the only changes are when they're directed between the sexes, where caution is expected owing to the strength of marriage obligations.
There is no morphological difference in Vietnamese with respect to gender, and men and women both speak the same way grammatically and lexically. However, men do speak more quickly, loudly, and aggressively than women do, though she said this is not as prevalent as it was before women started to gain more social liberty.
As mentioned before, men do like to stand closer to one another than women do. There is no real difference in genders, the only changes are when they're directed between the sexes, where caution is expected owing to the strength of marriage obligations.
Argument
There was very little to say on this subject, though I did my best to broaden it.
There is very little argument between different social strata. Like many Asian cultures, authority is very important, though those of a higher status (whether from age or social position) will listen to younger individuals. Between members of the same social strata, there may be arguments between people (especially older men) that seem to exist largely for entertainment or handling disputes, but she didn't have much to say on the subject. I suspected, and she confirmed, that it was a way of expressing camaraderie.
Not wanting to end with that, I broadened the subject to include political dissent, which she emphatically stated was disallowed. The only people allowed to say anything against the government are state-sponsored individuals. Before the Communists took over, this was also the case, though it was the King who had the final say instead.
Curiously, there are many religions alive in Vietnam and permitted to flourish as they will. There are also, I discovered to my surprised, numerous ethnic groups, though these cultures tend to dislike the government and it works to oppress them.
There is very little argument between different social strata. Like many Asian cultures, authority is very important, though those of a higher status (whether from age or social position) will listen to younger individuals. Between members of the same social strata, there may be arguments between people (especially older men) that seem to exist largely for entertainment or handling disputes, but she didn't have much to say on the subject. I suspected, and she confirmed, that it was a way of expressing camaraderie.
Not wanting to end with that, I broadened the subject to include political dissent, which she emphatically stated was disallowed. The only people allowed to say anything against the government are state-sponsored individuals. Before the Communists took over, this was also the case, though it was the King who had the final say instead.
Curiously, there are many religions alive in Vietnam and permitted to flourish as they will. There are also, I discovered to my surprised, numerous ethnic groups, though these cultures tend to dislike the government and it works to oppress them.
Bilingualism
There was a curious sort of dichotomy on this subject.
On the one hand, my partner noted large advantages for being bilingual. She could learn more about English culture, she could attend school here with relative ease, and she could take any number of jobs. Currently, she works as a Vietnamese localizer for a Korean advertising firm, for example. English is a very common second language in Vietnam, and is taught in their schools, as noted prior.
She has encountered no prejudice or disadvantages for being bilingual, though her native English speaking cousins often tease her about her accent.
What I found especially interesting was when she expressed her desire for everyone to learn English, potentially replacing their native tongues. She seemed to feel that if we all spoke the same language, we'd all be more connected, which can only be for the betterment of all.
I tried to ask if she thought differently when speaking in the different languages, but she seemed to have some trouble understanding what I was getting at. I think I got the point across eventually, but she only gave a vague 'not really' and didn't seem to think there was a difference. Not being able to speak Vietnamese myself, I was unable to check.
On the one hand, my partner noted large advantages for being bilingual. She could learn more about English culture, she could attend school here with relative ease, and she could take any number of jobs. Currently, she works as a Vietnamese localizer for a Korean advertising firm, for example. English is a very common second language in Vietnam, and is taught in their schools, as noted prior.
She has encountered no prejudice or disadvantages for being bilingual, though her native English speaking cousins often tease her about her accent.
What I found especially interesting was when she expressed her desire for everyone to learn English, potentially replacing their native tongues. She seemed to feel that if we all spoke the same language, we'd all be more connected, which can only be for the betterment of all.
I tried to ask if she thought differently when speaking in the different languages, but she seemed to have some trouble understanding what I was getting at. I think I got the point across eventually, but she only gave a vague 'not really' and didn't seem to think there was a difference. Not being able to speak Vietnamese myself, I was unable to check.
Linguistic Families
Given that English is an Indo-European language and Vietnamese is an Austro-Asiatic language, there is almost no relation between the two whatsoever.
Realistically speaking, I know that the Colonial French merely conquered Vietnam and, as they usually did, simply tried to replace it. However, I do know that the Chinese and English did develop a trading pidgin language in the 17th century, and I suspect the process would have been similar in Vietnam.
Given their relative positions at the time period, English would have been the dominant form, and its lexicon would have been used over Vietnamese grammar, much as it did with the Chinese.
Realistically speaking, I know that the Colonial French merely conquered Vietnam and, as they usually did, simply tried to replace it. However, I do know that the Chinese and English did develop a trading pidgin language in the 17th century, and I suspect the process would have been similar in Vietnam.
Given their relative positions at the time period, English would have been the dominant form, and its lexicon would have been used over Vietnamese grammar, much as it did with the Chinese.
Language Play and Acquisition
There is a language game called NOI LAI that she knows about, though she said she rarely did it herself. It consists of switching the tones of two words and their order (or that of their first consonants.) For example:
Chu-ah hong -> ho-ang chu-ah
Unmarried pregnancy -> Are you scared?
She had a deal more to say about language acquisition and the treatment of children. Children are, evidently, much cared for in Vietnamese society; when the child shows the slightest distress, the parents will be there in a moment to find out what's wrong. When speaking to a child, a soft voice and simple words are used. Children are generally expected to keep quiet, especially in social settings. Teachers are supposed to be respected in similar fashion.
My partner seemed to find this rather restraining, noting that a girl-child is not considered an adult until married, even though by law it's when she's 18. Indeed, Vietnamese parents tend to be preoccupied with their children even after this point. Typically, Vietnamese get married in their 20s (counting women, so it seems they don't get married at a much younger age than the men.) They will have 2 or so children on average and will frequently find work with the help of their family contacts.
I found it interesting that she was somewhat disdainful of this system, she seemed very enamored of the American equivalents.
Chu-ah hong -> ho-ang chu-ah
Unmarried pregnancy -> Are you scared?
She had a deal more to say about language acquisition and the treatment of children. Children are, evidently, much cared for in Vietnamese society; when the child shows the slightest distress, the parents will be there in a moment to find out what's wrong. When speaking to a child, a soft voice and simple words are used. Children are generally expected to keep quiet, especially in social settings. Teachers are supposed to be respected in similar fashion.
My partner seemed to find this rather restraining, noting that a girl-child is not considered an adult until married, even though by law it's when she's 18. Indeed, Vietnamese parents tend to be preoccupied with their children even after this point. Typically, Vietnamese get married in their 20s (counting women, so it seems they don't get married at a much younger age than the men.) They will have 2 or so children on average and will frequently find work with the help of their family contacts.
I found it interesting that she was somewhat disdainful of this system, she seemed very enamored of the American equivalents.
Proxemics and Kinesics
Though she did not feel she could speak for Vietnamese as a whole (for the most part) I was able to get some information.
Interestingly, I found that when it comes to personal space, they are very similar to ourselves, though in a more pronounced way. Strangers are considered exceedingly unwelcome in a Vietnamese person's space, and she feels very uncomfortable standing anywhere near someone she doesn't know. When it comes to people she does know, however, especially family, the distance of comfort narrows to 0-3 inches. This dichotomy of 'stranger' and 'known' seems to be significantly more important than the four zones.
Interestingly, women prefer to keep more space than men do (particularly between themselves and men) while men actually prefer to stand very close to each other, something of the opposite of what we find here in the United States.
She also added that women tend to prefer to socialize and spend time in the kitchen and related areas and men in other areas of the house (particularly if there's a TV) but these are by no means formal or necessary differences, merely preferential and habitual.
Rather like the United States, a nod of the head means 'I agree.' Whether this is a colonial influence or historic, neither of us were sure. Avoiding eye contact is a way of showing respect towards the elderly or those higher in status, and bowing is a greeting and a way of showing great respect to anyone.
One she showed me was when she held her palm out, and wriggled her fingers; this is to tell someone to 'come here' and is not used with people higher in the pecking order.
A middle finger crossing over a forefinger (with the other fingers closed) is considered obscene, something she described rather than demonstrated.
Interestingly, I found that when it comes to personal space, they are very similar to ourselves, though in a more pronounced way. Strangers are considered exceedingly unwelcome in a Vietnamese person's space, and she feels very uncomfortable standing anywhere near someone she doesn't know. When it comes to people she does know, however, especially family, the distance of comfort narrows to 0-3 inches. This dichotomy of 'stranger' and 'known' seems to be significantly more important than the four zones.
Interestingly, women prefer to keep more space than men do (particularly between themselves and men) while men actually prefer to stand very close to each other, something of the opposite of what we find here in the United States.
She also added that women tend to prefer to socialize and spend time in the kitchen and related areas and men in other areas of the house (particularly if there's a TV) but these are by no means formal or necessary differences, merely preferential and habitual.
Rather like the United States, a nod of the head means 'I agree.' Whether this is a colonial influence or historic, neither of us were sure. Avoiding eye contact is a way of showing respect towards the elderly or those higher in status, and bowing is a greeting and a way of showing great respect to anyone.
One she showed me was when she held her palm out, and wriggled her fingers; this is to tell someone to 'come here' and is not used with people higher in the pecking order.
A middle finger crossing over a forefinger (with the other fingers closed) is considered obscene, something she described rather than demonstrated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)