Discussing Challenges in Learning of Sino- Vietnamese Words in Vietnamese Language by Chinese People
Professor Chen Shuangxin 陈双新, Vu Kim Anh 武金英, Herbert Mushangwe 李开明
Abstract
Language constantly changes in response to people’s ever changing communication needs, Vietnamese language
is also not excluded. A lot of linguists observe that Vietnamese language developed through various stages of
language contact. Therefore, apart from the original native Vietnamese language (also known as pure
Vietnamese language), there are other borrowed forms which resulted from language contact. The Chinese-
Vietnamese language contact started in AD2, 3rd century stretching up to the 10th century, thus leaving profound
impact. A large amount of Chinese vocabulary were absorbed and accepted into Vietnamese vocabulary and
culture, making existing vocabulary richer. In modern Vietnamese vocabulary, Sino- Vietnamese words are very
important. Nowadays there is also an increase of Chinese people learning Vietnamese language, thus the need to
teach Sino- Vietnamese words is also rising. Acquisition of Vietnamese vocabulary does not end on grasping of
simple vocabulary for communication purposes only, but there is also more and more need for understanding the
use of Vietnamese for both spoken and written Vietnamese, especially by learners whose official language is
Chinese. Therefore the main aim of this study is to find ways of teaching Sino- Vietnamese words to native
speakers of Chinese learning Vietnamese, so as to help them understand and be able to use such vocabulary in
appropriate contexts.
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