TTLA: Identifying characteristics of Vietnamese medicinal plants (with Latin connections)

Author's name:Tran Thi Huong

Thesis title:Identifying characteristics of Vietnamese medicinal plants (with Latin connections)

The field of study for this dissertation:Linguistics

SpecializedVietnamese languageCode:62 22 01 02

Name of the postgraduate training institution:University of Social Sciences and Humanities - UniversityHanoi State.

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

1.1. Research Objectives

This study investigates the identifying characteristics of Vietnamese medicinal plant names (with Latin connections) to identify the origins and structures of Vietnamese medicinal plant names and their Latin names. From this, it aims to uncover the basis for identification and the cultural characteristics of the Vietnamese and Latin medicinal plant names. The research contributes to improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching and serves as useful material for compiling and revising documents and materials in the field of medical and pharmaceutical training in general, and traditional medicine in particular.

1.2. Research Subjects

The research and survey subject of this thesis is 1,966 plant names identified in Vietnam, extracted from the dictionary "List of Vietnamese Medicinal Plants" of the Institute of Medicinal Materials (2016).

2. Research methods and techniques used

- Descriptive method

- Direct component analysis method

- Semantic analysis techniques

- Statistical techniques

- Comparative method

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

In terms of origin, the names of Vietnamese medicinal plants are derived from both purely Vietnamese words and loanwords (borrowed from Chinese and Indo-European languages). The research found that 1,619 names of purely Vietnamese origin (82.34%); 323 loanwords from Chinese (16.43%); 13 loanwords from Indo-European languages ​​(0.67%); and 11 hybrid names (0.56%).

The Latin names of medicinal plants can originate from various sources: from the Latin names of existing plants in English or French that have been Latinized, or from the names of botanists or geographical locations, etc. To minimize confusion regarding the names of medicinal plants between countries and to standardize their use, scientists have adopted Latin names as a common language for naming medicinal plants worldwide.

Structurally, the names of Vietnamese medicinal plants are composed of words and phrases. The thesis surveyed 96 units (4.89%) of names composed of words and 1,870 units (95.11%) of names composed of phrases. The names of Vietnamese medicinal plants composed of phrases include compound words, reduplicated words, and descriptive phrases. Compound words comprise 927 units (49.57%), reduplicated words comprise 22 units (1.18%), and descriptive phrases comprise 921 units (49.25%).

Regarding the Latin names of medicinal plants, their structure is very simple and precise. Each scientific name of a medicinal plant in Latin consists of a genus name and a species name. The genus name indicates the taxonomic group to which the individual belongs; it is a noun or adjective used as a singular noun, capitalized, and placed in the first position in the nomenclature. The species name is called the scientific adjective, describing a characteristic of the species to distinguish it from other species in the same genus and is not capitalized. The adjective can be an adjective or a noun.

The basis for naming Vietnamese medicinal plants is: (1) based on characteristics of properties, including 349 units (accounting for 17.75%); (2) based on the shape and size of other objects for association, including 313 units (accounting for 15.92%); (3) based on habitat characteristics, including 193 units (accounting for 9.82%); (4) based on color characteristics, including 164 units (accounting for 8.34%); (5) based on function and use characteristics, including 25 units (accounting for 1.27%); (6) based on the name of the discoverer or place name, including 56 units (accounting for 2.38%); (7) based on borrowed names from Indo-European countries, including 13 units (accounting for 0.66%).

For medicinal plant names in Latin, the primary basis for identification stems from the geographical location where the species grows or where it was first discovered; or the name of the person who discovered and described the species; or based on the specific characteristics of the species, using a commonly used Latin name to identify its unique features such as color, shape, aroma, ecological region, etc.

3.2. Conclusion

Based on the research results, the thesis has contributed to clarifying some issues regarding the theory of nomenclature, while also clarifying the origin, structure, and basis of naming Vietnamese medicinal plants and medicinal plant names in Latin. This reveals the distinct cultural characteristics of the two languages.

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

Author's name: TRAN THI HUONG

Thesis title:Characteristics of identification of Vietnamese medicinal plant names (in Latin relationship)

Scientific branch of thesis:Linguistics

Major:Vietnamese LanguageCode:62 22 01 02

Name of post graduate training institution:University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University

1. Thesis purpose and objectives

1.1. Research purposes

Stutying characteristics of naming medicinal plants in Vietnam (in latin relationship) to find out the characteristics of the origin and structure of the name of Vietnam medicinal plant and the name of medicinal plant in Latin. Sence then, found the basis of the identity and characteristics of national culture expressed in the name of medicinal plants of the two languages. The thesis's research contributes to improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching and making useful materials for the compilation and revision of documents and training in general medicine and traditional medicine in particular.

1.2. Research objectives

The objects of the thesis are 1966 units that identify the name Vietnamese medicinal plants in the dictionary “List of Vietnamese medicinal plants” of the Institute os Medicinal Material (2016).

2. Research methods

- Descriptive method

- Analysis of directly constructing elements

- Prime method of semantic analysis

- Statistical methods

Comparison and description

3. Major resultsand conclusions

3.1. Major results

In terms of origin, the name of Vietnamese medicine is derived from pure Vietnamese words and borrowed words (borrowed Chinese and borrowed Indo-European languages). The name of medicinal plant originates from the puru Vietnamese word that the thesis investigated included 1619 units (accounting for 82.34%); Chinese borrowed words includes 323 units (accounting for 16.43%); words borrowed from Indo-European language includes 13 units (accounting for 0.67%) and hybrid words includes 11 units (accounting for 0.56%).

The origin of the Latin medicinal plant name may originate from a variety of sources; from the latin name of a tree already available in English, French, Latinized, or derived from the name of a botanist or a place name. To limit the confusion about the name of medicinal plants among the united states in the use of names, scientists have taken the Latin name as the common language to name medicinal plants worldwide.

In terms of structure, the name of Vietnamese medicinal plants is composed of words and phrases. For the name with the structure is word, the dissertasion surveyed 96 units (accounting for 4.89%) and the name was termed as 1870 units (accounting for 95.11%). The name of Vietnamese medicinal plants is composed of compound words of 927 units (accounting for 59.57%), reduplicative words of 22 units (accounting for 1.18%) and identifiers of 921 units (accounting for 49.25%).

The structural features of the Latin medicinal plant name are simple but strict. Each scientific name of medicinalplant is composed of genua and species. The genus name to the classification group that the individual belongs to, is a noun or adjective used as a singular noun, uppercase and standing in the first place in the nomenclature.

Bases for identifying Vietnamese medicinal plant: (1) based on the characteristics of nature including 349 units (accounting for 17.75%); (2) based on the characteristics of shape and size of other objects is 313 units (accounting for 15.92%); (3) based on the living environment characteristics of 193 units (accounting for 9.82%); (4) based on color characteristics of 164 units (accounting for 8.34%); (5) based on fontional-utility characteristics of 25 units (accounting for 1.27%); (6) based on the name of the discoverer or place name including 56 units (accounting for 2.38%); (7) based on the borrowings of the Indo-European countries os 13 units (accounting for 0.66%).

As for the medicinal plant name in Latin, the identity base is primarily derived species from the place name where the grows or the first place to discover the species; or the name of the person who discovered and described the species; or based on the particularity of the species; using a Latin name has a common meaning for a species name; Through knowing the specific characteristics of colors, shapes, fragrances, ecological regions,…

3.2. Conclusions

On the basis of the research results, the thesis has contributed to clarify some issues of identification theory, the co-operative clarify the origin and structure, the name of Vietnamese medicinal plant name and name medicinal plant in Latin. Thereby, it is clear the national cultural characteristics of the two languages.