TTLA: Compare modern Chinese prepositions with modern Vietnamese prepositions (through some prepositions)

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Li Yanzhou (Li Yanzhou)

2. Gender: Year

3. Date of birth: August 11, 1982

4. Place of birth: Guangxi, China

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 3202/QD-SDH dated November 8, 2010 of the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in the training process: “On adjusting the title of the doctoral thesis of PhD student Ly Yen Chau” (No. 02/QD-SDH, dated January 8, 2014 of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – VNU Hanoi).

7. Thesis topic name:Contrast modern Chinese prepositions with modern Vietnamese prepositions (through some prepositions)

8. Major: Comparative LinguisticsCode: 62.22.01.10

9. Scientific instructor:Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thanh Lan

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

This thesis is the first research work in Vietnam (as well as in China) on the topic of research, comparing prepositions in the two languages ​​​​of Sino-Vietnamese on the levels of grammar, semantics and usage. We have successively researched, surveyed and compared Chinese prepositions with Vietnamese prepositions in terms of concepts, characteristics and classification. Based on the research of predecessors, we propose a way to classify Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions from the most basic concepts and grammatical characteristics, and at the same time distinguish the differences between Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions with verbs and conjunctions in the grammatical systems of each language. In addition, distinguish the differences between Chinese prepositions and structural particles, Vietnamese prepositions and modals.

In terms of semantics, in the semantic comparison of Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions, we have divided the similarity and difference between Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions into two types: One type is basically the same, such as: prepositions of space and time, such as: “在” and “o”, “从/自” and “from”, “到” and “to”, “于” and “into”; Prepositions of objects, such as: “跟, 和, 与” and “void”, etc... one type has similarities and differences, such as: Prepositions of objects, “对, 对于” and “towards, with”, “给” and “for”; Prepositions of aspect, such as: “对于, 关于, 就, 至于” and “about, towards, with”; Prepositions of purpose, such as: "to" in Vietnamese can also be translated as "用" or "让", etc...

Regarding usage, we have studied the presence and absence of prepositions and the topic marking function of Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions. Regarding the hidden and present rules of prepositions, we found some rules through a large number of examples, such as: Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions in prepositional phrases at the beginning of the sentence are easy to omit, prepositions in prepositional phrases in the middle of the sentence or between the subject and the predicate are difficult to omit. Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions that indicate objects, leading to participant roles, these prepositions often cannot be omitted, etc.

11. Practical application:

The results of this thesis have the following theoretical and practical implications:

Firstly, the thesis focuses on systematically and comprehensively researching and comparing the characteristics of Chinese prepositions, first of all typical prepositions in relation to corresponding Vietnamese prepositions. It can be said that this is the first comprehensive and systematic comparative study of Chinese - Vietnamese prepositions. The thesis highlights the similarities and differences between Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions, and at the same time, provides reference materials for comparing Chinese and Vietnamese.

Second, the thesis contributes to the comparative theory of two languages ​​of the same type that have a close relationship formed in the process of Sino-Vietnamese contact.

Third, through the survey process, we draw out the factors that govern Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions in language use (speech and grammar), for example: the presence and absence of prepositions, the topic marking function of prepositions, etc.

Along with that, this thesis also provides reference materials for compiling teaching materials for Chinese for Vietnamese students and teaching Vietnamese for Chinese students.

12. Further research directions:

(1) This thesis is mainly comparative, the selected prepositions are all recognized by scholars, but there are still many scholars who have different views on Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions, so some prepositions are not mentioned in the scope of this thesis (such as the word "more" in Vietnamese, the word "连" in Chinese), this issue still needs to be further studied.

(2) Chinese and Vietnamese are two languages ​​of the same type and have a close relationship formed during the process of Sino-Vietnamese contact. Therefore, the issue of grammaticalization of prepositions in Chinese and Vietnamese deserves our attention, this will be useful for finding the laws of historical development of Chinese and Vietnamese.

(3) The rule of presence and non-presence of Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions is a rather complicated issue, influenced by many factors, so this issue still needs further research, to draw a more precise and scientific rule.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

1. 李燕洲 (2011), “越南留学生汉语 '是…的' 句偏误分析”, 语文学刊 (6),Numbers 131 - 133(Ly Yen Chau (2011), “Analysis of errors in the Chinese sentence 'shi…de' made by Vietnamese international students”,Literature Magazine(6), pp.131-133.

2. 李燕洲 (2011), “浅谈越南留学生汉语语用偏误”, 现代语文 (3), 第138-140页.(Ly Yen Chau (2011), "A study on the mistakes in learning Chinese of Vietnamese international students",Modern Chinese Magazine(3), pp.138 -140.

3. Ngo Minh Nguyet, Ly Yen Chau (2015), “Comparing the positional distribution of Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions”, Proceedings of the national conference: Teaching and researching Chinese in Vietnam, University of Languages ​​and International Studies – VNU, Hanoi, pp.304 – 309.

4. Ly Yen Chau (2016), “Comparing the presence and non-presence of Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions”, Language & Life Magazine (2), pp.77 - 79.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name:Li Yanzhou2. Sex:Male

3. Date of birth: August 11, 19824. Place of birth:Guangxi, China

5. Admission of decision number: 3202/SĐH, on November 08, 2010, issued by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: Adjusting subject name of PhD thesis of postgraduate student Ly Yen Chau (Number 02/QD-SĐH, on January 08, 2014, issued by University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University)

7. Official thesis title:The Comparative Study on Prepositions of Modern Chineseand Modern Vietnamese (On the basis of some prepositions)

8. Major: Contrastive LinguisticsCode:62.22.01.10

9. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Lan

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This thesis is considered as the first work conducted by researchers in Vietnam (and in China as well) that researches and compares Chinese prepositions with Vietnamese prepositions in terms of grammar, semantics and pragmatics. We have researched and surveyed the conception, characteristics and classification of Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions. Based on previous studies, we provide a classification of Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions from the conception and the most basic grammatical features. We also distinguish the differences between Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions in terms of verbs and conjunctions in each language's grammatical system. Additionally, we distinguish the differences between the Chinese prepositions and structural particle, the Vietnamese prepositions and the Modal words as well.

Regarding semantics, in the comparison between the Chinese prepositions and the Vietnamese prepositions, we have divided the similarity and difference degree between them into two categories: the first one is basically consistent, such as time and space prepositions, eg: "在" and “in”, “从 / 自” and “from”, "到" and “to”, "于" and “into”; The object prepositions, eg: “跟, 和, 与” and “with”, etc ... The second one is a kind has similarities and differences, such as: The object prepositions, eg: “对, 对于” and “for, with”, "给" and “for”; The aspects prepositions, as: “对于, 关于, 就, 至于” and “about, for, with”; The prepositions of purpose, eg: “to” in Vietnamese is able to be translated as “用” or “让”, etc ...

Regarding pragmatics, we have studied the mechanism of covert on the prepositions, the markedness function of prepositions for the theme. For the mechanism of covert on the prepositions, we have found out some of the rules through a large number of examples, for instance, some Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions standing at the beginning of the sentence can be eliminated easily, however, some prepositions standing in the middle of sentence or between the subject and predicate are difficult to be eliminated. The object prepositions leading to participant role are often impossible to be eliminated, etc ...

11. Practical applicability:

The results of this thesis have the following theoretical and practical significations:

Firstly, the thesis focuses on research, collates scientifically and comprehensively about the characteristics of the Chinese prepositions, first up the typical prepositions in relation to the corresponding Vietnamese prepositions. It can say that this is the first research project collating Chinese prepositions with Vietnamese prepositions, and it is comprehensive and systematic. The thesis highlights the similarities and differences Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese prepositions, at the same time, provides a reference for collating Chinese with Vietnamese.

Secondly, the thesis contributes to the theory comparing two same types of language having intimate relationship formed during Chinese – Vietnamese interactive process.

Thirdly, through the survey process, draw the factors that rule Chinese prepositions and Vietnamese ones in using language (words and grammar), such as: the presence and non-presence of prepositions, marking topics function of the prepositions, etc..

Along with that, this thesis also provides references for the compilation of Chinese teaching materials for Vietnamese students, as well as Vietnamese teaching materials for Chinese ones.

12. Further research directions:

(1) This thesis focuses mainly on collating, all of the selected prepositions are recognized by scholars, but there are some scholars who still have difference of points of view about the Chinese and Vietnamese preposition, therefore, there are some prepositions which are not mentioned within this thesis (such as the word "than" in Vietnamese, the word "连" in Chinese), this issue still needs studying.

(2) Chinese and Vietnamese are two same types of languages ​​having intimate relationship formed during Chinese – Vietnamese interactive process. Therefore, the matter of grammaticalization of Chinese and Vietnamese is well worth considering, this will be useful for for finding the developmental historical laws of Chinese and Vietnamese.

(3) The law of presence and non-presence of Chinese and Vietnamese prepositions is a rather complex issue, influenced by many factors, so this issue still needs further studying, summarizing into a more precise and more scientific law.

13. Thesis-related publications:

1. Li Yanzhou (2011), “An Error Analysis of Chinese sentence 'shi…de' inVietnamese student”,Journal of Language and Literature Studies(6), pp. 131- 133.

2. Li Yanzhou (2011) “An Error Analysis of Chinese pragmatics in OverseasVietnamese student”,Modern Chinese(3), pp. 138 -140.

3. Ngo Minh Nguyet, Ly Yen Chau (2015), “Comparing the distribution ofChinese preposition with Vietnamese preposition”,International Conference on Linguisitcs Training and Research Chinese in Vietnam, November,pp. 304 - 309.

4. Ly Yen Chau (2016), “International Conference on Linguisitcs Training andResearch”,Language and life(2), pp. 77 -79.