TTLA: Research on the functional-semantic transformation of vocabulary in Vietnamese (based on terminology data)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Le Thi Lan Anh 

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: October 25, 19881 

4. Place of birth: Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Decision No. 3676/QD-SDH dated October 28, 2009, of the Director of Hanoi National University, recognizing the doctoral student.

6. Changes in the training process:Not available

7. Thesis title:Research on the functional-semantic transformation of vocabulary in Vietnamese (based on terminology data)

8. Specialization: Linguistics Theory             Code:62.22.01.01                 

9. Scientific supervisor:Prof. Dr. Le Quang Thiem

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This dissertation has completed the analysis and demonstration of the functional-semantic transformation in the three basic word classes (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) of Vietnamese using scientific terminology corpora in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences and humanities. From this, it affirms the nature and causes of the transformation of everyday words into technical terms in Vietnamese, and this is one of the pathways in the construction and development of the Vietnamese terminology system. The process of functional-semantic transformation of Vietnamese vocabulary not only occurs from everyday contexts to specialized fields but also has the potential to transform across multiple specialized fields. Even within a single specialized field, a term can encompass various specialized meanings. This transformation occurs through two main methods of semantic transfer: metaphor and metonymy. The results from statistical analysis of functional-semantic transformations in vocabulary have shown that, in addition to the advantages of being economical and convenient for forming a Vietnamese terminology system, there are also shortcomings and limitations, namely the occurrence of polysemy and synonymy of terms. In light of these realities, the thesis has proposed several solutions to ensure the scientific accuracy and precision of terminology. Among these solutions, the following is presented.homonymizationTo simplify the conceptualization of multi-conceptual, multi-content explanations in dictionaries is necessary. This not only helps standardize the identification of the semantic content of terms as denotative and unambiguous within the terminology system, but also contributes to improving the effectiveness of knowledge acquisition for those receiving information through dictionaries. This is also a solution that contributes to preserving the purity of the Vietnamese language and improving the quality and effectiveness of dictionary products.

11. Practical applications

This dissertation provides valuable material for research on the development of Vietnamese vocabulary and semantics, as the terminology system is a part of the vocabulary that reflects the fastest and strongest changes and developments in Vietnamese society in modern times. The research results contribute to the standardization, preservation of clarity, and development of the Vietnamese language during the period of industrialization, modernization, regional and international integration; and are helpful for the research and compilation of dictionaries, which are currently in high demand and development.

12. Future research directions

Continue researching the functional-semantic transformation of terms into common words. The goal is to compile a monograph on the functional-semantic transformation of vocabulary within the modern Vietnamese semantic vocabulary system.

13. Published works related to the dissertation

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2006), “Trying to apply some methods of explaining word meanings for foreigners learning Vietnamese at the basic level”,Conference Proceedings: Vietnamese Studies and the Vietnamese Language, National University of Hanoi Publishing House, pp. 7-13.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2007), "On the phenomenon of functional-semantic transformation within the scope of Vietnamese nouns (based on terminology data)",Language & Life Magazine(6), pp.12-16.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2010), "On the phenomenon of function-semantic transformation within the scope of Vietnamese adjectives",National Linguistics Conference 2010: Linguistics and Languages ​​in Vietnam, pp. 3-7.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2015), "Terminizing common words: one of the ways to form Vietnamese terminology",Language & Life Magazine(5), pp.19-23.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name:Le Thi Lan Anh                    2. Sex:Female

3. Date of birth: October 25^th, 19814. Place of birth:Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Admission of decision number: 3676/QD-SDH, date October 28^th, 2009, issued by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: none

7. Official thesis title: A study of the transformation of function and meaning of lexical units in Vietnamese language (based on terminological materials)

8. Major: Theory of LinguisticsCode:62.22.01.01

9. Supervisors:  Prof. Dr. Le Quang Thiem

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This thesis has completed the analysis and demonstrated the transformation of function and meaning of commonly used words into terminology, which occurs in three main categories (noun, verb and adjective) in Vietnamese language (based on scientific terminology materials), both in the field of natural sciences and in the field of social sciences and humanities. The outcome of an analysis from eight special dictionaries points out that this transformation happened from the everyday style into not only a scientific sector but also many different scientific sectors. Even in one science sector, a single term signifies several concepts. This is one of the ways to establish and contribute to development of the Vietnamese terminology system effectively and economically. Besides that, there are also certain limitations and disadvantages such as phenomena of polysemous terms and synonymous terms. That breaks the rule that terms need to contain one meaning to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding. Facing this reality, the thesis gives some solutions to ensure the accuracy and science of terms. In particular, polysemantic terms splitting into homonymous terms is a critical solution. This not only helps standardize the identification of terminological concepts as scientific concepts and nomosemy in a terminology system, but also contributes to improving the efficiency of receiving cognitive knowledge through dictionaries. This solution also contributes to standardization, preserving the purity of the Vietnamese language and improving the quality of dictionaries.

11. Practical applicability:

This thesis partly provides resources for research about the development of Vietnamese lexical-semantics because the terminology system, which is part of the vocabulary, reflects the all the changes and development of Vietnam society in the quickest and clearest way. The research results contribute materials to the standardization of Vietnamese language, preserving the purity and the development of the Vietnamese language during the process of industrialization, modernization, regional integration and international cooperation; they are also useful for researching and compiling of dictionaries.

12. Further research directions:

Continue to study the transformation of function and meaning of terminology into commonly used words, towards compiling a textbook about the transformation of function and the meaning of lexical units in Vietnamese language.

14. Thesis-related publications

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2006), “Applying some ways of explanation for word meaning for foreigners learning Vietnamese at basic level”,Yearbook of Scientific Conference: Vietnamese studies and Vietnamese language, Vietnam National University Publishing House, pp.7-13.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2007), “About the transformation of function and meaning of Vietnamese nouns (based on terminological materials)”,Language and life(6), pp.12-16.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2010), ““About the transformation of function and meaning of Vietnamese adjectives”,National Linguistics Conference 2010: Linguistics and languages ​​in Vietnam, pp.3-7.

- Le Thi Lan Anh (2015), “The transformation of everyday vocabulary into terminology: one of the ways to establish the Vietnamese terminology system”,Language and life(5), pp.19-23.