TTLA: Semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese based on empiricism

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong 

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: June 9, 1976

4. Place of birth: Thai Nguyen

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013 of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process: Decision to adjust the thesis topic name No. 2963/QD-XHNV dated November 14, 2017; Extension decision No. 4619/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2016 of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi.

7. Thesis topic name:Semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese based on empiricism

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 62.22.02.40

9. Instructor:Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hiep

10. Summary of new results of the thesis

- The thesis has established basic theoretical premises related to the research object; determined the viewpoint on embodiment as well as put forward a separate concept of sensory words in Vietnamese.

- The thesis has classified the category of sensory words into 2 large groups and 13 subgroups; built a set of criteria to determine the typical examples of each subgroup; objectively described the semantics of typical sensory words shown in the dictionary; described their rich semantic expressions in daily life.

- The thesis also analyzed and interpreted the embodied basis associated with the semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese; modeled their semantic development through the semantic network represented by the conceptual radiating diagram; pointed out some cultural and thinking features of Vietnamese people based on initial comparison with equivalent sensory words in English.

11. Practical application:

The research results of the thesis will be applied to explain the semantic transition of sensory words in Vietnamese in particular, and the semantic development of words in general; and will be a useful reference for teaching literature in schools as well as teaching Vietnamese to foreigners.

12. Further studies:

In the future, the author of the thesis can continue to study more deeply the semantic development of each subgroup of sensory words in Vietnamese in particular, and the semantics of Vietnamese words in general according to the embodiment hypothesis of cognitive linguistics. At the same time, expand the research in the direction of comparing and contrasting the semantics of Vietnamese and English words with specific descriptions so that through semantics, we can have a clearer view of the differences in thinking and culture of Vietnamese people, which is a useful reference material in teaching literature and teaching Vietnamese to foreigners.

13. Published works related to the thesis

13.1. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong, (2014), “Initial application of embodiment theory to study the semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese”, Journal of Science & Technology - Thai Nguyen University, (12), pp.41-44.

13.2. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong, (2015), “The semantic development of the word NGON in Vietnamese based on embodiment”, Proceedings of the 2015 National Linguistics Conference, Hanoi National University Publishing House, pp.257-261.

13.3. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong, (2016), “Metaphorical translation of sensory words in Vietnamese”, Language & Life Magazine, (5), pp.34-38.

13.4. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong, (2016), “Semantics of the word NGON in Vietnamese based on embodiment (compared with equivalent units in English)”, Language Journal, (6), pp.58-68.

13.5. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong, (2017), “On the concept of “RED” in Vietnamese”, Paper submitted to the International Linguistics Conference: “Modern linguistic trends and language research in Vietnam”, Vietnam Institute of Linguistics, Hanoi.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: June 9, 1976 4. Place of birth: Thai Nguyen

5. Admission decision number: 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, December 30^th, 2013 by President of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision on the adjustment of the thesis title No. 2963 /QD-XHNV dated on November 14^th, 2017 by President of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Decision of extension No. 4619/ QD-XHNV dated on December 29^th, 2016 by President of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7.Official thesis title: The semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese language from an embodiment view

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 62.22.02.40

9. Supervisor: Prof. PhD. Nguyen Van Hiep

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- The thesis has established basic theoretical premises related to the research object; the concept of embodiment as well as the concept of sensory words in Vietnamese language.

- The thesis has divided the sensory vocabulary into 13 sub-groups; developed a set of prototype criteria for each subgroup; described the semantics of sensory words in dictionary, and their rich semantic expressions in everyday life.

- The thesis has also analyzed and interpreted the embodiment bases of semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese language; modeled their semantic developments through the semantic network represented by a radial categories diagram; points out some of the cultural thoughts of the Vietnamese people on the basis of comparison with the equivalent sensory words in English language.

11. Practical applicability:

The research results of the thesis will be applied to explain how the meaning of sensory words in Vietnamese language changes in particular; and explain the semantic development of words in general. It is a useful reference for teaching literature at schools as well as for teaching Vietnamese language for foreigners.

12. Further research directions:

In the future, the author can continue to study more in-depth the semantic development of each subgroup of sensory terms in Vietnamese language in particular and the semantics of Vietnamese words in general under the embodiment theory of cognitive linguistics. The thesis can also help broaden the study to compare the semantics of Vietnamese and English words with specific descriptions in order to have a clearer view of the differences in cultural thinking of the Vietnamese. It is a useful reference in teaching literature and teaching Vietnamese language for foreigners.

13. Thesis-related publications:

13.1. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong (2014), “Initial application of embodiment theory to explore the semantic development of sensory words in Vietnamese language”, Journal of Science and Technology – Thai Nguyen University, Vol. (12), pp.41-44.

13.2. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong (2015), "The semantic development of the word NGON in Vietnamese language on the basis of embodiment", Proceedings of the National Conference on Linguistics 2015, Hanoi National University Publishing House, pp. 257-261.

13.3. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong (2016), “Metaphorical transformation of sensory words in Vietnamese language”, Language of Life Magazine, Vol. (5), pp. 34-38.

13.4. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong (2016), "Semantic meanings of the word NGON in Vietnamese language on the basis of embodiment (compared to the equivalent word in English)", Journal of Language, Vol. (6), pp.58-68.

13.5. Nguyen Thi Hanh Phuong (2017), “About the concept of “RED” in Vietnamese language”, the International Conference on “Modern Linguistic Trends and Language Research in Vietnam”, Vietnam Institute of Linguistics, Hanoi.