TTLV: A survey of idioms referring to parts of the human body in Lao, with a comparison to Vietnamese.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Mouksikham KHEMDY

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: March 8, 1987

4. Place of birth: Sayaboury, Laos

5. Decision on student admission No. 2647/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated November 14, 2014, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis title:This study examines idioms referring to parts of the human body in Lao, comparing them with those in Vietnamese.

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 60.22.02.40

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Tran Thi Hong Hanh

10. Summary of the thesis results:

Vietnam and Laos are both multi-ethnic countries with long histories of development on the Indochinese peninsula, sharing similarities and cultural overlaps. This is clearly demonstrated in the rich treasury of idioms and proverbs of both nations. Idioms are considered an indispensable part of everyday language; they are the result of the creativity of the working people of each country, reflecting the daily life of the people, their spiritual and emotional values, and their philosophies of life. They contribute to building the distinctive cultural characteristics of each country. Through the research topic "A Survey of Idioms Referring to Body Parts in Lao with a Comparison to Vietnamese," this thesis has drawn the following conclusions:

(1). In Lao, both idioms and proverbs are collectively called "xu pha xit", while in Vietnamese, idioms and proverbs are quite clearly distinguished. Both idioms have the structure of a fixed phrase, and mainly summarize lessons and experiences in life from family, social, working life, to other issues. Compared to Vietnamese idioms, Lao idioms have a simpler structure.

(2). Through the survey, the thesis statistically found that 249/nearly 1500 Lao idioms contain words referring to parts of the human body, including cases containing 1 to 3 words referring to parts of the body, of which mainly idioms contain 1 word referring to a part of the human body (61.4%).

Of the 249 idioms compiled containing words referring to body parts, 36 human body parts are mentioned in Lao idioms, with 314 occurrences. The most frequently mentioned body parts are: Na (face); Ta (eye); Hua (head); Chay (intestine); Khon (hair); Tin (leg); Pak (mouth); Thoong (belly); Lang (back); Hu (ear). Among these, the most frequently mentioned body parts are mostly head parts and external body parts.

Structurally, Lao idioms consist of at least three syllables. Of these, idioms with six or more syllables account for the largest proportion, at 54.6%.

Semantically, most Lao idioms are figurative, with very few having literal meanings. Of these, only 31 idioms have literal meanings, accounting for 12.4%, while 218 idioms have figurative or symbolic meanings, accounting for 87.6%.

(3). Regarding metaphors in idioms containing body parts in Lao idioms, out of 249 idioms containing human body parts, there are 36 body parts - which are the source concepts of metaphors in Lao idioms. The metaphors in Lao idioms containing body parts are expressed under source concepts and target concepts.

(4). Comparing idioms containing words referring to parts of the human body in Lao and Vietnamese shows that:

The idioms of the two countries share many similarities, but also have some differences. Most of the words referring to body parts found in Lao idioms also appear in Vietnamese idioms. Furthermore, due to differences in living conditions, ways of thinking, and perspectives of the people of each country, some words referring to body parts appear only in Lao idioms, or only in Vietnamese idioms. In terms of structure, some Vietnamese idioms have structures and word usage similar to those of Lao idioms.

Considering the metaphorical nature, it is evident that idioms in Lao and Vietnamese containing words referring to body parts share similarities in their conceptual source and target. However, on the other hand, some conceptual sources and targets in Lao and Vietnamese idioms possess unique characteristics, reflecting the distinct cultural features of each nation. This demonstrates that, alongside similarities in the culture and lifestyles of the people of Laos and Vietnam, each country also has its own unique characteristics.

11. Practical applications:

12. Future research directions:

13. Published works related to the thesis:

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Mouksikham KHEMDY 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: March 8, 1987 4. Place of birth: Sayaboury province, LAO PDR.

5. Admission decision number: 2647/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH November 14, 2014 by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Dated: November 14, 2014

6. Changes in academic process: (None)

7. Official thesis title: Survey on idioms implying body parts in Lao language in comparison with Vietnamese language.

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 60.22.02.40

9. Supervisors: Dr. Tran Thi Hong Hanh

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Vietnam and Laos are the multi-ethnic countries with long-time development history in the Indochinese Peninsula, thus the two countries' cultures have the similarities and interferences. These characteristics are shown clearly through idioms and proverbs of two countries. The idiom is considered as the indispensable part in normal language, it is derived from the creative mind of laborers in each country, and it reflects the daily living lives of habitants, the spiritual values, sentiments and life philosophies, it also contributes into building a specific culture in cultural character of each country. Through researching the thesis “Survey on idioms implying body parts in Lao language in comparison with Vietnamese language”, the thesis withdraws several conclusions, as follows:

(1). In Lao language, both idiom and proverb are called as “xu pha xit”, whereas in Vietnamese language, the idiom and proverb are distinguished rather clearly. The idioms of two countries are constituted from one word, a fixed phrase, and mainly summarize lessons and experiments derived from life, family sentiment, society, working life and other issues. In comparison with Vietnamese idioms, Lao idioms have more similar structure.

(2). Through surveying, the thesis reckons up 249/ nearly 1500 Lao idioms containing words on body parts, including idioms of 1 – 3 words implying body parts, in which mainly idioms covering 1 word implying body parts (61.4%).

Among 249 idioms containing words on body parts, 36 body parts are mentioned in Lao idioms, and 314 times of calling names are counted up. The body parts which are mentioned most include: Na (face); Ta (eye); Hua (head); Vegetarian (soul); Khon (hair); Believe (leg); Pac (mouth); Thoong (stomatch); Lang (back); Hu (ear). In which, the body parts which appear most popularly are parts on the head and parts inside the body.

In terms of structure, Lao idioms are composed from at least 3 syllables and above. In which, the idioms containing 6 syllables and above occupy the highest rate of 54.6%.

In terms of semantics, almost Lao idioms have the figurative sense, few idioms have the literal sense. In which, there are 31 idioms with literal sense, occupying 12.4% and 218 idioms with figurative sense, occupying 87.6%.

(3). The Lao idioms containing words on body parts use the metaphor. In which, 249 idioms containing 36 body parts – they are the source notion of metaphor in Lao idioms. The metaphor in idioms containing body parts of Laos is presented through source notions and target notions.

(4). The comparison between idioms on body parts in Lao language and Vietnamese language shows:

The idioms of two countries have many similarities, but they also have several differences. Almost words implying body parts, which appear in Lao idioms, are also used in Vietnamese idioms. In addition, because of characteristics on living conditions, thinking ways, looking ways are different between inhabitants of two countries, several words implying body parts only appear in Lao idioms or in Vietnamese idioms. About structure, several Vietnamese idioms have similar structure and usage as Lao idioms.

Considering the metaphor, the idioms containing words on body parts in Lao language and Vietnamese language have similarities on source notions and target notions. However, on the other hand, many source notions and target notions in Lao idioms and Vietnamese idioms have private characteristics that reflect the cultural characteristics of each nation. So that, we can see beside similarities in culture and lives of inhabitants in Laos and Vietnam, each country has its own characteristics.

11. Practical applicability:

12. Further research directions:

13. Thesis-related publications: