TTLV: Survey of idioms referring to human body parts in Lao compared with Vietnamese.

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

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 recognition of students No. 2647/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated November 14, 2014 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis topic name:Survey of idioms referring to human body parts in Lao compared with Vietnamese.

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 60.22.02.40

9. Scientific instructor:Dr. Tran Thi Hong Hanh

10. Summary of thesis results:

Vietnam and Laos are both multi-ethnic countries with a long history of development on the Indochina peninsula, with cultural exchanges and similarities between the two countries. This is clearly shown through the treasure trove of idioms and proverbs of the two nations. Idioms are considered an indispensable part of common language, they are the result of the creativity of the working people of each country, they reflect the daily life of the people, reflect the spiritual values, emotions, philosophies of life, they are a part that contributes to building a unique cultural feature in the cultural identity of each country. Through the research on the topic "Survey of idioms referring to body parts in Lao compared with Vietnamese", the thesis has drawn the following conclusions:

(1). In Lao, both idioms and proverbs are commonly called "xu pha phun", while in Vietnamese, idioms and proverbs are distinguished quite clearly. Both idioms are structured as a fixed phrase, and mainly summarize lessons and experiences in life from family affection, society, working life, to other issues. Compared to Vietnamese idioms, Lao idioms have a simpler structure.

(2). Through the survey, the thesis found that 249/nearly 1,500 Lao idioms contain words indicating human body parts, including cases containing 1 to 3 words indicating body parts, in which the majority of idioms contain 1 word indicating human body parts (61.4%).

Among the 249 idioms that contain words indicating body parts, 36 human body parts are mentioned in Lao idioms, with 314 names. The most frequently mentioned parts are: Na (face); Ta (eyes); Hua (head); Chay (intestines); Khon (hair); Tin (legs); Pac (mouth, mouth, lips); Thoong (belly); Lang (back); Hu (ears). Of which, the most frequently appearing parts are mostly the head and are external parts of the body.

In terms of structure, Lao idioms are composed of at least 3 syllables or more. Of which, the number of idioms with 6 syllables or more accounts for the largest proportion at 54.6%.

In terms of semantics, most Lao idioms have figurative meanings, the number of idioms with literal meanings is very small. Of these, only 31 idioms have literal meanings, accounting for 12.4%, and up to 218 idioms have figurative or symbolic meanings, accounting for 87.6%.

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

(4). Comparing idioms containing words indicating human body parts in Lao and Vietnamese shows that:

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

Metaphorical analysis shows that idioms with words indicating body parts in Lao and Vietnamese have similarities in the concept of source and target. However, on the other hand, there are source and target concepts in Lao and Vietnamese idioms that have their own characteristics, reflecting the cultural characteristics of each nation. This shows that besides the similarities in culture and daily life of the people of Laos and Vietnam, each country has its own characteristics.

11. Practical application:

12. Further 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: