TTLV: A Study of Time-Relationship Terms in Chinese and Vietnamese (Based on the novel *Dream of the Red Chamber* and its translation)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Li Ying                

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: April 25, 1991

4. Place of birth: China

5. Decision on student admission No. 2601/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated November 13, 2013, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:An Examination of Time-Relationship Terms in Chinese and Vietnamese (Based on the novel *Dream of the Red Chamber* and its translations)

8. Major: LinguisticsCode: 60.22.02.40

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Hong

10.Summary of the thesis results:

Both Vietnamese and Chinese are non-inflectional languages; verbs do not change their form and therefore do not have a function of indicating time. Therefore, this thesis surveys the vocabulary expressing time in Chinese and Vietnamese based on the work "Dream of the Red Chamber" and its translation, providing a comprehensive view of the characteristics of time expressions, especially those with a specific point in time.

This thesis chooses Chinese, a pictographic language, to compare with Vietnamese, a phonetic language, because through this difference, we can compare the means of expressing meaning and the semantic content of these means in Chinese and Vietnamese to identify similarities and differences between the two languages, and to explore equivalent expressions of meaning in order to see the differences in national cultural thinking between the two languages. In-depth research and examination of time-expressing words with temporal meanings involves examining them in terms of semantic characteristics, grammatical function, and expressive forms.

To identify the characteristics of time representations in general, and time representations in Chinese and Vietnamese in particular, we propose three basic criteria: content criteria, form criteria, and function criteria.

The way to represent a point in time is to pinpoint the exact time an event occurs, located on a timeline, answering the question "when?" and expressed by time-related nouns such as: day, month, year... This way of representing time conveys the temporal meaning of an event but differs in function. A point in time only serves to inform about the specific time point of an event.

The thesis also delves into a descriptive analysis of surveys on ways of representing time in terms of meaning, form, and function. Ways of representing time are distinguished by their temporal opposition (past, present, future) and their definite or indefinite nature:

In terms of form, ways of expressing time can be through words, phrases, conjunctions, or clauses.

In terms of function, expressions of time can fulfill semantic functions as arguments or modifiers, and syntactic functions as adverbs, complements, or subjects.

11. Practical applications:

Our thesis will contribute to the theoretical research on terminology used to express cultural exchange between the two countries.

12. Future research directions:

The research findings of this thesis have contributed to clarifying the results of the survey on ways of expressing time in Vietnamese in particular. We hope to continue to delve deeper into this research and achieve further results in this direction. If given the opportunity to expand and delve deeper, we hope to conduct a survey of words indicating time periods in Chinese and Vietnamese.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: LI YING 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: April 25, 1991 4. Place of birth: China

5. Decision reject student no. 2601/2013/QD-XHNV-SĐH, dated November 13, 2013 by rector of VNU – University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

6. Changes during training: None

7. Name of thesis topic: Study of words denoting time in Chinese and Vietnamese languages ​​(based on the work named Hong Lau Mong and its translation)

8. Major: Linguistics9. Code: 60.22.02.40

10. Supervisor: Prof. Pham Thi Thuy Hong

11.Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Vietnamese and Chinese languages ​​are both non-morph ones, with verbs not changing their form. As a result, they do not have the function of denoting time in language. Consequently, in this thesis, we will study words denoting time in Chinese and Vietnamese languages ​​based on the work entitled “Hong Lau Mong” and its translation, bringing a comprehensive view of characters of time expression, especially those having the meaning of point of time.

The thesis chooses Chinese, a figurative language, to compare with Vietnamese, an onomatopoeia language, because through this difference, the comparison of method of denoting meaning, semantic connotations of these means in Chinese and Vietnamese in order to determine similarities and differences between the two languages, learning about the similar wording in meaning to see the difference in cultural and national thought between the two languages. Learning deeply about words expressing time shows the meaning of point of time, we look into them in the following aspects: characteristics of meaning, grammatical function and form of expression.

In order to identify characteristics of method of expression of time in general an expression of point of time in Chinese and Vietnamese languages ​​in particular, we give three basic criteria: content, form and function.

Expression of point of time is the timeline when the incident occurs located in the time axis answering the question: “When?” and expressed by noun denoting time such as day, month, year, etc. These methods of expression show the time meaning of the incident, but they are different in function. The function of point of time is merely to notice the timeline of the incident being located.

The thesis has also deeply analyzed studies of expression methods of point of time regarding meaning, form and function. Different methods of expression of point of time are distinguished by the opposition of tense (past, simple and future) and define or do not define:

Form of expression. The forms of expression of point of time can be words, terms, compound or clause.

Function. The forms of expression of time may undertake semantic functions such as demonstrative or transitive, and syntactic functions such as adverb, complement or subject.

12. Applicability to the practice (if any):

Our thesis will contribute to adding to the theory of studying words denoting cultural exchange between both countries.

13. Next research orientations:

Research results of the thesis have helped clarify the study result of method of expression of point of time in Vietnamese in particular. We want to continue to research this issue and gain achievements toward this direction. If we have a chance to expand it and research more deeply, we hope to study words denoting period in Chinese and Vietnamese languages.