TTLV: Survey of time-expressing words in Chinese and Vietnamese (Based on the work Dream of the Red Chamber and its translation)

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

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 recognition of students No. 2601/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated November 13, 2013 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic name:Survey of time-expressing words in Chinese and Vietnamese (Based on the work Dream of the Red Chamber and its translation)

8. Major: LinguisticsCode: 60.22.02.40

9. Scientific instructor:Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Hong

10.Summary of the thesis results:

Vietnamese and Chinese are both inflected languages, verbs do not change form, so they do not have the function of informing about time in the language. Therefore, this thesis conducts a survey of time-expressing words in Chinese and Vietnamese based on the work "Hong Lou Meng" and on the basis of the translation, providing a comprehensive view of the characteristics of time expressions, especially time expressions with the meaning of time.

The thesis chooses Chinese, a pictographic language, to compare with Vietnamese, an onomatopoeic language, because through this difference, the comparison of the means of expressing meaning and semantic connotation of these means in Chinese and Vietnamese is to determine the similarities and differences between the two languages, to study the equivalent expression of meaning in order to see the differences in national cultural thinking between the two languages. Going deep into the study and survey of time expressions with the meaning of time, we examine them in turn in terms of: meaning characteristics, grammatical function and form of expression.

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

The way to express time is the time point of the event located on the time axis that answers the question "when? When?" and is expressed by time nouns such as: day, month, year.... This way of expressing the time meaning of the event but is different in function. Time only has the function of informing about the time point of the event being located.

The thesis also analyzed and described the surveys of the ways of expressing time in terms of meaning, form and function. The ways of expressing time are distinguished according to the contrast of tense (past, present, future) and definite, indefinite:

In terms of form of expression, expressions of time can be words, phrases, conjunctions or clauses.

In terms of function, temporal expressions can take on semantic functions as operants or periphrastics, and syntactic functions as adverbials, complements, or subjects.

11. Practical application:

Our thesis will contribute to the theoretical research of words expressing cultural exchange between the two countries.

12. Further research directions:

The research results of the thesis have contributed to clarifying the results of the survey on the ways of expressing time in Vietnamese in particular. We hope to continue to deepen our research and gain achievements in this research direction. If we have the opportunity to expand and deepen further, we hope to conduct a survey on the words indicating time 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.