Associate Professor Dr. Trinh Cam Lan: To preserve its beauty, Hanoi needs to be given a proper "identity."

- Professor Trinh Cam Lan, is the Hanoi dialect today significantly different from the Hanoi dialect of the past, which was once a source of pride for the people of Hanoi?

- The Hanoi dialect has gradually changed over time. If you consider the Hanoi dialect spoken by people of the same generation or by generations born in Hanoi from the mid-20th century to the present, you might not notice it. But if you consider a broader period, for example, comparing the Hanoi dialect spoken by generations born and raised in Hanoi before the beginning of the 20th century with the Hanoi dialect spoken now, you will surely see quite a few differences! The old Hanoi dialect was softer and more leisurely – reflected in pronunciation, especially in tones and intonation; it was more elaborate, even more formal – in the use of words.

Today's Hanoi dialect is more vigorous, faster, and more "lively and dynamic." It has also incorporated many pronunciations and word usages from other regions, becoming much richer and more diverse than before. Furthermore, the influx of foreign languages ​​(primarily English) into Vietnamese, which we call "language code mixing," has given the Hanoi dialect of some younger generations a more modern, contemporary, and stylish feel, reflecting social stratification and a different kind of style.

If viewed positively, modern Hanoi dialect can be seen as diverse and rich as a result of a symbiotic blending of many dialects, both geographical and social. However, viewed from the opposite perspective, this multi-dialectal state is sometimes taken too far, meaning it incorporates not only positive elements but also negative elements from other dialects.

For example, many parents express concern and call the language of some young people in Hanoi today a "mixed stew of words." Sitting before this "stew," it seems delicious and interesting at the beginning, but by the middle of the meal, it becomes tiresome, and by the end, it's frightening. They will see this as a phenomenon that should never be encouraged, but needs to be adjusted and molded to better suit traditional customs and values.

- So, according to you, the old Hanoi dialect no longer exists?

- It only survives among some elderly people living in the Old Quarter, the core of the capital, and the old Hanoi intellectual class. That generation is now in their 70s or 80s, meaning very few remain, and I'm not sure if they will survive over time. That's a pity because those Hanoians are one of the elements that make up the beauty of the old Hanoi dialect.

However, that doesn't mean we can say that the Hanoi dialect is no longer beautiful. I think it's still beautiful, but in a more vibrant way, adapted to contemporary life.

- As you mentioned, the traditional Hanoi accent can now only be appreciated by a limited number of people. So, what factors have contributed to this change, madam?

- I think there are many reasons. The crux of the matter lies in the factors that have allowed Hanoi to achieve its current position. Politically and economically, Hanoi is the capital, the region with the greatest influence. Socially, and especially from a demographic perspective, Hanoi is a city with a high population density. Culturally and scientifically, Hanoi also holds the position of the largest center in the country with the highest number of government agencies, universities, research institutes, and knowledge centers nationwide.

The aforementioned factors have created a one-way mechanical pull attracting waves of migration from other regions, which, as sociological and demographic studies have noted, was "strongest during the late 20th century."

The factors mentioned above are further strengthened by the influence of the times. We are in the midst of a whirlwind of development and integration, and Hanoi is changing every day and every hour within that whirlwind. This wave of change penetrates deeply into every corner of life, and the linguistic life of Hanoi's residents is not immune to its impact.

Never before has the Hanoi dialect exhibited such a strong socio-diplomatic character as it does now. This character is not merely a symbiosis of regional dialects with the old Hanoi dialect, but also a symbiosis of socio-diplomas – dialects of different social groups defined by criteria such as occupation, gender, age, education level, social background, and many others. This character is further deepened by interaction with other cultures during the era of globalization. These are the fundamental factors leading to the transformation of the Hanoi dialect today compared to the past.

What makes the Hanoi accent so endearing and endearing is also the civilized and elegant manners of the people of Hanoi. Photo: Song Ngan

- Hanoi dialects have a rich history, are beloved by many, and are a source of pride for the people of Hanoi, but the preservation of their purity and standard pronunciation seems to have been neglected. What is your assessment of this?

- That's right, there is currently no convention or any document to protect the beauty of the Hanoi dialect, or if there is, it's very general. People only observe the vivid reality that Vietnamese is currently used in mass media and books that closely resembles the Hanoi dialect. As a researcher, I only want to affirm: If we consider each dialect as a variant of Vietnamese, then the Hanoi dialect is a prestigious variant of Vietnamese, very close to the standard Vietnamese, but I wouldn't dare say that the Hanoi dialect is the standard Vietnamese, at least not because there is no legally binding document on that matter.

- In your opinion, what can we do to ensure that the Hanoi dialect increasingly asserts its role in contemporary life?

- In my opinion, the first step is to officially define its position among the variations of the Vietnamese language – through language policy, language law, or, to put it humorously, to give it "official status." Only after the Hanoi dialect has achieved its official status can we talk about policies and activities to strengthen and enhance that status, such as: encouraging and investing in research on the Hanoi dialect, clarifying its advantages and beauty, pointing out the less attractive aspects in the communication of some contemporary Hanoians – both linguistically and socially – and then making appropriate recommendations for its use to highlight its beauty and reduce its less attractive or inappropriate aspects, so that the Hanoi dialect gains increasing prestige within the community.

Next, we should promote the use of the Hanoi dialect through education, schools, and mass media, thereby contributing to preserving, developing, and spreading the beauty of the Hanoi dialect widely within the community.

Thank you very much for the conversation!