East Asian Spoken and Written Language Contacts: with focus on Chinese and Vietnamese
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The purpose of this presentation was to focus on the conditions and contexts of language change in relation to the parallel use of spoken and written forms of languages. The paper gave examples of contrasts between language change in direct spoken language contact (= examples of code-switching from previous fieldwork) and written language contact. Main part of the paper was focused on gradual adoption or copying of lexical or grammatical patterns from actively used written language: exactly from written Chinese to Vietnamese. While introductory typological comments were characterizing processes shaping results of similarities among main East Asian languages, the written language contacts were documented on specific stages of interferences of Vietnamese speakers with Written Chinese. These cases of gradual adoption of lexical patterns accompanying development of distinct forms of written language contacts offered following data for theoretical reflection. 1) There was frequent influence of religion on the form and spread of written language contacts. From evolutionary reasons, in ancient languages the written language was often the language of culturally or economically more developed, dominant or attractive group related to introduction of administration and missionary activities. 2) In particular periods of their history, the Vietnamese were under direct and later indirect Chinese rule and cultural influence. In these circumstances, the form of adoption of lexical patterns was related to following settings, stages and outcomes: A) Direct Chinese rule over the Vietnamese in the first millennium AD with direct influence of spoken and written Chinese limited on local elites – outcome: small impact of Chinese language on Vietnamese. B) First stage of Vietnamese independence since 10th century AD, when written Chinese remains in the use by Vietnamese without active presence of Chinese elites. This period is characterized by gradual creation of own Vietnamese written language and script. Outcome: more widespread adoption of Chinese culture among the Vietnamese and growing impact of written Chinese on written and spoken Vietnamese C) Second stage of Vietnamese independence since 15th century AD with full co-existence of Chinese and Vietnamese written languages. Outcome: widest adoption of grammatical forms from written Chinese to Vietnamese D) Third period mainly in 18th and 19th centuries: when Chinese language serves as a medium of adoption of scientific terminology from Western languages or Japanese into Vietnamese language. Outcome: new strata in nominal syntax. E) Influence of spoken Chinese and interferences of Cantonese and Vietnamese in South Vietnam. Outcome: new phonetic layers in Chinese loanwords in South Vietnamese. |
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