Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences

To Minh Thanh

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences

To Minh Thanh

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 10, Issue 2)

Received: 8 March 2022 Accepted: 20 April 2022 Published: 28 April 2022

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Abstract

Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities and differences in the ways each of the languages chooses to express the meaning of their generic sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between their three types of generic sentences. Specifically, both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with a [+definite] article; but Vietnamese has no single article which can be considered as an exact equivalent of the — the sole [+definite] article which goes with a variety of English nouns: respectively preceding a [+singular count] noun, a [+singular group] noun, and a [+plural count] noun, the is equivalent to the zero article, các — the [+definite], [+plural count] article, and những — the [+indefinite], [+plural count] quantifier in Vietnamese. Both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with the zero article; but the zero article in Vietnamese is [+definite] while the zero article in English is always [+indefinite]. The zero article is also prominent because it witnesses the fact that universalism and uniqueness operate quite well in the two natural languages in question. The universal is shown by their generic sentences’ identical internal structure, which is the topic/subject noun phrase always beginning with a certain kind of article plus the frequent [+stative] verb in the comment/predicate verb phrase. The unique asserts that each of the two languages is beautiful in its own way and deserves the patience and understanding of any language user, native and non-native. Except for the existence of the Vietnamese classifier, the first type of generic sentences including only those beginning with an [+indefinite], [+singular] article, which is một in Vietnamese or a(n) in English, exemplifies the similarities between the two languages; their differences lie in the other two types. Interchangeability among the three types of generic sentences is determined by the characteristics of their subject/topic noun phrase or the meaning of their predicate/comment verb phrase.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
Page(s)	166-175
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Generic Sentences, Genericity, The Classifier, The Zero Article

References

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To Minh Thanh. (2022). Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 10(2), 166-175. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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To Minh Thanh. Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2022, 10(2), 166-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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To Minh Thanh. Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. Int J Lang Linguist. 2022;10(2):166-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25,
  author = {To Minh Thanh},
  title = {Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {166-175},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20221002.25},
  abstract = {Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities and differences in the ways each of the languages chooses to express the meaning of their generic sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between their three types of generic sentences. Specifically, both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with a [+definite] article; but Vietnamese has no single article which can be considered as an exact equivalent of the — the sole [+definite] article which goes with a variety of English nouns: respectively preceding a [+singular count] noun, a [+singular group] noun, and a [+plural count] noun, the is equivalent to the zero article, các — the [+definite], [+plural count] article, and những — the [+indefinite], [+plural count] quantifier in Vietnamese. Both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with the zero article; but the zero article in Vietnamese is [+definite] while the zero article in English is always [+indefinite]. The zero article is also prominent because it witnesses the fact that universalism and uniqueness operate quite well in the two natural languages in question. The universal is shown by their generic sentences’ identical internal structure, which is the topic/subject noun phrase always beginning with a certain kind of article plus the frequent [+stative] verb in the comment/predicate verb phrase. The unique asserts that each of the two languages is beautiful in its own way and deserves the patience and understanding of any language user, native and non-native. Except for the existence of the Vietnamese classifier, the first type of generic sentences including only those beginning with an [+indefinite], [+singular] article, which is một in Vietnamese or a(n) in English, exemplifies the similarities between the two languages; their differences lie in the other two types. Interchangeability among the three types of generic sentences is determined by the characteristics of their subject/topic noun phrase or the meaning of their predicate/comment verb phrase.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences
AU  - To Minh Thanh
Y1  - 2022/04/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 166
EP  - 175
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
AB  - Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities and differences in the ways each of the languages chooses to express the meaning of their generic sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between their three types of generic sentences. Specifically, both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with a [+definite] article; but Vietnamese has no single article which can be considered as an exact equivalent of the — the sole [+definite] article which goes with a variety of English nouns: respectively preceding a [+singular count] noun, a [+singular group] noun, and a [+plural count] noun, the is equivalent to the zero article, các — the [+definite], [+plural count] article, and những — the [+indefinite], [+plural count] quantifier in Vietnamese. Both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with the zero article; but the zero article in Vietnamese is [+definite] while the zero article in English is always [+indefinite]. The zero article is also prominent because it witnesses the fact that universalism and uniqueness operate quite well in the two natural languages in question. The universal is shown by their generic sentences’ identical internal structure, which is the topic/subject noun phrase always beginning with a certain kind of article plus the frequent [+stative] verb in the comment/predicate verb phrase. The unique asserts that each of the two languages is beautiful in its own way and deserves the patience and understanding of any language user, native and non-native. Except for the existence of the Vietnamese classifier, the first type of generic sentences including only those beginning with an [+indefinite], [+singular] article, which is một in Vietnamese or a(n) in English, exemplifies the similarities between the two languages; their differences lie in the other two types. Interchangeability among the three types of generic sentences is determined by the characteristics of their subject/topic noun phrase or the meaning of their predicate/comment verb phrase.
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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To Minh Thanh

Faculty of International Languages and Cultures, Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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To Minh Thanh. (2022). Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 10(2), 166-175. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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To Minh Thanh. Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2022, 10(2), 166-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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AMA Style

To Minh Thanh. Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences. Int J Lang Linguist. 2022;10(2):166-175. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25,
  author = {To Minh Thanh},
  title = {Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {166-175},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20221002.25},
  abstract = {Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities and differences in the ways each of the languages chooses to express the meaning of their generic sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between their three types of generic sentences. Specifically, both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with a [+definite] article; but Vietnamese has no single article which can be considered as an exact equivalent of the — the sole [+definite] article which goes with a variety of English nouns: respectively preceding a [+singular count] noun, a [+singular group] noun, and a [+plural count] noun, the is equivalent to the zero article, các — the [+definite], [+plural count] article, and những — the [+indefinite], [+plural count] quantifier in Vietnamese. Both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with the zero article; but the zero article in Vietnamese is [+definite] while the zero article in English is always [+indefinite]. The zero article is also prominent because it witnesses the fact that universalism and uniqueness operate quite well in the two natural languages in question. The universal is shown by their generic sentences’ identical internal structure, which is the topic/subject noun phrase always beginning with a certain kind of article plus the frequent [+stative] verb in the comment/predicate verb phrase. The unique asserts that each of the two languages is beautiful in its own way and deserves the patience and understanding of any language user, native and non-native. Except for the existence of the Vietnamese classifier, the first type of generic sentences including only those beginning with an [+indefinite], [+singular] article, which is một in Vietnamese or a(n) in English, exemplifies the similarities between the two languages; their differences lie in the other two types. Interchangeability among the three types of generic sentences is determined by the characteristics of their subject/topic noun phrase or the meaning of their predicate/comment verb phrase.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Generic Sentences in Vietnamese and English: Similarities and Differences
AU  - To Minh Thanh
Y1  - 2022/04/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 166
EP  - 175
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221002.25
AB  - Employing descriptive approach and qualitative analysis, this paper focuses on comparing Vietnamese generic sentences with English ones in order to look for similarities and differences in the ways each of the languages chooses to express the meaning of their generic sentences. The comparison indicates that there is no exact equivalence between their three types of generic sentences. Specifically, both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with a [+definite] article; but Vietnamese has no single article which can be considered as an exact equivalent of the — the sole [+definite] article which goes with a variety of English nouns: respectively preceding a [+singular count] noun, a [+singular group] noun, and a [+plural count] noun, the is equivalent to the zero article, các — the [+definite], [+plural count] article, and những — the [+indefinite], [+plural count] quantifier in Vietnamese. Both Vietnamese and English have generic sentences beginning with the zero article; but the zero article in Vietnamese is [+definite] while the zero article in English is always [+indefinite]. The zero article is also prominent because it witnesses the fact that universalism and uniqueness operate quite well in the two natural languages in question. The universal is shown by their generic sentences’ identical internal structure, which is the topic/subject noun phrase always beginning with a certain kind of article plus the frequent [+stative] verb in the comment/predicate verb phrase. The unique asserts that each of the two languages is beautiful in its own way and deserves the patience and understanding of any language user, native and non-native. Except for the existence of the Vietnamese classifier, the first type of generic sentences including only those beginning with an [+indefinite], [+singular] article, which is một in Vietnamese or a(n) in English, exemplifies the similarities between the two languages; their differences lie in the other two types. Interchangeability among the three types of generic sentences is determined by the characteristics of their subject/topic noun phrase or the meaning of their predicate/comment verb phrase.
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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