Vietnamese language

Vietnamese language is the national and official language of Vietnam, and it is the first language of the majority of the Vietnamese population, as well as a first or second language for country's ethnic minority groups.

History

The Vietnamese language has its origins in the Austroasiatic language family, with influences and borrowings from Chinese, French, and English. The language was first written using the Chữ Nôm script, a variant of Chinese characters, before transitioning to the Latin-based Quốc Ngữ script in the 20th century.

Phonology

Vietnamese is a tonal language, with six different tones that can change the meaning of a word. The language also has a complex system of vowels and consonants, with certain sounds found only in Vietnamese.

Grammar

Vietnamese grammar is relatively straightforward, with no grammatical gender and a flexible word order. The language uses classifiers to indicate the category of a noun.

Vocabulary

The Vietnamese vocabulary is a mix of native words, Chinese borrowings, and more recent borrowings from French and English. The language also has a rich system of idioms and proverbs.

Dialects

There are three main dialects of Vietnamese: Northern, Central, and Southern. These dialects differ mainly in pronunciation, and to a lesser extent, vocabulary.

Writing system

The Vietnamese writing system uses the Latin alphabet, known as Quốc Ngữ. This system was developed by Portuguese and Italian missionaries in the 17th century.

Learning Vietnamese

Vietnamese is considered a by the Foreign Service Institute due to its complex tonal system and unfamiliar sounds for English speakers. However, its simple grammar and lack of inflection make it easier to learn than many other Asian languages.

See also

• Vietnamese culture
• Vietnamese literature
• Vietnamese phonology
• Vietnamese grammar