1 2

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING The study has been completed at

UNIVERSITY OF DANANG the College of Foreign Languages, Danang University

NGUYỄN THỊ MINH THƯ Supervisor: HỒ THỊ KIỀU OANH, Ph.D.

Examiner 1: NGUYỄN TẤT THẮNG, Ph. D.

A CONTRASTIVE STUDY Examiner 2: NGŨ THIỆN HÙNG, Ph. D.

OF LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF IDIOMS
EXPRESSING DISTANCE IN ENGLISH VERSUS VIETNAMESE

The thesis was be orally defensed to the dissertation board

Field Study : THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Time : October 2012
Code : 60.22.15 Venue : Danang University

MASTER THESIS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

(SUMMARY)

The origin of the thesis is accessible of purpose of reference at:

- The College of Foreign Language Library, Danang University
Danang, 2012 - Danang University Information Resources Centre
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CHAPTER 1 agricultural culture may find it very difficult to grasp its true
INTRODUCTION meaning.
1.1. RATIONALE Nevertheless, a contrastive study of linguistic features of
Idiom is an expression the meaning of which cannot be idioms expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese has so far
inferred from the meaning of its parts [4]. Whether we are a not been dealt with. As a result, this thesis titled “A Contrastive
professional writer, a teacher or a student we often come across Study of Linguistic Features of Idioms Expressing Distance in
idioms because that is a natural manner of speaking to a native English versus Vietnamese” could be carried out in order to find out
speaker of a language. It is said that when learning a language, a the linguistic features of idioms expressing distance in English versus
person needs to learn the words in that language, and how and when Vietnamese.
to use them. However, it is not the same for learning idioms because 1.2. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
as mentioned in the above definition the meaning of idioms cannot be 1.3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
deduced from that of their components and their use is closely related 1.3.1. Aims
to the culture where it is originated. Let us take into consideration - Providing learners with a better insight into the semantic,
some idioms expressing distance in English and in Vietnamese; for syntactic and cultural features of idioms expressing distance in
example, when hearing and reading the idiom “live in the middle of English versus Vietnamese.
nowhere” [40] in English, Vietnamese learners of English cannot - Helping Vietnamese learners of English be aware of the
understand its true meaning : to live extremely far away from a place similarities and differences in the linguistic features of idioms
from the meaning of separate words. Another illustrating example in expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese.
Vietnamese could be found in “Bản án chế ñộ thực dân Pháp” by - Making it possible for learners of English and Vietnamese
Nguyễn Ái Quốc [36]. He wrote: “Người ta cấp cho người Âu những to use these idioms more effectively and naturally.
ñồn ñiền cò bay thẳng cánh nhiều khi quá 20.000 héc-ta mà những 1.3.2. Objectives
người Âu này thì ngoài cái bụng phệ và cái màu da trắng ra, không - Describe the semantic and syntactic features of idioms
có mảy may kiến thức gì về nông nghiệp và kĩ thuật”. “Cò” is a expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese.
popular kind of bird normally flying over Vietnamese farmers’ crop - Compare these linguistic features of these idioms in
fields. When using the idiom “cò bay thẳng cánh”, Vietnamese English versus Vietnamese.
people want to refer to a very large piece of cultivating land. English - Put forward some implications for better teaching and
native learners of Vietnamese lacking this knowledge of Vietnamese learning idioms in general and idioms expressing distance in English
and Vietnamese in particular.
 5 6

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Them”. Besides, in “Oxford Idioms Dictionary for Learners of
1. What are the semantic and syntactic features of idioms English” [47], there is a wide range of idioms, from expressions used
expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese? in business and newspapers to very up-to-date informal English and
2. What are the similarities and differences between these slang expressions.
idioms in terms of syntactic and semantic features? Concerning Vietnamese idioms, there have been a lot of
3. What are the cultural underlying reasons for these studies by various linguists such as “Từ ñiển thành ngữ tục ngữ Việt
similarities and differences in idioms expressing distance in – Anh tường giải” by Bùi Phụng [49], “Từ ñiển giải thích thành ngữ
English versus Vietnamese? tiếng Việt” by Nguyễn Như Ý [55], “Từ ñiển thành ngữ tục ngữ ca
1.5. SCOPE OF THE STUDY dao Việt Nam” by Việt Chương [27], “Từ ñiển thành ngữ Việt- Anh”
1.6. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY by Trần Phong Giao [29].
Chapter 1 - Introduction In addition, there have been so far some master theses in
Chapter 2 - Literature Review English on idioms carried out by many Vietnamese researchers.
Chapter 3 - Method and Procedures Nguyen Van Long has done researches into “Semantic Features of
Chapter 4 - Findings and Discussions English and Vietnamese Idiomatic Verb Phrases” [17] and
Chapter 5 - Conclusions and Implications “Linguistic Features of English and Vietnamese Idioms” [18].
Nguyen Thi Dieu Hao [13] focuses on the study of idioms containing
CHAPTER 2 color words in English and Vietnamese.Vo Thanh Quyen [21] makes
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL a contrastive analysis of idioms denoting Human Being in English
BACKGROUND and Vietnamese. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thu [24] studies “The
2.1. LITERATURE REVIEW Syntactic and Semantic Features of English and Vietnamese Idioms
In “Essential Idioms in English” [5], idioms are listed and Containing Verbs of Motion”. Moreover, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai [19]
have their meaning explained with illustrating examples. Palmer [20] investigates “The Syntactic and Semantic Features of Idioms
clearly states some restrictions in syntactic as well as semantic Denoting Causes and Results (English Versus Vietnamese)”.
features in idioms. In “An Introduction to Functional Grammar” [11] It could be seen that the linguistic features of idioms
by Halliday, there has been the explanation of structural grammar, expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese have not been so
the relationship between grammar and semantic, and especially in the far investigated.
light of Halliday’s view, idioms are regarded as a class of group. 2.2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Seidl and McMordie [26] write “English Idioms and How to Use 2.2.1. Definitions of Idioms
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2.2.2. Distinguishing Idioms from Other Language Units: CHAPTER 3

2.2.2.1. Idioms and Phrases METHOD AND PROCEDURE
2.2.2.2. Idioms and Collocations 3.1. RESEARCH METHODS
2.2.2.3. Idioms and Proverbs With the combination of the descriptive, contrastive method,
2.2.2.4. Idioms and Cliché qualitative and quantitative approach, the similarities and differences
2.2.3. Main Features of Idioms in syntax, semantics and cultural features of English and Vietnamese
2.2.3.1. Stability and Restriction in Structure Idioms Expressing Distance could be discovered.
2.2.3.2. Semantic Ambiguity 3.2. DATA COLLECTION METHODS
2.2.3.3. Symbolism The main materials used in the study are collected from the
2.2.3.4. Relationship between Idioms and Culture following major sources: the bilingual magazines, novels and short
2.2.3.5. Idioms Expressing Distance stories and literature books, the grammar books written by English
Spatial distance could be understood as the extent of space and Vietnamese linguists, the English – Vietnamese and Vietnamese
between two objects or places, the condition of being apart in space – English dictionaries, English journals, the Internet webpages.
or remoteness, a point or area that is far away or a stretch of space 3.3. RESEARCH PROCEDURE
without designation of limit The researcher could read and pick out Idioms Expressing
Temporal distance is the extent of time between two events Distance from the sources, finding typical examples in which they are
or an intervening period. used. We start working with them by analyzing and classifying them
Psychological distance is considered to be the most in order to meet the need of analysis. The collected data could be
complicated. It is the subjective distance between an actor and analyzed in terms of syntactic and semantic features. Finally, the
another in the actor’s psychological space such as the emotional researcher would compare syntactic and semantic features of Idioms
separateness or reserve, the amount of progress, the difference or Expressing Distance in English versus Vietnamese for similarities
disagreement. It partly involves the perceived differences and and differences based on their cultural underlying features. The
similarities in motivations, such as needs, sentiments, roles, attitudes, statistic data are dealt with by using Microsoft Excel. Last but not
interests, means, wants and goals. least, the researcher would suggest some possible ways of teaching,
Social distance is distance between different groups of learning and translating Idioms Expressing Distance in English and
society in terms of income, education, race, sex, occupation, wealth, Vietnamese.
power, prestige.
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CHAPTER 4 4.1.1.4. Symmetry

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION In the idioms expressing distance, symmetry is one of the
4.1. SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF IDIOMS most outstanding characteristics. For example, day after day; from
EXPRESSING DISTANCE IN ENGLISH VERSUS cover to cover; from door to door, cheek by jowl; deep cave and high
VIETNAMESE mountain; neck and neck; out of sight, out of mind.
4.1.1. Symbolic Characteristics of Idioms Expressing In Vietnamese, it could be found lots of idioms expressing
Distance in English Versus Vietnamese distance which contain this feature such as ñầu ghềnh cuối bãi; gần
4.1.1.1. Metaphor ñất xa trời; kẻ bắc người nam; trên bến dưới thuyền, nghĩ gần nghĩ
It is found that metaphor is mainly used in the meaning xa, trên răng dưới dái; cùng trời cuối ñất.
transfer of idioms. For example, như sao hôm, sao mai; lên voi xuống 4.1.2. Semantic Fields of Idioms Expressing Distance in
chó; con kiến mà kiện củ khoai; chia loan rẽ phượng; chàng ngưu ả English Versus Vietnamese
chức; etc. in Vietnamese or until/till kingdom come; many moons 4.1.2.1. Semantic and Syntactic Features of Idioms
ago; till/ until he cows come home; donkey’s years; on cloud nine; Expressing Spatial Distance in English versus Vietnamese
etc. in English. Table 4.1: Structure of Idioms Expressing Spatial Distance in
4.1.1.2. Metonymy English Versus Vietnamese
Here are some images that appear in the idioms expressing ENGLISH VIETNAMESE
distance in Vietnamese by the means of metonymy: có tai, có mặt; [1] (Article) +Adjective + Noun [1] Noun Phrase + Noun Phrase
cửa khổng sân trình; có máu mặt; chân ngoài dài hơn chân trong; [2] Noun + Preposition + Noun [2] Noun + Adjective + Noun +
chung chăn chung gối. Adjective
In English, people also use some idioms expressing distance [3] Article + Possessive [3] Verb + Adj + Verb + Adj
metonymically to convey meaning such as: have one foot in the [4]Noun/NounPhrase+Conjunc- [4] Verb + Noun + Verb + Noun
grave; in your heart of hearts; neck and neck; absence makes the tion + Noun / Noun Phrase
heart grow fonder; be off the map. [5] (Article) + Noun Phrase + [5] Adjective + Noun + Adjective
4.1.1.3. Simile Preposition + Adverb + Noun
Here are some idioms expressing distance that we can catch [6] Verb + Preposition + Noun [6] Adjective + Noun / Noun
sight of the method of simile: dài như sông, cao như núi, lên như Phrase Phrase+Verb+Noun/Noun Phrase
diều gặp gió, as long as your arm, as common as muck, as old as [7] Verb + Article + Noun [7] Adjective + Verb + Adjective
Adam, etc. + Verb
 11 12

[8] Verb + Noun + Preposition [8] Adjective + Prepositional [20] (Article) + Noun / Noun [15] Verb + Noun + Verb +
+ Adverb Phrase Phrase + Adverb Noun
[9] As + Adjective + As + Noun [9] Adv + Noun + Adv + Noun [21] Verb + conjunction + Verb [16] Verb Phrase + Verb Phrase
/ Noun Phrase / Clause [22] Adverb + conjunction + [17] Verb Phrase + Noun
[10] Preposition + Noun/Noun [10] Adverb Phrase + Adverb Adverb Phrase + (Verb Phrase + Noun
Phrase + (Preposition + Noun/ Phrase Phrase)
Noun Phrase) [23] Verb + Noun Phrase + [18] Adjective + Noun +
[11] Preposition+(Article) + [11] Subject + Predicator + Object Article + Noun / Noun Phrase (Adjective + Noun)
Noun / Noun Phrase + [24] Verb + Conjunction + Noun [19] Adjective Phrase +
(Preposition) Phrase Adjective Phrase
[12] Preposition + Adverb Ø [25] As + Adjective + As + [20] Adjective + Verb +
[13] Adv + Conjunction + Adv Ø (Article) + Noun Adjective + Verb
[14] Adverb + Adverb Ø [26] Adjective + conjunction + [21] Subject + Predicator +
[15] Adverb + (Adjective) + Ø Adjective Object
Preposition+ Noun/Noun Phrase [27] Preposition + Article + Ø
[16] Subject + Predicator Ø (Adjective) + Noun
[28] Preposition + (Article) + Ø
4.1.2.2. Semantic and Syntactic Features of Idioms Noun + Preposition + (Article)
Expressing Temporal Distance in English Versus Vietnamese + Noun
Table 4.2: Structure of Idioms Expressing Temporal Distance in [29] Preposition + (Article) + Ø
English Versus Vietnamese Noun + Adjective
ENGLISH VIETNAMESE [30] (Preposition) + Adverb + Ø
[17] Article + (Adjective) + Noun [12] Noun + Adjective + Noun Preposition
+ Adjective [31] Preposition + Clause Ø
[18] Noun+conjunction + Noun [13] Noun+Verb+Noun + Verb [32] Adverb + Clause Ø
[19] Article + Noun + [14] Noun Phrase + Noun [33] Subject + predicator Ø
Preposition+(Article) + Noun Phrase
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4.1.2.3. Semantic and Syntactic Features of Idioms Table 4.4: Structure of Idioms Expressing Social Distance in
Expressing Psychological Distance in English Versus English Versus Vietnamese
Vietnamese ENGLISH VIETNAMESE
Table 4.3: Structure of Idioms Expressing Psychological Distance [43] Noun + Conjunction + [31]Noun+Adjective+Noun+Adjective
in English Versus Vietnamese Noun
ENGLISH VIETNAMESE [44]Adjective + Noun [32] Noun + Verb + Noun + Verb
[34] Article + Adjective + Noun [22] Noun / Noun Phrase + Verb / [45] Article + Adjective + [33] Noun Phrase + Noun Phrase
+ (Preposition) Verb Phrase + Noun / Noun
Noun
Phrase + Verb / Verb Phrase
[46] Noun Phrase + [34] Noun + Prepositional Phrase
[35] Verb + Article + Adjective [23] Noun Phrase + Noun Phrase
Preposition + Noun Phrase
+ Noun
[36] Verb + Noun + Preposition [24] Noun Phrase + Adjective + [47] Verb + Prepositional + [35] Verb + Noun + Verb + Noun
Noun Phrase Article + Noun
[37] Verb + Adverb [25] Verb + Noun + Verb + Noun [48] Verb + Noun Phrase [36] Verb + Adverb + Verb + Adverb
[38] Verb + Adjective [26] Verb + Adj + Verb + Adj [49] Verb + Adverb [37] Adjective + Noun + Adjective +
[39] Adjective Phrase + [27] Verb + Prepositional Phrase Noun
Preposition + Noun
[50] Adjective + [38] Subject + Predicator + Object
[40] Preposition + (Article) + [28] Adjective + Noun +
Conjunction + Adjective
Noun / Noun Phrase Adjective + Noun
[51] As + Adjective + As + Ø
[41] Adverb + Noun Phrase [29] Adv + Verb + Adv + Verb
Noun
[42] Subject + Predicator + [30] Subject + Predicator + Object
Complement [52] Preposition + Noun / Ø
Noun Phrase + Preposition
4.1.2.4. Semantic and Syntactic Features of Idioms + Noun / Noun Phrase
Expressing Social Distance in English Versus Vietnamese
 15 16

Table 4.6: A Statistic Summary of Syntactic Features of Idioms Table 4.7: Frequency of Semantic Fields of Idioms Expressing
Expressing Distance in English Versus Vietnamese Distance in English versus Vietnamese
Idioms Expressing Distance in English Vietnamese Idioms Expressing Distance English Vietnamese
English versus Vietnamese Number Percent Number Percent in English versus Vietnamese Number Percent Number Percent
Noun Phrases 47 23.5% 72 36% 1 Spatial Distance 57 28.5% 70 35%

Semantic Fields
Verb Phrases 50 25% 63 31.5% Temporal
2 72 36% 38 19%
Adjective Distance
Syntactical Analysis

10 5% 45 22.5%
Phrase Phrases Psychological
3 45 22.5% 60 30%
Structures Prepositional Distance
73 36.5% 0 0%
Phrases 4 Social Distance 26 13% 32 16%
Adverbial Total Number 200 100% 200 100%
13 6.5% 9 4.5%
Phrases
Clause Simple Table 4.7 represents the predominant use of idioms
7 3.5% 11 5.5%
Structures Patterns expressing spatial distance in Vietnamese: 35%. Meanwhile, English
Total 200 100% 200 100% idioms contributing to this field account for 28.5%. However,
The percentage shows that Vietnamese people tend to use English idioms expressing temporal distance rank the first with 36%
more idioms in noun phrases than English ones: 36% versus 23.5%. versus 19% in Vietnamese ones. Vietnamese idioms expressing
Also, Vietnamese people use more verb phrases: 31.5% versus 25%. psychological distance are employed more frequency than in English
There is total of 45 idioms in form of adjective phrases in ones with the proportion of 30% in Vietnamese in comparison with
Vietnamese, accounting for 22.5%. Meanwhile, English idioms 22.5% in English. The analysis of the data in English and Vietnamese
contributing to this field are only 10 idioms, accounting for 5%. Of idioms expressing social distance gains the fewest instances of
all the structures investigated, there is the special unequality in the idioms, accounting for respectively 13% and 16%.
proportion of prepositional phrases between Vietnamese and English 4.2. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN SYNTACTIC
idioms: 0% versus 36.5%. Adverb phrases in Vietnamese versus AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF IDIOMS EXPRESSING
English respectively account for 4.5% and 6.5%, and sentences are DISTANCE IN ENGLISH VERSUS VIETNAMESE
5.5% and 3.5%. 4.2.1. Similarities and Differences in Syntactic Features of
Idioms Expressing Distance in English Versus Vietnamese
 17 18

4.2.1.1. Similarities table 4.5, we can find 52 patterns in all semantic fields whereas there
We could find out that both English and Vietnamese idioms are only 39 patterns in Vietnamese.
expressing distance are formed in certain groups of structures namely In term of parallel constructions, we can see that Vietnamese
noun phrases, verb phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases and idioms expressing distance are more numerous. They could be Noun
sentences. Among these structures, verb phrases and noun phrases are + Adjective + Noun + Adjective, Verb + Adj + Verb + Adj, Verb +
predominant with 48.5% in English and 67.5% in Vietnamese. It is Noun + Verb + Noun, Adjective + Noun + Adjective + Noun, Adv +
easily understandable because noun and verb are two basic parts of Noun + Adv + Noun, etc. We can take the philosophy of dualisme in
speech in English and Vietnamese word system. They account for a Vietnamese people’s thinking to explain this phenomenon.
large number in word system and are used with high frequency in Vietnamese people believe that there are always two opposite
daily life because they go with daily activities, status or feeling of principles in everything for example good and evil, Yin and Yang,
human beings, things surrounding people. And idiom which has a father and mother, sky and earth.
long history of formation and development is one of the most 4.2.2. Similarities and Differences in Semantic Features of
important parts in word power of a language. Therefore, these Idioms Expressing Distance in English Versus Vietnamese
numbers are indispensable. 4.2.2.1. Similarities
Apart from that, English and Vietnamese also have idioms in Four common rhetorical devices used in both English and
form of clauses. The constituents of the clauses could be subject, Vietnamese Idioms Expressing Distance are metaphor, metonymy,
predicator, object or complement. simile and symmetry. Let us take some typical examples to clarify
4.2.1.2. Differences this point. By using the idiom lên voi xuống chó, Vietnamese people
Prepositional phrases in English rank the first position with do not want to mention to any actions of getting on or getting off an
73 idioms, accounting for 36.5% whereas among Vietnamese idioms elephant or a dog. However, with the images of elephant which is
investigated, there are no cases of idioms in form of this aspect. The symbol of richness and power and dog which stands for poverty and
large number of prepositions found in English in comparison with misery, Vietnamese people want to talk about the unexpectedly
Vietnamese can explain this phenomenon. Besides, English changes of social status of a person. The same case could be found in
prepositions themselves can also express the distance for example the idiom go to the dogs in English idiom. In the two above
off, from, to, in, on, up to, away, apart, until, etc. examples, we can see that the method of metaphor is used effectively
In addition, there are a variety of patterns in English idioms to express social distance in both idioms.
expressing distance in comparison with Vietnamese ones. From the To demonstrate for the method of metonymy, we could take
the idioms neck and neck, bằng vai ngang vế as some examples. By
 19 20

using the parts of boby such as neck, shoulders and thigh, nghé, etc. British people, in contrast, they focus on the industry and
Vietnamese and English people share the same view point of equal they belong to the nomadic culture, so this point has been shown in
position in society. the idioms such as the top of the ladder, big guns, from pillar to
Let look at the examples cao như núi and as old as the hills post, etc.
to see the common comparative image used in both languages in the From the cultural origin of Normadic Shepherd, we can see
method of simile. that English idioms also show the analytical thinking in British
In both languages, we can catch sight of the symmetry that appears a people’s perception and behavior. This point is conveyed in the
lot especially in Vietnamese idiom for example from ear to ear, idioms from A to Z, man and boy, here today and gone
cùng trời cuối ñất. tomorrow, come and go, etc. Meanwhile, with the characteristics of
One more clear similarity we could find in English and agricultural culture, Vietnamese life depends too much on the nature,
Vietnamese Idioms Expressing Distance is that both languages share so Vietnamese people highly appreciate life experience, Yin and
the same semantic fields relating to spatial distance, temporal Yang philosophy and sentiment of people in life. Here are some
distance, psychological distance and social distance. Among them, idioms expressing this trait of culture: con cháu khôn hơn ông vải,
spatial distance accounts for the highest frequency (28.5% in English cùng trời cuối ñất, chắp cánh liền cành, không lo xa ắt buồn gần,
and 35% in Vietnamese) and social distance ranks the last position ñêm ngắn tình dài, etc.
with the lowest frequency (13% in English and 16% in Vietnamese) Thirdly, each country also differs in the value they place on
in both languages. individualism or collectivism. Belonging to the collectivism culture,
Last but not least, we could find that some Vietnamese and Vietnamese idioms put an emphasis on the close connection or
English Idioms Expressing Distance can convey more than one distance of people in a neighborhood or in a village, the solidarity of
semantic field. For example, the idiom ñồng sàn dị mộng could people in a nation such as ñầu làng cuối xóm, kề vai sát cánh,
belong to spatial distance or psychological distance, from rags to trong nhà chưa tỏ ngoài ngõ ñã tường, etc. Among the English
riches could belong to psychological distance or social distance. Idioms Expressing Distance, we find out that there seem no cases
4.2.2.2. Differences containing the same above characteristics. However, we can see the
Firstly, Vietnamese culture belongs to the wet-rice culture, so idioms showing the individualism culture such as neck and neck,
their life is deeply embedded to the agriculture, the nature, the paddy rise from the ashes, a running battle, etc.
field or the cattle. In 200 Vietnamese data that have been found to Last but not least, the history of one thousand years under the
express the distance, we can easily catch sight of these images cò bay domination of China also reflected in Vietnamese Idioms Expressing
thẳng cánh, cứt trâu ñể lâu hóa bùn, dài như sông, chia ñàn sẻ Distance. The evidence is that there are a lot of Chinese –
 21 22

Vietnamese idioms appearing in the four semantic fields of Idioms following chapter. Chapter 3 is the description of the methods and
Expressing Distance such as thâm căn cố ñế, kính nhi viễn chi, procedures of the paper. In chapter 4, the findings and discussion of
ñồng sàn dị mộng, cố quốc tha hương, etc. Besides, religion also the research are presented to point out the syntactic and semantic
has a great impact on the way people think, the way they live, which features of idioms expressing distance in English versus Vietnamese.
is reflected in the language they use. In Western country, most are Here are the results withdrawn from the thesis after a long
Christians, so we can find some idioms which have origin of the time working with this study.
Bible. Let us take the idiom as old as Adam as an example. In Syntactically, idioms analyzed are under the phrasal
contrast, Buddhism has a greatest influence on Vietnamese people. structures and sentence structures. The phrasal structures are
Here is a culturally loaded idiom expressing distance in Vietnamese categorized into noun phrases, verb phrases, adjective phrases,
gần chùa gọi bụt bằng anh. prepositional phrases, adverb phrases and sentence structures in
4.3. CONCLUDING REMARKS English. Similarly, Vietnamese idioms are in the structures of noun
phrases, verb phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases and sentence
CHAPTER 5 structures
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Semantically, all the collected idioms express their meaning
5.1. CONCLUSIONS through the rhetorical devices such as metaphor, metonymy and
So far, this thesis has already investigated the syntactic and symmetry. Besides, idioms expressing distance in two languages are
semantic features of idioms expressing distance. 400 idioms of this all presented in the four semantic fields such as spatial distance,
kind are collected, classified and analyzed on the base of a temporal distance, psychological distance and social distance. The
contrastive analysis to find out the similarities and differences in semantic fields have been then investigated in the combination with
syntactic and semantic features of the idioms expressing distance in the superficial grammatical structure examples. Finally, the
English versus Vietnamese. Let us summarize all the points presented similarities and differences in syntactic and semantic features of the
in the thesis until now. idioms expressing distance have been pointed out.
Chapter 1 states the rationale of the study and presents what Chapter 5 gives some suggestions about how to teach, learn
the study is aimed at. The research questions, scope of the study and and use idioms expressing distance better for the Vietnamese teachers
organization of the study are also mentioned in this chapter. Chapter as well as learners.
2 comes up with a review of the related previous studies, the 5.2. IMPLICATIONS FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING,
fundamental and essential theoretical background to serve as the LEARNING AND TRANSLATING
basis foundation of data analysis and finding discussion in the
 23 24

5.2.1. Implications for Teaching and Learning Idioms such as metaphor, metonymy, symmetry to be able to recognize these
Expressing Distance features when dealing with idioms.
For teachers, firstly, they should introduce idioms to learners Secondly, learning how to make comparison between idioms
in context, point out the literal meaning and figurative meanings of in target language and idioms in mother tongue is important because
the idioms. To decode the idioms, these steps are indispensable this step can help them to remember the idioms longer and use them
because there are some idioms we can get their meaning when more effectively.
looking at their separate words; however, most of idioms are opaque Thirdly, it is necessary for learners to enrich the cultural
in meaning. This can lead to the result that learners could misuse the knowledge in both target language and mother tongue. Because this
idioms carrying figurative meaning. is an important key for learners to distinguish and recognize the
Secondly, in the process of teaching a language, it is very underlying meaning of the idioms.
important for teachers to combine the introduction of American Last but not least, it is said that “practice makes perfect”, so
culture, British culture and Vietnamese culture in order to provide reading books and newspapers, watching films, visiting some
learners with very basic background knowledge to make comparison websites about idioms, communicating with native speakers are the
between two languages. From that, it is easier for them to understand ways to perfect the source of idioms.
the similarities and differences in the use of the idioms in two 5.2.2. Implications for Translating Idioms Expressing
languages. Distance in English and Vietnamese
Thirdly, teachers should encourage production of idioms 5.2.2.1. Literal Translation
through conversations and discourses. It means that they should Literal translation or directed translation, is the rendering of
apply their teaching methods to force learners to put the idioms text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than
studied into practice. For example, to explain idioms in lesson and conveying the sense of the original. In translation studies, "literal
make the lesson more interesting and easier to understand, teachers translation" denotes technical translation of scientific, technical,
should use various activities to attract and arouse the students’ technological or legal texts. In other word, a literal translation is a
interest such as the games (crosswords, find someone who…, who’s translation that follows closely the form of the source language.
the millionaire?, hangman, matching,…), songs, vivid pictures with Many Idioms Expressing Distance could be translated in the literal
some explanation, group discussion. way, for instance day after day, deep cave and high mountain, a
For learners, first of all, they should equip themselves with running battle, etc. For this type of translation, the original form and
general knowledge of grammatical structures and rhetorical devices images of idioms are unchangeable and there is no confusion in
meaning. For example, the idiom “deep cave and high mountain”
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could be literally translated into “hang sâu núi cả”. It is a preferred paraphrasing, analogies, etc. Translators should also be aware that
version of translation because it fulfills the function of meaning is not only conveyed by words. Hence adequate decoding
communicative translation yet retains the original flavour of the and re-coding of idioms is a matter that must be properly considered.
source proverb. 5.3. LIMITATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER
5.2.2.2. Figurative Translation RESEARCH
Firstly, there is comprehension and interpretation of texts Firstly, this paper cannot cover all constructions as well as all
which implies the management of the approach principles to various meanings of idioms expressing distance under discussion due to the
types of texts, considering the textual, referential, cohesion and limitation of time and reference materials relating to the topic in both
naturalness levels. This competence includes reading comprehension English and Vietnamese.
and message interpretation (encoding and decoding). Secondly, the deficiency in the origin of idioms expressing
Secondly, re-wording is also important. It means the distance and the lack of a very profound knowledge relating to
application of the various strategies for the restitution process of the cultural aspect are also some constraints to accomplish the thesis with
message (re-coding) by choosing the appropriate method(s), a satisfactory depth as it should.
techniques and procedures. Among the most frequently used It is obvious that several aspects of the matter need to be
procedures for the restoration of ideas contained in a translation unit, studied further. And here are some suggestions for those who pay
a translator may resort to transfer cultural or functional equivalent, more attention to the English and Vietnamese idioms expressing
synonymy, transposition, modulation, compensation, reduction and distance.
expansion or amplification. For this purpose, it is also indispensable - A Contrastive Study of Linguistic Features of Proverbs
to make effective use of different types of documentation: Parallel Expressing Distance in English Versus Vietnamese
texts, monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, encyclopedias, term - An Investigation into Pragmatic and Cultural Aspects of
data base, informants and other sources. English and Vietnamese Idioms Expressing Distance
Thirdly, translators should be aware of the fact that incorrect
comprehension of a text considerably decreases the quality of the
translation. Finding solutions to dilemmas is necessary in the work of
the translator. This includes translating problems such as linguistic or
cultural “untranslatability”, being able to manage losses and gains,
solutions to lexical ambiguity, etc., through various mechanisms such
as compensation, loans, explanatory notes, adaption, equivalence,