A STUDY ON THE USAGE OF HYPERBOLE IN DAILY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE

Hyperbole is a commonly used figure of speech in both English and Vietnamese. Currently, studies on hyperbole in these both languages are just limited to the scale of that own language (merely focus on only Vietnamese or only on English). There are plenty of researches available concerntrating on the literature of two languages. However, an investigation on how hyperbole is used in practical interaction between English and Vietnamese (specifically in daily communication) hasn’t been done yet. For that reason, this study is carried out to solve that problematic issue in order to give readers a general constrastive analysis on hyperbole in two languages. The definition, functions and the syntax aspect of hyperbole in each language will be presented in this study. These aspects are the fundamental theories for constrastive analyzing on the similarities and the differences of hyperbole in between English and Vietnamese. In the latter parts of the study, some results and recommendation will be concluded. The results are the outcome of constrastive analysis from basic knowledge as stated above. Some implications will be given in the recommendation chapter and they will mainly focus on how hyperbole is used in communication and education. It is hoped that this thesis would give readers an easy-to-understand brief view on hyperbole in English and Vietnamese. Lastly, I hope it will offer useful knowledge for your understandings in further researches regarding hyperbole (if there is any), especially bilingual speakers of two languages (English and Vietnamese)

TÂY NGUYÊN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES STUDIES

-GRADUATION THESIS

TITLE: A STUDY ON THE USAGE OF HYPERBOLE

IN DAILY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLISH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Above all, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my supervisor Mrs.

Hoang Thi Xuan – M.A, who has given me a lot of suggestions on the topics of mythesis and who has given me many ideas and corrections on my outline as well as

my thesis during the time I was conducting it

I am also grateful to the Teachers of Faculty of Foreign Languages Studies atTay Nguyen University, who have given me useful lessons and experience for thefour years I have been in the university They are the ones who gave me the basicbackground as well as knowledge of the specific fields so that I am able to carry outthe research

I also want to send my best gratitude to my family and my friends who havesupported me and given me help whenever I need so that I can complete myresearch

Buon Ma Thuot, June 6 th 2015

Student

Lê Ngọc Nguyên Chính

1.4 Outline of the study 8

2.1 Primary meanings and secondary meanings 10

2.2 Figures of speech 10 2.3 Hyperbole 12 2.3.1 Hyperbole in English 13

2.3.1.1 Definition 13 2.3.1.2 Functions of hyperbole 14 2.3.1.2.1 Hyperbole is used to insult 14 2.3.1.2.2 Hyperbole is used to boast 15 2.3.1.2.3 Hyperbole is used as a rhetorical device 16 2.3.1.3 The syntax aspect of hyperbole 17

2.3.2 Hyperbole in Vietnamese 18

2.3.2.1 Definition 18 2.3.2.2 Functions of hyperbole 19 2.3.2.2.1 Hyperbole is used to insult 20 2.3.2.2.2 Hyperbole is used to boast 21 2.3.2.2.3 Hyperbole is used as a rhetorical device 21 2.3.2.3 The syntax aspect of hyperbole 23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 26

3.1 Subjects of the study 26 3.2 Scope of the study 26 3.3 Research questions 26 3.4 Research methods 26 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 28 4.1 Some hyperbolic words and phrases in English and Vietnamese daily conversations 28

4.2 Similarities between English and Vietnamese hyperbole in daily

conversations 28

4.2.1 In terms of concept 28 4.2.2 In terms of functions 28 4.2.3 In terms of the syntax aspect 29 4.2.3.1 Using adjectives to express hyperbole 29 4.2.3.2 Using figures to express hyperbole 30 4.2.3.3 Using comparative structures to express hyperbole 31

4.2.4 In terms of the usage 33 4.3 Differences between English and Vietnamese hyperbole in daily

conversations 34

4.3.1 In terms of concept 34 4.3.2 In terms of functions 34 4.3.3 In terms of the syntax aspect 35

4.3.4 In terms of usage 36

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 38

5.1 Conclusions 38

5.2 Recommendations 38

APPENDIX 43

be presented in this study These aspects are the fundamental theories forconstrastive analyzing on the similarities and the differences of hyperbole inbetween English and Vietnamese In the latter parts of the study, some results andrecommendation will be concluded The results are the outcome of constrastiveanalysis from basic knowledge as stated above Some implications will be given inthe recommendation chapter and they will mainly focus on how hyperbole is used incommunication and education It is hoped that this thesis would give readers aneasy-to-understand brief view on hyperbole in English and Vietnamese Lastly, Ihope it will offer useful knowledge for your understandings in further researchesregarding hyperbole (if there is any), especially bilingual speakers of two languages(English and Vietnamese)

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

This chapter gives the statement of the problem, the objectives, thesignificance, and the outline of the study

1.1 Statement of the problem

English is spoken widely in many parts of the world nowadays, and without doubt itplays a significant part in international communication In any language, it isnoticeable that the language itself does not exist with only the lexical items – asingle word, a part of word, a chain of words and some fundamental grammaticalrules Language phenomenon appears throughout the development of language, forthis reason the study of semantics, morphology, syntax, phonology and otherdepartments of linguistics are carried out When a speaker of any language utters, it

is necessary to understand the meaning To that end, semantics, a branch oflinguistics that studies the meaning of language has been founded

There are three main aspects in semantics: lexical meaning, sentence meaning andutterance meaning [Lyons, 1995: 33] The study of lexical meaning (or as known asword meaning) in semantics points out the meaning of words when they arestanding on their own This may concern many aspects: semantic features, lexicalgaps, figures of speech, etc Many people may concern and query what figures ofspeech are Figures of speech relate to the ways of speaking in languages For anative speaker of a language, it is crucial to master the language by using differentways of speaking A figure of speech is a word or a phrase of which the meaning isnot literally conveyed for unusual purposes [To Minh Thanh, 2007:36] Simile,metaphor, metonymy, personification, litotes, irony, hyperboles are some commonfigures of speech that can be found in semantics Particularly, hyperbole is thefigure speech that is mostly used in daily communication in any languages.Hyperbole is the act of delivering an exaggeration to emphasize some certainmeanings by the speaker In both English and Vietnamese, two languages withdifferent characteristics, hyperbole is found in many daily conversations In terms ofcultural diversity in English speaking countries and Vietnam, the ways of givingexaggeration may or may not differ in context As a speaker of both languages, iturges me to seek for answers of the usage of hyperbole in both languages,

specifically here is in daily communication For that reason, the study with the title

“A Study on the Usage of Hyperbole in Daily Communication between English and Vietnamese” is conducted

1.2 Objectives

The study aims:

- To list some words, phrases or structures related to hyperbole that are used indaily conversations in both language English and Vietnamese

- To point out the similarities and differences in the usage of hyperbole used inEnglish and Vietnamese in daily conversations in terms of cultural diversity,semantics and syntax

- To propose some implications in mastering the use of hyperbole in Englishfor Vietnamese speakers when engaging in a conversation

1.3 Significance of the study

The outcome of the study points out the usage of hyperbole in two differentlanguages: English and Vietnamese; as well as the similarities and dissimilarities.This study may help bilingual speakers (English and Vietnamese) master the wayhyperbole is used in their expression Moreover, it also gives people a perspective

of hyperbole in terms of cultural and linguistic aspects

1.4 Outline of the study

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides the statement of the problem, the objectives, thesignificance and the outline of the study

Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter gives theoretical background brief of semantics, its subdivisionand hyperbole in particular

Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the subject of the study, the scope, the content and theresearch method of the study

Chapter 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the usage of hyperbole used in English andVietnamese: similarities and dissimilarities

Chapter 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter gives conclusions of the study and suggests recommendations

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter gives theoretical background brief of semantics and itssubdivision An overview of hyperbole is given in the chapter to illustrate someproblematic issues that lead to the reason for the study

2.1 Primary meanings and secondary meanings

It’s common sense that understanding meaning of a word is concerned in alanguage According to To Minh Thanh [2007:34], lexical items (or words) in alanguage may have primary and secondary meanings

The primary meaning (also known as literal meaning) of a word is the first commonmeaning that it delivers to people of a language when it stands alone

The secondary meaning (also known as figurative meaning) of a word is the extrameaning in addiction to the primary meaning Moreover, the secondary meaning iscontextually depended The figurative meaning is used in order to create a speciallinguistic effect to the readers or speakers

For instance, the noun “wing” has some literal meanings in certain contexts:

- Part that projects from the side of a jet: the two wings of an airplane;

- A group of political party or other organization: the political wing of theIRA

How ever the noun “wing” may also have some figurative meaning in thesecontexts:

- We hope college life will help him to spread his wings a bit

“spread his wings” here mean “to help him do what he likes”

- Having a new child to take care of has clipped her wings a bit

“clipped her wings” here mean “stopped her from doing what she likes”

[Examples from To Minh Thanh, 2007:35 and Oxford Dictionary of English]

common figures of speech are: simile, metaphor, personification, metonymy, litotes,euphemism, hyperbole, etc

Simile is the way one thing is in compared to another thing For example: as brave

as lion, a face like a mask, etc… Simile is used to compare things directly or plainly

by using the a function word like “as” or “like”:

- My hands are as cold as ice (My hands are really cold)

- Tom eats like a horse (Tom eats like a horse)

[Examples from To Minh Thanh , 2007:36]

Metaphor is the way something is conveyed differently from the literal meaning by

using a word

- She has a heart of stone (She is a heartless and insensitive person)

[Example from To Minh Thanh, 2007:37]heart is an organic part of human body made of biological cells whereas stone ismade of solid rock so a heart can never be made of stone By using “stone” todescribe the characteristic of the heart, readers can have an abstract conception ofthe man in the sentence

Personification is a special effect to humanize unconscious objects or living

animals:

- The ocean danced in the moonlight

it’s quite illogical to find that “the ocean” can “dance” in this example “Ocean” is anatural phenomenon and does not have any body parts such as eyes, mouths, etc…like human beings in order to dance In this case the ocean was personified

[Example from

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-personification.html]

Metonymy is the replacement of the name of one thing by that of another thing to

which it related:

- He succeeded to the crown (“the crown” is equal to “the royal office”)

[Example from To Minh Thanh, 2007:39]

Litotes is the use of tenderer or gentler statement to state something:

- I am afraid that no passenger is allowed to smoke in here (Nobody cansmoke here)

Commonly, an expression of litotes is an “ironical understatement, especially using

a negative to emphasize the contrary.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 527]

- It’s not bad (= It is fine.)

- It wasn’t easy (= It was very difficult.)

[Examples from To Minh Thanh, 2007:45]

Euphemism is the way words are used to avoid indecency, impoliteness or

offensiveness when expressing something:

- He passed a way = He died

- Restroom = WC

Hyperbole is a “exaggerated statement that is made for special effect and is not

meant to be taken literally.” [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 446]

- I haven’t seen you for ages = I haven’t seen you for a long time

[Example from Claridge, 2011:15]

Hyperbole has the opposite functions with understatement (also known as Litotes)

in English Hyperbole intensifies the meaning of a statement whereasunderstatement weakens a saying They both share ironical effects in certaincircumstances

[http://literarydevices.net/understatement/]For instance:

- It wasn’t easy (ironical understatement that means “It was so difficult”)

- I owe you a thousand thanks (ironical exaggeration that mean “I owe you alot”)

[Example from To Minh Thanh, 2007:45]

In certain circumstances in daily communication, hyperbole may exist in the form

of “simile” as there are many comparative structures using conjunction (like “as” or

“như”) For instance: “as clear as crystal”, “as gentle as a lamb”, “as light as afeather”, “im như thóc”, “hiền như bụt”, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

2.3 Hyperbole

On the previous section, we have a basic glance through hyperbole This part willpresent specifically the details of hyperbole in certain languages; particularly here ishyperbole in English and Vietnamese In daily conversations, sometimes there’s aneed for linguistic effects to make the information exchanges more efficient in

terms of convincing and humoring people or showing one’s own attitudes Figures

of speech such as simile, litotes, personification, hyperbole, metaphor, euphemism,etc…as stated above are forms of linguistic effects in languages and they’re exactlythe devices we need to bring these effects to daily conversations Particularly,hyperbole seems to be one of the devices that have a high rate of usage frequency.According to Claridge, there is one English hyperbole expression every 4 minutes inScotland Vietnamese people also use hyperbole repeatedly in daily routine Inaddition, this can also be widely found in many TV reality shows in Vietnam like

“Hoi xoay dap xoay” or comedy programs such as “On gioi cau day roi”, “Chetcuoi”, etc.… by VTV3 Hyperbole has many functions that boost the attraction ofconversations in languages and clearly favored by speakers around the worldespecially for presenters, politicians, comedians, etc… Furthermore, it’s necessary

to acknowledge the usage of hyperbole for implication in teaching students in order

to avoid unpleasant situations as hyperbole can be used for the purpose of

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines that hyperbole is “exaggeratedstatements or claims not meant to be taken literally.”

Here are a few examples of English hyperbole:

- I’ve invited millions of (= a lot of) people to my party

- She sheds floods of tears (= cries a lot) whenever she is upset

[Examples from To Minh Thanh, 2007:45]

In the examples above, hyperbole words are used to express something that isbeyond the reality: it’s rare for a person to hold a party with millions of guests andnobody can cry like loads of floods

2.3.1.2 Functions of hyperbole

In English, hyperbole is commonly used to amplify a point made by speakers in ahumorous way or to show satire (irony, sarcasm) in writings or speeches Whenusing hyperbole there’s a lie inside the hyperbolic word but the meaning of thewhole hyperbolical sentence is still based on certain truth Let’s consider thisconversation:

Norrine: That’s Edward Fox on the radio

Chris: Aaargh Brushing past the plant and it fell over, that’s all.

Susan: This place is turning into a jungle.

[Claridge, 2011:8]

in this conversation “jungle” is a lie because it’s common knowledge that a “jungle”

is an area of land with forests and living wildlife However, in this circumstance, thespeakers are in a radio studio so the whole meaning of the sentence “this place isturning into a jungle” is overstated because a studio cannot turn into a jungle as itdoesn’t’ have forests and animals

2.3.1.2.1 Hyperbole is used to insult

In conversations, there’s always a need to show anger or displeased attitudes ofspeakers In such cases, hyperbole is used to deliver the messages between speakers.Here are a few examples in English (bold words are exaggerated words):

 your mother is so old she got spider webs under her arms

 so old, she took her driving test on a dinosaur

 so skinny she could split through a needle’s eye

 so small, you play hide-and-go-seek, y’all c’slip under a penny

[Claridge, 2011:159]

Considering the first example, we normally see “spider webs” on the ceiling of ahouse Nevertheless, in this case, a mother got “spider webs” under her arms andthis statement is completely unrealistic and exaggerated because a spider cannot live

or produce any webs on human bodies “Spider webs” usually attracts people to thethought of a place, which is dirty By using this expression, the speaker obviouslycarried out an insulting attitude toward the opposite speaker In the next example,the adjective “old” is attached with the image of a woman “taking her driving test

on a dinosaur” seem unusual because naturally dinosaur had been extinct millions

of year ago Additionally, everyone drives kinds of vehicle like a car, a truck, etc…

No one would drive an animal, only ride By uttering in this way, the speakerclearly expresses an annoyed attitude toward the woman

2.3.1.2.2 Hyperbole is used to boast

Speakers of a language in conversations sometimes make boast of their words toexpress their pride or show the narcissistic personality These are some illustrationsfound in a English conversation:

S1: I am the poisonous mushroom that makes the fearless vomit

S2: As for me, I am the ravenous cock, the poison does not matter to me S1: Behave yourself, little boy, or you will burn your foot, for I am the red- hot cinder.

S2: But me, I am the rain that extinguishes the cinder; I am the boisterous torrent that will carry you off.

S1: I am the mighty silk-cotton tree that looks from on high on the tops of

other trees.

S2: And I, I am the strangling creeper that climbs to the top of the forest giant.

[Claridge, 2011: 160]S1 and S2 in this conversation show off their abilities, which are out of this world

In the first sentence of the conversation, S1 says that S1 is a “poisonous mushroom”that makes the “fearless vomit” This makes no sense at all because a person cannot

be a mushroom and in fact no mushroom in this world can make “fearless” (anabstract concept) vomit Following this, S2 is up against S1 by considering himself

a “ravenous cock” (a hungry chicken) that is not afraid of that mushroom Next inthe conversation, S1 boasts to be a “red-hot cinder” (a burned coal or wood) thatcan hurt S2 Then S2 declares himself to be “the rain that extinguishes the cinder”which is unrealistic because “rain” is a phenomenon in nature Rain is water in theshape of drops falling down from the sky; no human being could turn into thisnatural form In addition, S2 also claims him as a “boisterous torrent” (a ruthlessriver stream) to stop S1 from being a “cinder” When S1 loses over S2 statements,her carries out a new image: “the mighty silk cotton tree” that is higher than anyother trees implying S2 is beneath Finally, S2 finishes the conversation by stating

that he is “the strangling creeper that climbs to the top of the forest giant” implyingthat he’s above S1 (creeper is a type of plant that grows anywhere it could andusually rise up other trees) For carrying out such overstatements, S1 and S2completely boast against each other

2.3.1.2.3 Hyperbole is used as a rhetorical device

Rhetoric is the art of persuasive in spoken or written language In general, there’salways a need for rhetoric so that speakers can succeed in reaching their goals whentheir speeches or writings are carried out, particular for presenters, politicians, poets

or educators, etc.…

- In persuasion:

For English speakers like politicians and government officers like presidents,senators, and speaker of the House, etc.… there is always a need for rhetoric inorder to convince people better and hyperbole is found to be used commonly Hereare some English speeches that contained exaggerated statements:

 I think I see the incurable Difficulties of the Landed Men, fettered under the Golden Chain of Equivalents, their pretty Daughters petitioning for want of Husbands, and their Sons for want of Employments.

 I think I see our Mariners delivering up their Ships to their Dutch Partners; and what through Presses and Necessity, earning their Bread

as Underlings in the Royal English Navy.

[Claridge, 2011:221]Politicians who gave these speeches in these cases obviously could not see all thethings in their speeches happen in real life because they have to run the countriesmeanwhile the citizens and the soldiers were far away from the politicians doingtheir jobs For that reason, politicians were not really there to witness all of thosepeople so what the politicians said is just an exaggeration The way they gave thesespeeches is just to earn the endorsements from people and make the speeches moreinspirational

- In humor

For most presenters running a seminar, perhaps humor is also a needed factor to help making the presentation effective, less boring and entertaining as well Like presenters, politicians and other people also have the need for humors in not only

speeches but also routine conversations Hyperbole is one of the forms that could deliver humor into speeches and conversations This is an illustration in English:

“But of all the things I remember, I don't have a clue who the commencement speaker was that evening, and I certainly don't remember anything they said So,

acknowledging that fact, if I can't make this commencement speech memorable, I will at least try to make it short.”

[University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H.

McRaven]

In his mind, of course the admiral knew that he would deliver a memorable speech;

he just exaggerated to make all the students laughed at the commencement address.It’s common knowledge that many commencement speeches in ceremonies likegraduation, wedding, etc.… are rather long than short By making suchexaggeration like this, his speech was more fascinating and entertaining

2.3.1.3 The syntax aspect of hyperbole

In English, there are several ways to express hyperbole:

- Using nouns and noun phrases: Hyperbole can be expressed by using nouns

and noun phrases such as: “a cut-throat price”, “a disaster area”, “a fate worsethan death”, “a gift from the gods”, “a heart of gold”, “a knight in shiningarmour”, “a land fit for heroes to live in”, “a needle in a haystack”, “a prophet ofdoom”, “a split second”, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

 Such nouns and noun phrases maybe related to imaginary supernatural force:God, hell, Lucifer [Table 1 – Appendix]

 Nouns and noun phrases can be taken from familiar objects present in dailylife: dictionary, chimney, bone, skin, tea, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

 Animal – related nouns and noun phrases: cat, dog, mice, etc… [Table 1 –Appendix]

 Human body – related nouns and noun phrases: tongue, body, eyes, ears,etc [Table 1 – Appendix]

- Using adjective:

 Some adjectives such as awful, monstrous, dead, tremendous, etc.… are used

to describe an exaggeration

Example:

Mark: Yeah that would have been dead funny wouldn’t it?

Andy: head whack into that Yeah, literally dead funny.

Mark: Dead funny

[Claridge, 2011]

- Using expressions:

 A comparison maybe used as hyperbole:

o “This place is turning into a jungle.” [Claridge, 2011:8]

o “as cheap as dirt”, “as clear as crystal”, “as cold as ice”, “as hard assteel”, “as heavy as lead”, “as gentle as a lamb”, etc… [Table 1 –Appendix]

Example: “He is skinny as a tooth pick”

[http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-hyperboles.html]Using such comparisons have the characteristic of a common figure of speech

called “simile” In this case, “simile” is also “hyperbole” as stated previously

- Using a figure (a cardinal number or an abstract figure) is also a way of

exaggeration: “ten feet tall”, “like a ton of bricks”, “like a cat with nine lives”,

“in a minute”, “in a flash”, “in ten etc seconds flat”, “for ages (and ages)”, “far/miles away”, “feel / look like a million dollars”, etc.… [Table 1 – Appendix]

2.3.2.2 Functions of hyperbole

According to Nguyen Ngoc Kien, in Vietnamese, people usually exaggerate whenthere is the need for emphasizing the characteristics of a certain object.Exaggeration (or using hyperbole) here exists in two ways: intensifying or reducingthe image of the described object

The author Cu Dinh Tu [2007:204] believes that “khoa trương” – hyperbole is away that figure of speech intensifies the size of an object in compared to the regularnature of that object For that, the characteristic of that object is described Theauthor also emphasized that whenever using hyperbole or analyzing it, we do notonly stop at the “exaggerated statement” point because the intensification size of theexaggeration is just the means to express hyperbole It is necessary to point out thepurpose of that expression For that reason, khoa trương - hyperbole is not a lie orunrealistic truth but an unusual statement

However, in Dao Than’s opinion [1990:2], he supposes that “phóng đại” –hyperbole is to use words or expressions to increase the attributes of an object or aphenomenon to highlight the nature of that object or to create an astonishingimpression when it is described A hyperbole doesn’t make people believe theexaggerated statements within it but direct people convey what is implied in it

In “Phong cách học Tiếng Việt” by Dinh Trong Lac and Nguyen Thai Hoa[2006:174], it is said that “ngoa dụ” – hyperbole is the way that we intensify thesize, characteristics and degree of described phenomenon:

Đồn rằng bác mẹ anh hiền Cắn hạt cơm không vỡ, cắn đống tiền vỡ đôi.

the two authors also mention that hyperbole commonly is used in utterances withthe functions of giving expression For examples: rét như cắt ruột, vui nổ trời, quétsạch bong, ngon dễ sợ, đánh nhừ đòn, gầy trơ xưong, chết một cái, etc… Hyperbolecan be found also in folk songs, folk tales, proverbs, legend stories and satire, etc…Furthermore, it has strong influences in epigrams, romantic poems:

Ước gì sông hẹp một gang Bắc cầu dải yếm cho chàng sang chơi

[An epigrammatic Vietnamese folk song]

Đau lòng kẻ ở người đi

Lệ rơi thấm đá, tơ chia rũ tằm.

[A romantic poem by To Huu]

In the book “Phong cach hoc tieng Viet hien dai”, Huu Dat has different ideas about

“khoa trương” – hyperbole believing that it is a rhetorical technique that involvesexaggerating a certain truth or understating a fact to describe a phenomenon with asatirical purpose or optimistic hope In contrast to other authors, hyperbole in HuuDat’s point of view can be both exaggeration and understatement

For example:

Lỗ mũi mười tám gánh lông Chồng yêu chồng bảo râu rồng trời cho

[Vietnamese folk song]

Mong manh áo vải hồn muôn trượng Hơn tượng đồng phơi những lối mòn

[To Huu]However, hyperbole sometimes can be expressed through a lie in certaincircumstances in daily communication

2.3.2.2.1 Hyperbole is used to insult

This function can be found in some expressions in Vietnamese:

- Người gì mà ngáy như voi, như trâu như bò rống lợn kêu

2.3.2.2.2 Hyperbole is used to boast

Vietnamese speakers as well used hyperbole to boast, let’s consider thisconversation from a TV show:

Xuân Bắc (reading question from TV audience): Thưa giáo sư hôm trước em

chương trình thế giới động vật có một anh một mình mà lùa được cả một đàn voi, bắt được cả sư tử Em thấy phục anh ấy vô cùng, ở làng em có một cái ao, trong ao

có một con cua sống rất to và sống rất lâu năm cả làng đều gọi là cua cụ […] cũng

đã mời các chuyên gia động vật và thợ đánh bắt cá voi về mà không bắt được Vậy xin hỏi giáo sư em mời anh được bắt sư tử kia về để bắt cua ở ao làng em có được không?

Cù Trọng Xoay: Tôi không quen anh săn sư tử ấy […] Nhưng tôi có quen một anh

thợ lặn tên là Paul Worsley ở nước Anh Anh này có băt được một con cua rất to ở vịnh Lyme ở bờ biển Dorset nặng 8 kilogram và chiều rộng của mai là 30,5 cm và cái càng của nó to như tay một người đàn ông tôi nói với anh đến cua Tây to như thế còn bắt được thì tôi nghĩ là cái cụ cua ta của cái làng của bạn Ôi Quê Tôi ấy là anh ấy bắt tốt

in this conversation, Cu Trong Xoay told a lie because there’s no evidence assurethat he really knew any person named Paul Worsley in England or not The questionitself sent to the TV program by the TV audience is exaggerated when asking aboutinviting a lion catching expert from Animal Channel to Vietnam (the statement iscompletely boasted and impossible to be true)

2.3.2.2.3 Hyperbole is used as a rhetorical device

- In persuasion

Folk songs are familiar with Vietnamese people, they can be seen that folk songsexisted in many aspects of Vietnamese people from literature to daily conversation

In Vietnamese folk songs, hyperbole is one of the common rhetorical devices:

Chim khôn thì khôn cả lông Khôn cả cái lồng người xách cũng khôn.

Ước gì sông rộng một gang Bắc cầu giải yếm cho chàng sang chơi

[Vietnamese folk songs]

the size of those phenomenon in two Vietnamese folk songs has been exaggerated

in order to emphasize the romantic characteristics in these poets, along with thepurpose of winning readers’ emotion In the first folksong, “Chim khôn cả lông”hereby means that if a bird is smart, all its feathers are smart too This isexaggerated because “lông” – “feathers” is unconscious In the next sentence, thefolk song even exaggerates that even “bird cage” and “bird’s owner” are also smart

as the bird – Khôn cả cái lồng người xách cũng khôn By using this comparison, the

folk song is persuasive to the readers in terms of the intelligence of the bird and itsowner This is also applied for the second example when a girl wishing that a river(“sông”) is down to only the size of a bare hand (“một gang”) so that she could

make a bridge for her love to cross over – “Bắc cầu giải yếm cho chàng sang chơi”.

By using such exaggeration, the readers could feel emotional about the girl’s lovefor the man

- In humor

Noticeably, hyperbole seems to be used by many Vietnamese people to make jokes,particularly by comedians This is a conversation from a comedy TV showbroadcasted on VTV3 channel:

Cù Trọng Xoay: Thủ ở đây là gì?

Xuân Bắc: Là đầu

Cù Trọng Xoay: Là tay

Cù Trọng Xoay: Cao ở đây là nói về cao hơn một tầm trí tuệ Cao tay để ý nói rằng

những người giỏi giang, tài giỏi nhất trong một lĩnh vực nào đấy chẳng hạn như cao thủ bóng rổ, cao thủ đấu kiếm, cao thủ gì đấy v.v…đấy là cái nghĩa của từ cao thủ nó là như vậy Anh biết thì thưa thì thốt không thì cứ để tôi trả lời, anh cứ trả lời lung tung vậy đôi khi có thể làm ảnh hưởng tới uy tín của chương trình của chúng ta

Xuân Bắc: Thế giáo sư vừa mời tôi trả lời cơ mà

Cù Trọng Xoay: Đấy là anh hăng hái quá thì tôi mời anh thôi nhưng mà tôi phải

đính chính ngay vì uy tín của chương trình

Xuân Bắc: Nhân tiện nói với giáo sư, thế đối với những người đầu to hơn người

khác thì chúng ta gọi là gì

Cù Trọng Xoay: Thì chúng ta gọi là thủ đô, thủ tức là đầu, đô tức là to, to con đô

con

[Hoi xoay dap xoay]

Cu Trong Xoay here explained every single word of a phrase to change the realmeaning to make an exaggeration He explained “thủ” means “head” when standing

on its own and “đô” means “big” so that he could changed the meaning of “thủ đô”

to “big head” However, “thủ đô” actually means “capital of a country”; each wordcannot be separately translated and “thủ đô” must be translated as a phrase The way

he changed the meaning of the phrase was to create laughter

2.3.2.3 The syntax aspect of hyperbole

Following Dinh Trong Lac’s viewpoints [1994:46] in his other work called “99phương tiện và biện pháp tu từ Tiếng Việt), Vietnamese hyperbole is divided in twoforms: high degree and low degree Here are some several ways to expresshyperbole in Vietnamese are also suggested in Dinh Trong Lac’s work along withsome different ways by other authors:

- Using nouns and noun phrases:

 Animal – related nouns and noun phrases: cầy sấy, chuột, cá, voi, trâu, chó,etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

 Human body – related nouns and noun phrases: gan, ruột, tim, óc, bụng,etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

Example: Người gì mà ngáy như voi, như trâu như bò rống lợn kêu

điểm, cực kỳ, vô hạn, hết cỡ, quá cỡ, mê hồn, thấu trời, ngất ngư, đỉnh cao,etc… [Dinh Trong Lac, 1994:47] & [Table 1 – Appendix]

Example: Những vụ án oan “thấu trời xanh” năm 2015

[http://vietnamnet.vn/vn/thoi-su/277261/nhung-vu-an-oan-thau-troi-xanh-nam-2015.html]

- Using figures:

 Cardinal numbers: bằng năm bằng mười, gấp vạn, biết rõ mười mươi, ba

máu sáu cơn (giận dữ), ba đầu sáu tay, ba cọc ba đồng, ba chìm bảy nổi chínlênh đênh, etc… [Dinh Trong Lac, 1994:48] & [Table 1 – Appendix]

 Abstract figures: ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao, bốn biển đều là anh em,nhẹ như bấc, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

Example: Ông bầu “ba đầu sáu tay” của đội tuyển futsal Việt Nam

[http://www.baogiaothong.vn/ong-bau-ba-dau-sau-tay-cua-doi-tuyen-futsal-viet-nam-d138766.html]

- Using idioms or proverbs:

 chân cứng đá mềm, vá trời lấp biển, etc… [Dinh Trong Lac, 1994:48]

 cá lớn nuốt cá bé, cá không ăn muôi cá ươn, chân cứng đá mềm, chỉ mànhtreo chuông, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

Example: Tính mạng như “Chỉ mành treo chuông”

[http://anninhthudo.vn/an-ninh-doi-song/tinh-mang-nhu%C2%A0-chi-manh-treo-chuong/329534.antd]

- Using expressions: in some cases, the whole sentence is a hyperbolic expression

 According to Dieu Tan, Vietnamese people may use some exclaimative sentences related to animism: “Trời ơi!”, “Ôi trời đất ơi”, “Thánh thần thiên địa ơi!”, etc… [Table 1 – Appendix]

 The whole sentence is a lie and hyperbolic

Example: Tôi hát được cả hai bài cơ

[Dinh Trong Lac & Nguyen Thai Hoa, 2006: 118]

“cả” here is an adjective with the meaning of “the whole” If a person can sing twosongs, he/she can simply say “I can sing two songs” – “Tôi hát được hai bài” Bycombining the adjective and the ability to sing two songs, the person in this case hasmade the statement hyperbolic (to boast that he/she could sing many songs)

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the subject of the study, the scope, the content and theresearch method of the study

3.1 Subjects of the study

The subjects of the study are English and Vietnamese hyperbole used in

daily communication