A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MEANINGS OF WATER RELATING IDIOMS IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ HƢƠNG A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MEANINGS OF WATER RELATING IDIOMS IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH (Nghiên cứu so sánh nghĩa thành ngữ có liên quan đến nƣớc Tiếng Việt Tiếng Anh) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Hanoi, 2014 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES TRẦN THỊ HƢƠNG A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MEANINGS OF WATER RELATING IDIOMS IN VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH (Nghiên cứu so sánh nghĩa thành ngữ có liên quan đến nƣớc Tiếng Việt Tiếng Anh) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60220201 Supervisor: Dr Ngô Tự Lập Hanoi, 2014 DECLARATION I, Trần Thị Hương, hereby declare that the work contained in this thesis is the result of my own research It is recognized that, should this declaration be found to be false, disciplinary action could be taken and penalties imposed in accordance with the University policy and rules Ha noi, 2014 Trần Thị Hương i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I offer my sincere gratitude to the faculty, staff and my fellow students at Hai Duong College, who have inspired me to continue my work in this field I owe particular thanks to my Thesis Supervisor, Dr Ngô Tự Lập and his colleagues of the faculty of Post-Graduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies, Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, all of whom have had an impact on my work in one way or another The direction and support of a knowledgeable and diverse group, such as this, is what makes interdisciplinary endeavours possible Finally, my special thanks go to my mother, my husband and my children for their love and support throughout this project Without their encouragement I could not have completed this thesis ii ABSTRACT Idioms, a special form of language use, are shaped in the daily lives of people Idioms can also be considered as a reliable measure of the proficiency of foreign languages in general and English in particular It is the semantic and grammatical problems that cause difficulties for learners to grasp meanings of idioms With the aim of providing in - depth information about English and Vietnamese idioms, we have tried to work out some syntactic and semantic features of idioms relating to water in English and Vietnamese Moreover, some cultural contexts hidden behind these idioms are mentioned and analyzed in this thesis The study also puts forwards some implications for teaching and learning idioms We believe that they are helpful to teachers and students as well as translators of English iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale for the study Aims and objectives of the study Scope of the study .2 Theoretical and practical significance of the study Methodology .2 Organization of the study PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: IDIOMS - THEORETICAL BACKGROUND FOR THE STUDY 1.1.Idioms and meanings of idioms 1.1.1.Definition of idioms .4 1.1.2 Idioms and proverbs 1.1.3 Typology of idioms .6 1.1.4 Meaning of idioms 1.2.Culture and the relationship between language and culture .9 1.2.1.Culture and some characteristics of culture 1.2.2.Relationship between language and culture 10 1.2.3 Culture in idioms 11 1.2.4 The image of water in Vietnamese culture 12 1.2.5 The image of water in English culture 14 iv 1.2.6 Previous studies related to the theme of this thesis 15 CHAPTER 2: “WATER” RELATING IDIOMS IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE A quantitative survey of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 17 2 Syntactic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 17 Semantic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 21 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese water relating idioms in terms of syntactic features .29 3.2 Similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese water relating idioms in terms of semantic features .31 PART C: CONCLUSION 1.Recapitulation 34 2.Implications 34 3.Limitations and suggestions for further studies 35 v PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale for the study Water is essential for life and for human kind, and it is crucial for sustainable socio - economic development As a matter of fact, 22 March of each year is declared as the World Water Day (WWD) by the United Nations in December 2003 Water is not only a physical resource but in every cultural context, it is closely linked to social, spiritual, political and environmental meanings Both English and Vietnamese are rich in idiomatic expressions of which idioms denoting water are abundant Idiomatic expressions are largely used in our daily communication conveying the common - sense wisdom and experience of a certain cultural group Mass media, textbooks and everyday language embody rich sources of idiomatic expressions It is believed that English idioms are even difficult for English native speakers and naturally more problematic for ESL/EFL learners because the figurative meanings of English idioms cannot be predicted through an analysis of their individual word meanings Apparently, teaching EFL learners to use English idioms is considerably critical for EFL teachers Learning idioms adds a lot to understand the British culture and people because language is the bearer of culture, and idioms consistently have their roots in a particular culture The purpose of identifying how the image of water is reflected in idioms metaphorically and literally and what cultural context underlines it urges me to investigate into the theme: “A comparative study of water relating idioms in Vietnamese and English” Aims and objectives of the study 2.1 Aims of the study This thesis is conducted as an attempt to: Explore the English and Vietnamese idioms relating to water with the main focus on the cultural viewpoint - Point out the similarities and differences between the two languages in terms of idioms relating to water - 2.2 Objectives of the study The objectives of this study are to: - Investigate English and Vietnamese idioms relating to water - Clarify the cultural differences and similarities Provide some suggestions for teaching, learning and translating English idioms denoting water 2.3 Research questions The study tries to answer the following questions: - What are the general syntactic, semantic and cultural features of English and Vietnamese water relating idioms? - What are similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese water relating idioms from cultural viewpoint? Scope of the study - In this research, both English and Vietnamese idioms relating to water are discussed in terms of syntactic, semantic and cultural features All English and Vietnamese idioms are collected from two dictionaries: “Vietnamese Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs” (2010) by Nguyễn Lân and “The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms” (2004) by Oxford University Press Theoretical and practical significance of the study The study is an attempt to look into idioms for the Vietnamese postgraduates of English Thus, once completed, its outcome may offer significant benefits to Vietnamese learners and teachers of English In addition, the findings of this study will familiarize Vietnamese teachers of English with meanings of idioms that their students may use in class and that they might consider as errors or mistakes Furthermore, in regard to Vietnamese learners, the research may provide them with deep and comprehensive insight into water relating idioms Last but not least, researchers of the related fields can use this study for reference and carry out further and deeper investigation Methodology In this study, the major methods applied are descriptive, comparative and contrastive analysis It is carried out on carefully collected materials from two dictionaries The first dictionary is “Vietnamese Dictionary of Idioms and Proverbs” by Nguyễn Lân (Literature Publishing House in 2010) The second one is “The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms” (Second Edition) by Oxford University Press in 2004 The data are analyzed and synthesized to find out the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese water relating idioms Organization of the study The thesis is divided into three main parts: Part One is an Introduction to the study and includes rationale, aims, the research questions, objectives, scope, significance and the design of the whole paper - Part Two is the Development which is composed of three chapters Chapter - One, as implied in the title “Idioms: theoretical background for the study”, presents the theoretical background related to the issue Chapter Two is concerned with “Water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese” covers the syntactic and semantic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese Chapter Three deals with “Findings and Discussions” (i.e analysis of data, results) Part Three is the Conclusion which summarizes significant findings of the investigation, elaborates contributions of the research, puts forward practical suggestions for future research as well as addresses notable limitations - Phận nghèo tới chỗ mô nghèo 15 Chọc gậy xuống nước 16 Chọc trời quấy nước 17 Có nước, có cá 18 Có nước , có 19 Con mạ, cá nước 20 Cịn nước, cịn tát 21 Cờ bạc khát nước 22 Cơm bưng nước rót 23 Cơm niêu nước lọ 24 Cơm trời, nước giếng 25 Của nước 26 Đau bụng uống nước sông, đau mắt lấy nhựa xương rồng mà bôi 27 Đắt chè rẻ nước 28 Đồng chua nước mặn 29 Đồng trắng nước 30 Đời cha ăn mặn, đời khát nước 31 Đục nước béo cò IV 32 Được lẫn nước 33 Êm cát, mát nước 34 Gạo chợ, nước sông 35 Gạo trắng nước 36 Giọt máu đào ao nước lã 37 Hễ nóng nước toan vơ rếTo describe someone who always asks for help whenever in trouble 38 Hết nước hết 39 Khác lọ nước 40 Khôn ăn cái, dại ăn nước 41 Khôn ngoan tâm tính lịng, lọ uống nước đồng khôn 42 Kiếm ăn xa, độc nước 43 Kiêng ăn nước 44 Lạ nước lạ 45 Lặn ngòi ngoi nước 46 Lên cạn xuống nước V 47 Lội nước sợ ướt chân To despise lazy people 48 Lỡ làng nước đục, bụi To describe unhappiness resulted from awkward situations 49 Ma thiêng nước độc It is easy to catch an illness in the faraway mountainous areas Mạch nước chảy trong, A good wife should be a person born into a dòng respectable family 51 Mắng tát nước vào mặt To reprimand somebody soundly 52 Mặt nước cánh bèo To describe women of adrift lives 53 Mèo uống nước biển chẳng bao Overloaded work is not worth limited ability 50 cạn 54 Mềm lạt, mát nước To behave gently and courteously to please others 55 Mưa xối nước It’s raining cats and dogs 56 Nghiêng đồng đổ nước sông To resist waterlogged fields 57 Ngồi giếng mà khát nước To complain of living in a comfortable life but still being starved 58 Ngựa xe nước There is a lot of traffic 59 Người có lúc vinh có lúc In one’s life, luck comes and goes (to console nhục, nước có lúc đục có unlucky people) lúc 60 Người dưng nước lã To imply those who have no relationship with somebody 61 Nhạt nước ao bèo To behave in a cold and heartless way 62 Nhạt nước ốc To talk about tasteless food or uninteresting stories VI 63 Nhờ ông vải, húp nước xuýtTo ask a person in high position for help but get nothing 64 Nhờ phèn nước 65 Như bát nước đầy 66 Nói dao chém nước 67 Nói nước đổ đầu vịt ( Nói nước đổ khoai) 68 Nói tát nước bè 69 Non xanh nước biếc 70 Nước chảy bèo trôi 71 Nước chảy chỗ trũng 72 Nước chảy đá mòn 73 Nước chảy tới 74 Nước chảy hoa trôi 75 Nước chảy ngược lên đườngTo talk about awkward and unreasonable happenings 76 Nước chảy xuôi, bè kéo ngượcThere is no unity in a community, people have contradictory opinions 77 Nước chè tàu, giầu cơi thiếc To talk about a formal welcome 78 Nước chờ mạ, mạ chờ nướcTo criticize farmers who not cultivate crops in time 79 Nước có nguồn, có gốcTo remind people of their ancestors and VII descents 80 Nước cát làm doi, To advise people to unite and help each other chi ta chẳng tài bồi cho 81 Nước dẫy, sóng dồi To describe circumstances when lots of difficulties come all at once To turn over a new 82 Nước đánh phèn leaf 83 Nước đến chân To be about to fall into a dangerous situation 84 Nước đầy đổ đĩa khôn bưng Sharing with others is usually impossible with the rich 85 Nước đến chân nhảy To despise somebody with no prior preparation for possible happenings 86 Nước đổ bốc chẳng đầy thưng No sentiment can be gained as before between two relatives if there is a serious argument 87 Nước đục, bụi To describe one contradictory situation when bad people are believed to be good and noble people are supposed to be mean It is worthless 88 Nước gạo tắm cho voi to something 89 Nước dòng chê chê Judgement of others depend on one’s own đục, vũng trâu đầm , hì hục khen mood and purposes ngon 90 Nước khe, chè núi To talk about a simple life of a seclusionist 91 Nước lã ao bèo To talk about something tasteless 92 Nước lã mà vã nên hồ, tay không From zero to hero mà đồ ngoan 93 Nước lên nước lại ròng Life is up and down To advise people not to become discouraged by failure or accident VIII 94 Nước lớn đò đầy 95 Nước lụt, chó nhảy bàn độc 96 Nước mắt cá sấu 97 Nước mưa cưa trời 98 Nước Nhược, non Bồng 99 Nước nóng cịn có nguội 100 Nước, phân, cần, giống 101 Nước sôi lửa bỏng 102 Nước suối có đục 103 Nước thẳm non xa 104 Nước mà giếng hôi phènTo describe a good person who lives in a bad environment 105 Nước trôi hoa rụng 106 Nước trước bẻ hoa 107 Nước vỏ lựu, máu mào gà 108 Nước vơi nước lại đầy, tình IX chưa trả, ngải quên 109 spite of changes Nước xa khôn cứu lửa gầnWe cannot depend on strange people for help in danger Phân tro không no nướcWater is of the first element in the growth of rice, 110 many fertilizers cannot make up for this Rồng đen lấy nước nắng, rồng To indicate a common sense that noticing the 111 trắng lấy nước mưa colour of clouds forecast rainy or sunny weather Rồng vàng tắm nước ao tù, người The complaint of a wife marrying a foolish 112 khôn với người ngu bực 113 Rừng thiêng, nước độc 114 Sắc nước 115 Sắc nước hương trời 116 So kè Sông nước vừa, The selfish argument of men in the polygynian 117 trai vợ chưa lịng society 118 Sơng sâu nước Preventing high water flowing in order not to die of drowning Sờ nồi không gạo, sờ gáo không To complain of poverty and neediness 119 nước 120 Sự chi lo ơng đị khát nước 121 Tát nước theo mưa 122 Thân gái mươi hai bến nướcTo talk about women in the feudal society who cannot control their lives 123 Thí chén nước, phước chất To talk about a person who wants to give little non away but gain much X 124 Tiếc thay chậu nước trong, bèo tấm, bèo ong dạt vào To make a complaint when pure things are contaminated 125 Tiền nước thủy triều No one can know for sure they are forever rich 126 Tiền nước To talk about someone who has a lot of money 127 Trăm dơ lấy nước làm Water is needed to clean dirty things 128 Trâu chậm uống nước đục The early bird catches the worm 129 Trâu chậm uống nước dơ, trâu ngơ A slow person gets nothing, meanwhile, a ăn cỏ béo 130 Trên đời rẻ bèo, đến foolish person gains all The response of a person who is usually nước lụt bèo trèo lên sen scorned by others 131.Tức nước vỡ bờ Over oppression leads to resistance Uống nước dễ quên người đào 132 To despise those who show no gratitude to mạch helpers 133.Uống nước không chừa cặn To despise greedy and impolite people 134 Uống nước lã cầm To imply a situation when there is nothing to eat though a person is hungry 135 Uống nước nhớ nguồn ( Uống To praise somebody who is loyal and grateful nước nhớ kẻ đào giếng) (Uống nước song nhớ mạch suối) 136 Ứa nước mắt To be moved to tears 137.Vàng tâm xuống nước tươi, anh To show the virtue of heroes who are not hùng lâm nạn cười vui afraid of danger and death 138 Vắt cổ chày nước To despise extremely stingy people 139.Vắt đất nước, thay trời làm mưa To show the brave spirit of farmers when fighting against drought 140.Vớt trăng nước, mò kim To something useless without outcome duềnh XI APPENDIX 2: SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE OF WATER RELATING IDIOMS Noun phrase structure Vietnamese No English A fish out of water Ao sâu nước Hewers of wood and Ao tù nước đọng drawers of water Milk and water Bùn lầy nước đọng Oil and water Cá mạnh nước Water under the bridge Cá nước chim trời ( Chim trời cá nước) Cá nước duyên ưa Cá sống nước Cánh bèo mặt nước Cờ bạc khát nước Cơm bưng nước 10 rót Cơm liêu nước lọ 11 Cơm trời, nước giếng 12 Đồng chua nước mặn 13 Đồng trắng, nước 14 Đục nước béo cò Gạo 15 chợ, nước sông Gạo 16 trắng nước Khác 17 lọ nước Ma thiêng 18 nước độc Mặt nước 19 cánh bèo Mưa xối 20 nước 21 XII \ XIII Verb phrase structure No Vietnamese English Ăn cỗ trước, lội nước theo Be blown out of the water Pour (or throw) cold water on sau Chọc gậy xuống nước Chọc Take to something like a duck trời quấy nước to water Fish in troubled water Có nước, có cá Come hell or high water Có nước , có Hold water Còn nước, tát Make someone’s mouth water Đau bụng uống nước sơng, đau mắt lấy nhựa xương rồng mà bôi Test the water Được lẫn nước Tread the water Hết nước hết Kiếm 10 Cast your bread upon the ăn xa, độc nước waters XIV 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Adjective phrase structure No English Dead in the water Like water off a duck’s back XV 10 11 12 Prepositional phrase structure No English In deep water (or water) In hot water In smooth water Of the first water Sentence structure No English Blood is thicker than water Still water runs deep XVI 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 XVII XVIII ... When analyzing semantic features of water relating idioms, we can acknowledge that lots of idioms contain appalling issues of water such as bad water conditions (In hot water: in a situation of. .. Syntactic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 17 Semantic study of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 21 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Similarities and. .. use of water relating idioms in English and Vietnamese 28 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Similarities and differences of English and Vietnamese water relating idioms in terms of syntactic