Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang... the guardian of the Southern dialect

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang , "the guardian of the Southern dialect," has quietly passed away. Her passing leaves not only immeasurable sorrow for her family, colleagues, and students, but also a void that is difficult to fill in the research and preservation of the unique linguistic values of the Southern region. More than just a scientist , she was a great soul, a person who dedicated her entire life to listening to, understanding, and recounting the story of her homeland's language with all the respect and love.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang signed autographs for readers at the exchange event with the authors of the book series "The Rich and Beautiful Vietnamese Language".

A lifetime of quiet, humble research.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang was born in 1951 in Saigon, where she grew up amidst the distinctive linguistic landscape of Southern Vietnam. From her early years, she showed a passion for the Vietnamese language, especially the Southern dialect. Her research career has focused on exploring and preserving the unique linguistic values of this region.

She is the author of many important research works , most notably the book *Southern Dialects* (Social Sciences Publishing House, 1995), * Some Issues on Social Dialects* (Editor, Social Sciences Publishing House, 2005), *Incorrect and Ambiguous Sentences* (co-authored, Education Publishing House, 1992), *Practical Vietnamese* (co-authored, Ho Chi Minh City National University Publishing House, 2005), *Correcting Grammatical Errors: Conjunction Errors* (co-authored, Education Publishing House, 1989), and * Vocabulary Errors and How to Correct Them * (co-authored, Social Sciences Publishing House, 2002).

The book series "The Rich and Beautiful Vietnamese Language".

She is also the only female author honored in the "Rich and Beautiful Vietnamese Language" book series published by Tre Publishing House in 2024 , a testament to her significant contributions to the field of linguistics. Her works not only have academic value but also contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Southern region.

Writing about her, Associate Professor Dr. Le Khac Cuong, Vice Rector of Hong Bang International University, shared that the differences and "deviations" in pronunciation, intonation, or the way words are used and structures in the speech patterns of different regions are "deposits" that create unique imprints. Without thorough training in phonetics and semantics, and more importantly, a love for the Vietnamese language, especially the Southern dialect, these "deposits" would not be easy to detect or describe.

The Southern dialect, a branching stream from the northern migrants who crossed the Ngang Pass to settle and expand the territory, blended with other ethnic groups to create a vibrant and colorful tapestry. A century-long chapter in the thousand-year history of the nation is a unique and rich blend within a unified whole. Reaching that boundary is no longer just about language; it is about culture.

"Throughout her life of quiet, humble, and serious research, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang has achieved that," Associate Professor Dr. Le Khac Cuong shared.

The storyteller speaks in a Southern dialect.

For Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang, dialects are not only the language of a region but also the soul of its culture, life, and memory. Her love for the Southern dialect is deeply encapsulated in her work "Southern Vietnamese," the most representative book in her more than 40-year career in linguistic research.

The work "Southern Vietnamese" by Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang.

" Southern Vietnamese " is a collection of research works by Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang on the Southern dialect in comparison with Northern, Central, and national vocabulary in general. First published by the Social Sciences Publishing House in 1995, the work is the result of meticulous collection, analysis, and reflection on the language she has been exposed to since childhood.

"Southern Vietnamese" is not merely an academic work; it is a humanistic journey through multiple layers of meaning: from phonetics to sentiment, from theory to real-life practice, from folklore to modern literature. In his articles, the author analyzes and explains linguistic phenomena in a thorough and fascinating way.

The book is divided into three main parts, the first of which explains the lexical and semantic differences between the Southern dialect and standard Vietnamese. In the second part, the author meticulously categorizes and systematizes Southern vocabulary – from "trổng" (referring to a third party), to "chảnh" (arrogant/stuck-up), "giựt" (snatch), "hổng" (no), or "bả" (she/her). These seemingly simple words are imbued with personality, life, and regional characteristics.

“Like the silent alluvial deposits that enrich the delta, offering the world sweet fruits and healthy trees, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang spent her entire life quietly cultivating and exploring the linguistic landscape, discovering sparkling gems hidden within the simple language of the people of Southern Vietnam. Whether in research, teaching, or daily life, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang always maintained the gentle and simple nature of a Southern woman, her kind smile always supporting generations of students,” Associate Professor Dr. Le Khac Cuong shared these touching words about her.

What makes this work particularly noteworthy is its final section, where the author uses literature to illuminate language. The insightful analyses of works by Ho Bieu Chanh, Son Nam, Nguyen Ngoc Tu, and others help readers appreciate the beauty of Southern Vietnamese speech, not only in its meaning but also in its soul—a rustic, simple yet profound soul.

Instead of forcing dialects into the standard language, she allowed them to live true to their essence and pristine beauty. Therefore, *Southern Vietnamese* is not only reprinted by NXB Trẻ in the rich and beautiful Vietnamese language book series, but is also taught and cited in many later linguistic works.

That book, like her own life, is a persistent whisper: that dialects are not inferior; they are simply waiting for someone to understand and tell their story with all due respect. And Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang is that storyteller, a storyteller using the Southern dialect.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang stated that, after "Southern Vietnamese," she planned to write another book on reduplication, as reduplication is a distinctive feature of the Vietnamese language. She argued that simply opening a book like "Chinh Phu Ngam" or "Truyen Kieu" would reveal that no translation could be more beautiful than Vietnamese. Sadly, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang passed away, preventing her from realizing this aspiration.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lang has passed away, but the "sparkling gem" she bequeathed will live on, and its light will continue to inspire those who love and want to explore the richness and beauty of the Vietnamese language.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/pgsts-tran-thi-ngoc-lang-nguoi-gin-giu-tieng-phuong-nam-post1542416.html