The passion of someone who deeply loves the Vietnamese language.

In my opinion, Vietnamese is still the most "difficult" language to learn. Even though we are Vietnamese, speak Vietnamese, were born in Vietnam, and view our thoughts and cultural aesthetics from a Vietnamese perspective, there's something incredibly interesting and ironic: there are words/phrases that we write and speak, yet we may not fully understand them.

Snail broth isn't as bland as we might think...

Once I say this, some people will probably chuckle or smirk, thinking I'm deliberately "overcomplicating" the issue. However, I won't argue about this, because as someone who is self-learning Vietnamese, I wouldn't dare "show off my skills to an expert." If anyone wants to argue against the point I've just made, perhaps the best way is to read the book "Vietnamese People Speak Vietnamese" (Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2023).

The cover of the book "Vietnamese People Speaking Vietnamese".

This is a book that, in my opinion, when you hold it in your hands, you can already see that the author wants to "pick a fight," "cause trouble," or "stir up trouble" with anyone who thinks they understand Vietnamese. On the cover, right below the title, is a blunt, straightforward statement, without beating around the bush or beating around the bush: "Collection and research on idioms and proverbs omitted from dictionaries or a discussion of their definitions." At first glance, those who consider themselves to have a level of Vietnamese understanding that of a "king of the Vietnamese language" might find those words a bit too presumptuous, wouldn't they?

Since the advent of the Vietnamese alphabet, many researchers have compiled records of our ancestors' spoken language. These collections are numerous and continue to be updated over the years... So, saying "dictionaries have omitted certain words" sounds illogical, like "cutting off the tadpole's tail." It's even more illogical when the author also wants to discuss the definitions in those dictionaries. For a long time, people have relied on dictionaries as a standard when trying to understand a word, haven't they? So, does that mean the dictionaries' definitions are incorrect?

First of all, may I ask who the author of this book is, and how could they be so audacious?

This is journalist Nguyen Quang Tho, born in 1949 in Nam Dinh, raised in Hanoi. From 1968 to 1971, he served in the army as a soldier in the 304th Division. He graduated in German language and literature from Karl Marx University, Leipzig, German Democratic Republic in 1979. He completed his master's degree with a thesis on "Comparative German Idioms (compared with Vietnamese)" at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City in 2004. He was formerly an editor at Thanh Nien Publishing House, Editor-in-Chief of the Culture and Life Magazine (Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House, 1991-1992), and Editor-in-Chief of the Love for Children Newspaper (1991-1992). He currently resides in Ho Chi Minh City.

The reason I have to state the author's "background" is because here we are discussing a serious story - especially one about the Vietnamese language, therefore, everyone needs to be clear about their identity, not hiding behind some random name.

When I asked him why he wrote this book, Mr. Tho said: "The vocabulary of a nation is immense; no one knows it all. To know more, you must learn more. Learn from the cradle until you are in your grave. Every day of life is a day of fieldwork." So what does Mr. Tho's "inner strength" lie in?

With over 600 idioms and proverbs appearing in this book, I would like to choose one from his writings: "The Vietnamese Idiom Dictionary includes the idiom 'As bland as snail water'. Snail noodle soup has always been a favorite dish of many people, including my wife. Even now, I still remember the bowl of cold rice my siblings and I used to eat in the morning, topped with two cents worth of snail water from our neighbor. That shimmering, flower-colored broth, slightly oily, tingling on the tongue, made the rice 'swallow down into the stomach before it even reached our lips'. Snail water is not as bland as people think… The idiom should actually be 'As bland as snail water in a pond covered with water lilies'. In ponds thick with water lilies, the lilies consume all the nutrients. How can thin snails have sweet broth? My countrymen say 'As bland as snail water in a pond covered with water lilies'; I believe they are the fairest judges in the world" (p. 19).

Simply because I love the Vietnamese language so much.

Using a narrative style based on real-life experiences, the author titles Chapter 1: "Seeing and Hearing." Based on what he has seen and heard, Mr. Tho recounts specific stories to clarify certain idioms and proverbs. Here, I am fascinated by the life experience he has accumulated, which allows the story to be more expansive than what is confined to "books." I was surprised by the many unfamiliar phrases that appear in this book; Mr. Tho explained that he learned most of them from his mother – a hardworking and diligent farmer from Northern Vietnam.

In Chapter 2, "Speaking indirectly, it all boils down to telling the truth," I believe it's the chapter that sparks much reflection, because the author's "truth" necessitates further discussion of the definitions found in various dictionaries. For example, he wrote: "Nguyen Duc Duong's dictionary of proverbs includes the proverb 'Passing the market with money, no one will caress or kiss you,' and notes 'unclear meaning'... I think it should be written as 'meaningless,' because this sentence is wrong, not true to the original. The obvious mistake is the parallel structure. If you pay attention, you will immediately see that the second part has an extra word, and that is certainly 'no.' In terms of meaning, we see that having passed the market, there is nothing left to buy, and there is money in the pocket. Being unlucky, without anyone showering you with caresses or kisses, your cheeks are still 'virgin,' still smooth. If it's as I usually hear it, then this proverb is 'passing the market with money, no one will caress or kiss you' (p. 176). In Chapter 3: 'Drumming through the thunder's door,' Mr. Tho states: 'Hopefully, the notes in this chapter will contribute to answering the question: What is an idiom?'"

In my opinion, the significance of the book "Vietnamese People Speaking Vietnamese" also lies in the boldness and confidence of a Vietnamese scientist who, out of deep love for the Vietnamese language, has expressed his thoughts. Whether it's right or wrong, redundant or incomplete, is debatable, but it must be acknowledged that the vocabulary Mr. Nguyen Quang Tho uses in the book is extremely rich and diverse. Generally, after reading it, many will want to... argue back, just as Mr. Tho has argued with numerous dictionaries. This is perfectly normal and healthy, and necessary in debate – especially when we are all exploring the spoken language of the Vietnamese people. If so, it's not only a joy for Mr. Tho personally, but for all of us, because in this day and age, the Vietnamese language remains a concern for everyone.

At 8:30 AM on July 1st, there will be a book launch and discussion program for "Vietnamese People Speak Vietnamese" (Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House - 2023) by author Nguyen Quang Tho, along with guest speaker, linguist Dang Ngoc Le, at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/tam-huyet-cua-nguoi-qua-yeu-tieng-viet-2023062420043498.htm