Random thoughts on the dialects of the Western region

Language changes over time, but the memory of many dialectal words remains in every spoken word. The story of "spoon, broth, bus" to the act of making a "crunching" sound, passing through a "roundabout" to arrive... is not just a matter of words, but a beautiful story of the linguistic culture of the Mekong Delta region.

Language changes over time, but the memory of many dialectal words remains in every spoken word. The story of "spoon, broth, bus" to the act of making a "crunching" sound, passing through a "roundabout" to arrive... is not just a matter of words, but a beautiful story of the linguistic culture of the Mekong Delta region.

The Mekong Delta is unique with its colloquial language, shaped by the riverine landscape and reflected in the speech patterns and dialects of the people of Southern Vietnam. (Illustrative image)

Mornings in the Mekong Delta usually begin slowly. The tide is receding at the docks, cargo boats rumble along with their engines, and a few old men sit at the village's roadside stalls chatting, sipping iced coffee, and puffing on their pipes.

There, people still say "use," "take," "eat," "borrow money," "park," "press the brake"—words that sound ordinary, but are deeply ingrained in the language of the people living in the riverine region.

Suddenly, Mr. Nam smirked and asked, "What's the reason?" as he followed Tu, who had just cycled past: "Tu, where are you going today looking so handsome?"

…Sitting in a coffee shop, chatting with some friends, they'd say, "At this age, we're starting to slow down, almost 40 already," then they'd tell old stories, share dialects, from the Mekong Delta "really, really long ago." Now, "spoon has to be changed to 'spoon'," "bus has become 'coach'," "hospital has become 'hospital hospital'," "highway has become 'expressway', 'national highway'"… Language is gradually being "standardized," refined to suit modern texts, schools, and media.

It's an inevitable trend. But within that trend, many people still maintain the habit of using "typically Southern Vietnamese" slang. My friend sitting next to me, talking and laughing, then called out to the youngest son of the owner of the shop: "Where's the coffee? Why are you taking so long?", "Why are you always so slow every day? Hurry up!"

People from the Mekong Delta are known for being straightforward and honest, saying things in a way that the other person understands immediately, without pretense or beating around the bush: "If you park, you park; if you have a flat tire, you have a flat tire; if you take your time, you take it easy; if you're completely wrong, you're completely wrong..." Words are closely linked to actions and life experiences.

Researcher Huynh Cong Tin, in his "Dictionary of Southern Vietnamese Vocabulary," states: Southern Vietnamese dialect is the language of the people of Southern Vietnam, which can be understood as a geographical variant of the national language.

Many people say that when communicating, people from the Mekong Delta region choose to speak precisely and directly, often using figurative language such as: "water off a duck's back," "catfish lips," "willow leaf eyebrows," "dove eyes," etc. In addition to avoiding spelling mistakes, people from this region are sometimes lazy about pronunciation; they don't prioritize form, so they often simplify words, such as changing the tilde to a question mark, "Gi" to "D," and "S" to "X"...

Regarding the characteristics of the Southern dialect, researcher Huynh Cong Tin also argues that all the differences in pronunciation among people in the Southern delta region stem "from a tendency to choose ease and comfort in pronunciation..." but there are also opinions that this simple matter is a fitting characteristic of people in the South.

If viewed through the lens of memory and life, each word is a piece of the soul of the countryside. "Nước lèo" (broth) isn't just broth; it's a pot of bone broth simmered gently. Or, in the Mekong Delta, "a dozen" can sometimes mean "ten, twelve, fourteen," like "a dozen custard apples," "a dozen coconuts," etc.

Then there's the way we address each other. "You - me - you - my dear" are pronouns not just for calling, but for showing affection. "You crossed the Rach Mieu ferry, I followed closely behind" or "My dear, no matter what..." Hearing them immediately evokes a sense of closeness and affection.

Not only within families, but also in society, the language and expressions of people in the Mekong Delta region carry a unique emotional depth. When something good happens, they say, "I'm so lucky!"; when something unpleasant happens, they say, "You've been 'trapped'!" It might sound harsh, but it's actually a half-joking, lighthearted way of speaking, without any malicious intent.

Then there are the neighbors: "Just came down from up there, huh?", "I like it" means agreeing to the marriage, "right next door" means next door. Each word is concise, rich in imagery, saying little but conveying much.

My friends say that the "standard" vocabulary appears on loudspeakers, in schools, in documents, and in newspapers; people speak and use it. That's necessary to unify understanding and usage. But if those words "flood" into everyday life, completely overshadowing the local dialect, then the Western dialect might gradually lose its unique charm.

Actually, not all old words should be kept. There are cases where changes are correct and necessary. "Bịnh" should be changed to "bệnh," "bệnh viện" to "bệnh viện," etc. But alongside these changes, we still need to leave room for buses, roundabouts, median strips, "gác-măng-rê," "Honda cars," etc., to exist as part of cultural life.

Linguist Tran Thi Ngoc Lang, in her book "Southern Vietnamese," also revealed that depending on their perspective and perception, people in different regions have different ways of naming objects, phenomena, activities, and characteristics. The researcher herself once wondered, "What is a 'mỏ ác' (evil mine)?" and then seemed to regret, "The melodious calls of street vendors are still so vivid in today's modern 4.0 era. Many people fondly remember the past, feeling nostalgic... for their peaceful childhood, which was filled with those calls. How can one forget the clear, melodious voice of the aunt selling sweet potato porridge... and tapioca flour..."

Language is not just a tool, but a cultural address. Losing one's native dialect means losing a part of one's memory. A child from the Mekong Delta, growing up without hearing adults say "come home for dinner," "go to work," "take the bus," etc., will find it difficult to fully experience the essence of the Mekong Delta.

Preserving one's native dialect doesn't mean rejecting new things. It's about remembering where one comes from. It allows people, amidst the ever-fast-paced world, to slow down, live leisurely, speak, and love each other with genuine, heartfelt words like the fertile soil: "What's up? Where are you going? Have you eaten yet? Why the longing?"... and you immediately know it's the Mekong Delta, in every word spoken daily...

Text and photos: KHANH DUY

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/202601/tan-man-phuong-ngu-mien-tay-40504b9/