Book – History of Vietnamese Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919) Book – History of Vietnamese Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919)
Vietnamese Book & Craft
Book – History of Vietnamese Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Title: History of Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919)
Publisher: Omega Plus
Author: Pham Thi Kieu Ly
Publishing House: Van Hoc Publishing House
Year of Publication: 2024
Number of Pages: 488
Format: Paperback
Language: Vietnamese
The book "History of Quoc Ngu Script" is an academic and educational resource that can be useful for a variety of audiences, including:
- Students studying linguistics, literature, and history. The book provides detailed information on the development of the Quoc Ngu script, helping them better understand the Vietnamese language and culture.
- Researchers in the fields of linguistics, culture, and Vietnamese history will find valuable data and in-depth analysis of the formation and evolution of the Quoc Ngu script.
- History and culture enthusiasts who are interested in the origins and development of the writing system currently used by Vietnamese people.
The book "History of Quoc Ngu Script" is not only limited to professionals but also open to anyone interested in the development of the Vietnamese language and culture.
This book focuses on exploring the history of the Vietnamese written language. The purpose of using the Quoc Ngu script has transformed throughout its history: from being a tool for European missionaries to learn the local language in the early stages of integration, it gradually evolved within the missionary environment to become a means of communication between European and native priests.
However, this work does not merely focus on the history of language — or more precisely, on missionary linguistics in Asia as conceptualized by scholars like Otto Zwartjes — but also addresses the connections between the internal history of the Vietnamese language (such as grammaticalization models) and the broader political and cultural history of the country (its objective history).
The book also shows a profound concern for the history of the language itself, especially the historical phonology of Vietnamese. Here, besides the qualities of a language historian, Pham Thi Kieu Ly also demonstrates undeniable traits of a linguist.
She argues that the reason why the transcription methods used by Jesuit missionaries were not verified for a long time was not only due to inconsistent written documents but also because they recorded the language from speakers of various regions across Dai Viet. Therefore, the variations in the script found in the Dictionarium — a compilation of data collected over thirty years — correspond to some dialectal variations, many of which no longer exist today and which the author tries to systematically verify.
Additionally, this book presents a genuine study in historical linguistics. On one hand, it shows that the data provided by Alexandre de Rhodes allows us to approach the linguistic state — the morphology of Vietnamese in the medieval period. Although historical in nature, the accepted views still hold synchronic relevance.
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK: QUOC NGU SCRIPT – A UNIQUE CASE IN EAST ASIA
Vietnamese is an isolating, tonal language belonging to the Viet-Muong (also called Vietic) branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Its uniqueness compared to other East Asian continental languages lies in its use of a Latin-based script: Quoc Ngu. Chinese characters are still used in religious ceremonies and appear on Buddhist relics, especially in northern and central Vietnam, but the official script is the Latinized one used in daily life, journalism, books, and education.
The adoption of a writing system largely borrowed from the Latin alphabet and Romanic languages, primarily Portuguese, is a rare phenomenon in Asian countries influenced by Chinese politics, culture, and Confucianism. This unique alphabet was created in the first half of the 17th century thanks to the efforts of Jesuit missionaries residing in Dang Trong and later Dang Ngoai (southern and northern regions of Vietnam). Besides creating the alphabet, they also developed descriptions of the Vietnamese language — works related to what is now called grammaticalization.
Book – History of Vietnamese Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Title: History of Quoc Ngu Script (1615–1919)
Publisher: Omega Plus
Author: Pham Thi Kieu Ly
Publishing House: Van Hoc Publishing House
Year of Publication: 2024
Number of Pages: 488
Format: Paperback
Language: Vietnamese
The book "History of Quoc Ngu Script" is an academic and educational resource that can be useful for a variety of audiences, including:
- Students studying linguistics, literature, and history. The book provides detailed information on the development of the Quoc Ngu script, helping them better understand the Vietnamese language and culture.
- Researchers in the fields of linguistics, culture, and Vietnamese history will find valuable data and in-depth analysis of the formation and evolution of the Quoc Ngu script.
- History and culture enthusiasts who are interested in the origins and development of the writing system currently used by Vietnamese people.
The book "History of Quoc Ngu Script" is not only limited to professionals but also open to anyone interested in the development of the Vietnamese language and culture.
This book focuses on exploring the history of the Vietnamese written language. The purpose of using the Quoc Ngu script has transformed throughout its history: from being a tool for European missionaries to learn the local language in the early stages of integration, it gradually evolved within the missionary environment to become a means of communication between European and native priests.
However, this work does not merely focus on the history of language — or more precisely, on missionary linguistics in Asia as conceptualized by scholars like Otto Zwartjes — but also addresses the connections between the internal history of the Vietnamese language (such as grammaticalization models) and the broader political and cultural history of the country (its objective history).
The book also shows a profound concern for the history of the language itself, especially the historical phonology of Vietnamese. Here, besides the qualities of a language historian, Pham Thi Kieu Ly also demonstrates undeniable traits of a linguist.
She argues that the reason why the transcription methods used by Jesuit missionaries were not verified for a long time was not only due to inconsistent written documents but also because they recorded the language from speakers of various regions across Dai Viet. Therefore, the variations in the script found in the Dictionarium — a compilation of data collected over thirty years — correspond to some dialectal variations, many of which no longer exist today and which the author tries to systematically verify.
Additionally, this book presents a genuine study in historical linguistics. On one hand, it shows that the data provided by Alexandre de Rhodes allows us to approach the linguistic state — the morphology of Vietnamese in the medieval period. Although historical in nature, the accepted views still hold synchronic relevance.
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK: QUOC NGU SCRIPT – A UNIQUE CASE IN EAST ASIA
Vietnamese is an isolating, tonal language belonging to the Viet-Muong (also called Vietic) branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Its uniqueness compared to other East Asian continental languages lies in its use of a Latin-based script: Quoc Ngu. Chinese characters are still used in religious ceremonies and appear on Buddhist relics, especially in northern and central Vietnam, but the official script is the Latinized one used in daily life, journalism, books, and education.
The adoption of a writing system largely borrowed from the Latin alphabet and Romanic languages, primarily Portuguese, is a rare phenomenon in Asian countries influenced by Chinese politics, culture, and Confucianism. This unique alphabet was created in the first half of the 17th century thanks to the efforts of Jesuit missionaries residing in Dang Trong and later Dang Ngoai (southern and northern regions of Vietnam). Besides creating the alphabet, they also developed descriptions of the Vietnamese language — works related to what is now called grammaticalization.
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Shipping
We ship worldwide. Please note that some products may have shipping restrictions depending on destination regulations or carrier limitations.
When you place an order, we’ll estimate shipping and delivery times based on product availability and the shipping method you choose. Estimated delivery details will appear during checkout.
Shipping rates are weight-based. The weight of each item can be found on its product page, and all weights are rounded up according to the policies of our shipping partners.
Returns Policy
You may return or exchange most new, unused items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
If the return is due to our error (for example, you received an incorrect or defective item), Vietnamese Book & Craft will cover all return shipping costs.
You can expect to receive your refund within four weeks after sending your package back, although in many cases you’ll receive it sooner. This period includes:
- 5–10 business days for the package to reach us,
- 3–5 business days for us to process your return,
- and 5–10 business days for your bank to finalize the refund.
To request a return, simply log into your account, view your order under the “My Orders” section, and click the “Request Return” button. We’ll notify you by email once your refund has been processed.
Shipping
We ship worldwide. Please note that some products may have shipping restrictions depending on destination regulations or carrier limitations.
When you place an order, we’ll estimate shipping and delivery times based on product availability and the shipping method you choose. Estimated delivery details will appear during checkout.
Shipping rates are weight-based. The weight of each item can be found on its product page, and all weights are rounded up according to the policies of our shipping partners.
