Terms of Endearment in Vietnamese: A Cognitive Linguistic Study

Abstract

The objective of this article is to examine the types of terms of endearment, their metaphorical meanings, and the underlying conceptualizations reflected in Vietnamese expressions for lovers. The study employs the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory within the field of cognitive linguistics. Data were collected online from three Vietnamese websites presenting terms of endearment used in Messenger and Zalo applications. The researcher further verified the usage of these terms through interviews with six native Vietnamese speakers: three males and three females, representing three age groups: 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years.

The findings reveal that gender-neutral terms of endearment are the most frequent, totaling 75 terms, followed by 55 terms used specifically for females and 30 terms used for males. Vietnamese terms of endearment appear in three main forms: Vietnamese words or phrases used to refer to a lover, Vietnamese abbreviations, and numbers or scientific formulas used as symbolic references to lovers.

Metaphorical analysis identified eight types of metaphors in Vietnamese terms of endearment. For male referents, four metaphor types were found: human metaphor, animal metaphor, occupational metaphor, and belief metaphor. For female referents, five metaphor types were identified: human metaphor, animal metaphor, plant metaphor, occupational metaphor, and belief metaphor. For gender-neutral terms, six metaphor types were observed: human metaphor, animal metaphor, nature metaphor, occupational metaphor, property metaphor, and place metaphor.

The metaphorical meanings found in Vietnamese terms of endearment reflect conceptualizations among Vietnamese speakers that portray lovers as exalted beings, adorable living creatures, fierce beings, valuable possessions, and essential parts of life. These conceptualizations vary according to the couple’s relationship context and individual experiences with their partners.