Question About Vietnamese Language / Culture

January 25, 2022, 03:08 PM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by PR64:

I’m curious why you don’t think she’s a regular American and speaks English?

I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion; maybe I was not clear, in my original post. I'm sure that she does speak fluent English, but I'm willing to bet that English was not her first language, and maybe not her second.

I always though that it was a sign of respect to greet others in their native language. I probably got that habit from my mother, who was fluent in a bunch of central and Eastern European languages. She (my mother) was the first in her blood line to be born in the U.S., and she did not learn English until she started school, when she was maybe five or six years old. I wish that more of her linguistic ability had rubbed off on me, but I do try to stumble along in a couple of other languages.

January 25, 2022, 03:15 PM

SIGnified

I have learned little sayings in Vietnamese. It is my favorite cuisine by far, and I live in a fairly Asiatic community with Vietnamese making up some significant part of the population. Likewise I can speak a little bit of Chinese, Japanese and Thai.

Like any human culture, they tend to be very pleased that you try to speak to them natively. Often enriches the experience so much more.

IME, culturally they are very hard workers, much like the Cubans used to be.

January 25, 2022, 03:32 PM

12131

quote:
Originally posted by Aeteocles:
To address a female in your parent's peer group, you would use Cô. Roughly translated, it means "Auntie."

"Cô" has a wide range of usage, anywhere from young lady to auntie. For V-Tail's case, it's perfectly appropriate for him to use it when greeting her.

January 25, 2022, 03:40 PM

David Lee

V-Tail, try yeu toi lau roi..

January 25, 2022, 05:38 PM

Butch 2340

quote:
Originally posted by Aeteocles:
To address a female in your peer group, you would use "Chị". Roughly translated, it means "Respected Sister." To pronounce it, the "i" has a "gutteral stop" in the same way the i in "Chick" causes tension and an abrupt stop of diaphram and throat.

To address a female in your parent's peer group, you would use Cô. Roughly translated, it means "Auntie." To pronounce it, use a hard C and a long O, as in the *second* half of Cocoa.

There are two more female pronouns that are used in specific cases. Bác for someone who would be in your parent's peer group, but you are certain is older than your parents. Roughly, "Elder Auntie". Bà for someone who would be in your grandparents peer group. Roughly, "Madam".

To address a letter: Kính gửi Chị Mai,

Chào would be informal - "Hi" or "Hey". Xin Chao would be "Hello", where the extra "xin" would be roughly, "I ask leave to greet you"... Vietnamese language is full of flourishes like this that makes speaking fluently a pain in the ass. If you were to just listen to direct translations, everyone's a fucking poet--"I beg leave to make your greetings with you today respected Madam, for I wish to take depart for home with this fish I have purchased upon myself."

This

January 25, 2022, 05:40 PM

V-Tail

Everything is settled. The young lady showed up today, I'm guessing that the driver was her husband. We had a brief conversation, she thanked me for finding her wallet and tracking her down (a police detective in her town did the legwork). Very pleasant young lady, a nursing student.

All's well that ends well.

This is the third wallet that I have found on the ground at strip malls near here and returned to the owners.

January 25, 2022, 08:02 PM

Edmond

I first read that as 3rd wallet you have found at strip clubs…

January 25, 2022, 08:08 PM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:

I first read that as 3rd wallet you have found at strip clubs…

No, I have found a lot more than three, at strip clubs.

January 25, 2022, 08:13 PM

saigonsmuggler

quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
No, I have found a lot more than three, at strip clubs.

Did you also go to same great length to return those to their male owners?

January 26, 2022, 09:02 AM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by saigonsmuggler:
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:

No, I have found a lot more than three, at strip clubs.
Did you also go to same great length to return those to their male owners?

Might be more fun to return the wallet to the owner's wife, and tell her where it was found.

January 26, 2022, 09:27 AM

recoatlift

Devious, I like it V!

January 31, 2022, 11:52 PM

Lefty Sig

I can attest to Vietnamese women being very impressed when a westerner can greet them properly and use a few words of Vietnamese. It also helps if you can pronounce a name like Nhung Nguyen properly.

February 01, 2022, 04:28 AM

Mars_Attacks

Today is Lunar New Year and I produce posters off the equipment for their celebration at work.

I will be crammed so full of egg rolls, rice noodle cake and bun thit noung, I won't eat again for a week. These little ladies treat me like a king. LOL

My coworkers appreciate it when we participate in their celebrations.