Vietnam Language

Along historical period, languages used in Vietnam have been changed to suit with administration and times. Officially, Chinese, Nom language, and alphabet Vietnamese are respectively used in communication and administration.

In around 1^st century BC, after a vast invasion, Vietnam wasset under brutal Chinese domination. For about 1,000 years, aiming at turning Vietnamese people into Chinese people actually, classical Chinese language (so-called “Han” language or “Nho” language) had been used in school and government. When the Dark Age of Chinese domination ended, classical Chinese language had still remained its dominant position and become official language of Vietnamese royal court and mandarin examinations. Several important works in history and science by Confucian scholarswere documented in classical Chinese language such as “Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu” (Complete Annals of Great Viet) by scholar Le Van Huu, “Du Dia Chi” by scholar Nguyen Trai, etc. In 1070, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature) was built as a place to worship Confucius as well as teach Confucianism. Under the Later Le Dynasty (1428 - 1527), Confucianism reached the peak of prosperous period.

At the beginning of independent feudal era of Vietnam, Nom language (in Vietnamese: “Chu Nom”) emerged. Nom language was created by purely recording Vietnamese but borrowing some characters of Han language. Thus, Nom language is significantly influenced by Han language in script and literary style sector. It was not until 15^th century that literature in Nom language flourished with many historic works such as “Quoc am thi tap” by scholar Nguyen Trai, “Hong Duc Quoc am thi tap” by King Le Thanh Tong, “Tale of Kieu” by poet Nguyen Du, and various Nom poems by poet Ho Xuan Huong, Doan Thi Diem, etc. Although Nom language had been used along with Han language for a long period, it hadn’t had the position of official language of the country. The exceptions are the short time of Ho Dynasty (15^th century) and Tay Son Dynasty (18^th century). At that time, all administrative documents were required to be written in Nom language.

In around 16^th century, the first Western clergymen came to Vietnam to evangelize. In demand of communicating with Vietnamese people, they learned Vietnamese and recorded it in Latin characters. The inceptive version of National language (so-called Vietnamese language) was formed and recorded in the dictionary “Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum” published in 1651 by Mr. Alexandre de Rhodes, who was a French clergyman. Till 19^th century, National language has been fully developed and widely disseminated. However, at that time, French was official language in schools and administration as French Protectorate. In the late 19^th century, French administration formally used National language in administrative documents and education. In 20^th century, National language was used by Vietnamese intellectuals to propagate patriotic and anti-colonial ideas. Variety of books and newspapers were published in National language. Besides, many literary works (including poems and novels) were also written in National language by Tu Luc Van Doan’s members and other writers. After gained independence for the country in 1945, government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam also recognized National language as official language of Vietnam.