Dialect Characteristics
Vietnamese French is based on standard Parisian French, but contains words that have been influenced not only by Vietnamese but also by Chinese and English, the latter due to U.S. presence in the south during the Vietnam War. Additionally, the pronoun vous used as the formal and plural form of you, is used not only to address elders but also to adults of the same age unlike Standard French, where tu is used among adult friends of the same age. Below are notable words of French used in Vietnam that differ from Standard French.
| Vietnamese French | Standard French | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| madam | madame | ma'am, Mrs. |
| ga | gare | train station |
| búp bé | poupée | doll |
| tivi | télévision | television |
| bánh gâteau | gâteau | cake |
| phanh | frein | brake |
Despite these minor differences, the form of French taught at Vietnamese schools and colleges is that of standard (Parisian) French.
Read more about this topic: Vietnamese French (dialect)
Famous quotes containing the word dialect:
“The eyes of men converse as much as their tongues, with the advantage that the ocular dialect needs no dictionary, but is understood all the world over.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)