2006-10-22 15:29:15 · 9 answers · asked by elaine.patton 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Stupid question. Vietnamese has very little to do with Cantonese. Cantonese is a Chinese language and related to Mandarin. Viet is ... completely different. You can see that when comparing Pin Yin transcriptions of Cantonese, and European letters transcriptions of Viet. No relation at all.
And it is surprising, but French has had no noticeable influence on Viet, even though we were ruling the country for about 1 century.
2006-10-22 15:41:37 · answer #1 · answered by Svartalf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How amusing the answers before me! The Vietnamese language was invented by the Vietnamese themselves. Back then thousand years ago (Remember, the Vietnam is almost 5000 years-old), the Vietnamese borrowed the Chinese writing system (pictorial characters). Hundred years ago, Emperor Quang Trung (a huge Vietnamese hero), after beating back the Chinese occupation army and expanding the country, tried to install the Vietnamese language system but he died too soon. His nemesis, the one who had been fighting Quang Trung for the throne without any luck, finally prevailed by defeating Quang Trung's son. He unified the country and invited the first Westerners in. Among them, a French priest named Alexandre de Rhode, who saw a need to romanize the writing to help him with his Christian mission. Then, the modern Vietnamese wrting was born and after years of refining is what it is today.
2006-10-22 18:20:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It was developed by a Spanish missionary. It has borrowed a number of words from French though.
It has nothing to do with Cantonese.
2006-10-22 17:04:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No.....although the French occupied it, I don't think it had any effect on their language.
2006-10-22 15:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is, my dad told me it had something to do with french...how should I know I know nothing about my own culture, elss then what I know about the simpsons...praise simpsons, but anyways I do know I think there is something to do with french
2006-10-22 15:30:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_language
2006-10-22 15:37:51 · answer #6 · answered by josephlau86 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-10-22 15:30:39 · answer #7 · answered by colorado 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope...
2006-10-22 15:36:55 · answer #8 · answered by hopeless 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, I don't think so......
2006-10-22 15:38:30 · answer #9 · answered by DuRcHiNeSeKiD *NeRd In ScHoOl* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋