Thạc Sĩ A Contrastive Analysis of Grammatical and Semantic Features of Words and Idioms Denoting Intelligenc

INTRODUCTION

1.1. RATIONALE
Language plays an important role in human evolution and history. Since language developed, many fields of science have developed at the same time. English is regarded as an international language and the target language of many linguistic studies. English vocabulary is plentiful with thousands of words and idioms among which words and idioms denoting unhappiness are commonly used in daily life. However, hardly any study of these words and idioms has been carried out by Vietnamese linguists. Mastering such a plentiful source of vocabulary is not an easy task for learners of a foreign language including English and Vietnamese. To solve the problem, many researchers have investigated into English and Vietnamese words and idioms in which English is considered to be the source language to be contrasted with Vietnamese as the target language. Nguyen Thi Van Lam (2002) presents some interesting findings on learning and teaching English vocabulary in general and English words and idioms denoting Happiness in particular in her Master thesis. In addition, in “A Contrastive Analysis of Grammatical and Semantic Features of Words and Idioms Denoting Intelligence & Wisdom” (2005), Phan Thi Minh Chau makes a contrast of words and idioms denoting Intelligence and Wisdom in English and in Vietnamese.
However, none of studies has so far analyzed the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English versus (Vs) Vietnamese. As a result, this study is carried out to make a contrastive analysis of the words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English and in Vietnamese in these two aspects. In this way, the study could help learners of English or Vietnamese as a foreign language have a good insight into the words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs Vietnamese (WIEUEV). Thanks to this, these learners could learn English and Vietnamese better.
1.2. AIMS
The aims of this study are to:
- Investigate the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs Vietnamese.
- Find out the syntactic and semantic similarities and differences between words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English and Vietnamese.
- Offer some suggestions for teaching and learning English and Vietnamese in general and for the translation work of words and idioms in these languages expressing unhappiness in particular.
1.3. OBJECTIVES
The study is designed to:
- Describe the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English.
- Describe the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in Vietnamese.
- Compare the syntactic and semantic features of these words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs Vietnamese.
1.4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Due to the time and resource constraints, this study is confined to the study of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs in Vietnamese in terms of syntactic and semantic features.

1.5. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In order to achieve the above aims and objectives, the following research questions could be put forward:
1. What are the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English?
2. What are the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in Vietnamese?
3. What are the similarities and differences in the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs Vietnamese?
1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study could help cross- cultural communicators use the words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English and Vietnamese better. Moreover, the study could help learners of English and Vietnamese as a foreign language have a deeper insight into both English and Vietnamese words and idioms including words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English and Vietnamese, and reduce the risk of commiting errors when using these words and idioms.
1.7. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The study is intended to be organized into 5 chapters:
Chapter 1 - Introduction – covers the rationale, the aims and objectives, the scope of study, the research questions, the significance and the organization of the study.
Chapter 2 - Literature Review and Theoretical Background – presents the literature review of the previous related studies and the theoretical framework as the theoretical background for the data analysis of the study.
Chapter 3 – Method and Procedure – is devoted to the methods used in the study, the data collection method and the procedure of the study.
Chapter 4 – Findings and Discussions – is allocated to the interpretation and the discussion of the findings on the syntactic and semantic features of words and idioms expressing unhappiness in English Vs Vietnamese.
Chapter 5 – Conclusion – gives the summary of the thesis’s major findings and offers some implications on the teaching and learning English and Vietnamese as a foreign language and presents some suggestions for further research.