Changes in Vietnamese language from globalization and localization

By Võ Kim Hà
DOI: 10.37550/tdmu.EJS/2021.02.204

The paper demonstrates the role of globalization and localization in the process of Vietnam’s interaction and integration with other cultures, causing changes in Vietnamese language. Globalization is defined as the free movement of goods, services and people of the worldwide scope across the borders of countries, resulted from the opening up of the global economy and advances of technologies. The increasing interconnectedness and integration of the economies of the world furnish more influx of information among countries which do not have anything in common and Internet and social media well contribute to such spread. Not only the pros but the cons of globalization are used to explain the part of localization as the entire process of adapting a product or content to a specific location or market. The paper indicates localization as the Vietnamese people’s endeavor to adapt Vietnamese language to the world while protecting and enhancing the national characters. The differences between localization and globalization are analyzed to demonstrate the value and requirements of localization in the present time. The influences of Sino-Vietnamese and French language are also found out as evidences of the phenomena. The changes of Vietnamese language from globalization and localization are illustrated with devices, ideas and images referring to the objects, actions or ideas.