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VietCali

Saturday, August 12, 2006

VietCali supports Vietnamese2020 Writing Reform Proposal.

There is a Vietnamese2020 Writing Reform Proposal that I think all Vietnamese should consider of using. Basically the proposal is instead of writing the words separately like "vui vẽ" for happy, it's better to merge them together like "vuivẽ" instead. For myself I see at least two benefits right away: 1. It's easier to recognize the words if you can't type in Vietnamese characters. For example take the word "dictionary" in Vietnamese is "tự điển". If you type in "tu dien" they can be mistaken for something else entirely in some context. But if you lump them togeter like "tudien" then there is less chance for them to be mistaken for something else. So I suggest if you can't type in Vietnamese characters, try to at least lump common words together like: "mayvitinh" for computer, "dienthoai" for telephone, and so on. 2. Really help with speed reading. I just glance over the paragraphs quickly and understand the context faster. I guess when you see common words that lump together, you kind of register the meaning in your brain right away. Whereas if the words are separate, you need to find out what the next words are before you register the meaning to your brain. This extra step slows down the speed reading significantly. So from now on you will see I start using ViệtNgữ2020 format hoping to help promote this proposal a little.

3 Comments:

  • When applied in a 100% fashion, like in the example you link to, I think it's more of a hindrance than a help. It might work better for compounds of three words like 'mayvitinh' but in general it causes me to read the words more slowly as I'm still looking to see where the component words begin and end. Especially for compounds like 'thựchiện', 'quảthực', 'cụthể', 'songâmtiết', ...

    Furthermore I doubt the proponents of this method have thought of the following: -

    1) Vietnamese will mix a lot of foreign words into their sentences. Are you talking about 'cola' or 'cólá', 'colo' or 'có lô4' (sorry I'm sure there are better examples)? You'll need to keep the tones.
    2) Screen readers, dictionaries, spell checkers and other automated systems. This method will break these and they'll remain broken for quite some time.
    3) Same as above ... substitute Google, Yahoo, ...

    Might be good for beating censorship though...

    By Anonymous Jon, at 11/12/2006  

  • Jon,
    I agree with you. Espcecially point number 2. I guess it would take tremendous effort to sync up the changes. I don't think that will ever going to happen anyway.

    By Blogger VietCali, at 11/17/2006  

  • i think it's such a waste of time. i can't even understand the word when they are put together,songâmtiết, what is it anyway? i dont think any vietnamese who really can read and write vietnamese well would support such an idea.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1/13/2007  

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