An analysis of the semantic structure of the Vietnamese locative word “trên” (Based on the novel Never close your eyes by Hai Yan)

Abstract

<p>Locative words denote direction and position. The locative word “trên” is one such locative word in Vietnamese. Based on the source data from the novel <em>Mai khong nham mat</em> by Hai Nham, this article analyzes the semantic structure of the locative word “trên” from the cognitive linguistics perspective, identifying common types of meaning. The results show that this locative word has a spatial meaning, appearing with reference objects of the spatial types “point,” “line,” “surface,” and “volume,” with the most common reference objects being the “surface” type, and very rarely used with reference objects of the “point” type. This locative word also has non-spatial meanings, with 10 types of metaphors (scope, aspect, perspective, organization or agency, human body or body parts, source of information or means of information transmission, level or rank, role, foundation, time, quantity), among which the most common is the metaphor of scope. The least common are the metaphors of time and organizational structure.</p>