55. SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF NORTHERN VIETNAMESE STUDENTS WITH /N/ AND /L/ PRONUNCIATION CHALLENGES

Tóm tắt

This article presents a socio-linguistic analysis of the difficulties faced by the students from Northern
Vietnam in distinguishing between the phonemes /n/ and /l/ after they move from their home provinces (such as
Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Thai Nguyen) to Hanoi for study and work. These pronunciation
patterns, stemming from regional dialectal characteristics, often become a source of language anxiety for
students entering environments where the Hanoi dialect - considered the more prestigious - predominates. Based
on the Audience Design Theory and Communication Accommodation Theory, this study analyzes how students
adjust their speech in response to social judgment, audience expectations, and professional pressures. Through
qualitative examples drawn from newspaper articles and previous empirical studies, this paper identifies three
stages of change in linguistic attitudes and behaviors: initial linguistic trauma upon arrival in Hanoi, the shift in
attitude after prolonged exposure to the standard dialect, and the lasting occupational impacts manifested by
persistent linguistic anxiety. The analysis further discusses whether the /n/–/l/ variation should be treated as a
dialectal feature or a mispronunciation, arguing that while it is a legitimate regional characteristic, it is socially
constructed as an error in dominant linguistic contexts. The study highlights the complex relationship between
language, power, and identity in contemporary Vietnam and calls for greater sociolinguistic awareness in education
and society to reduce stigmatization and promote linguistic inclusivity