The grammar and semantics of the unit nouns “bầy”, “đàn”, “lũ” in Vietnamese

Abstract

Bầy, đàn, and lũ are unit nouns of Vietnamese origin that convey plurality and are generally considered synonymous. Although these three words are used to refer to an indefinite large number of animals or people, they are distinguished by subtle nuances in their grammatical and lexical meanings. These differences reflect native speakers’ perceptions in the metaphorical transfer from the domain of animals to that of humans, thereby expressing the speaker’s attitude toward the referenced subject.