Conceptual Metaphors of "Rivers and Water" in Vietnamese: From the Natural Environment to Socio-Cultural Spaces

FORMOSA NEWS

River Metaphors Shape Vietnamese Thinking from Folklore to Modern Economy

A recent study by Tran Thi Anh Dao of FPT Education in Can Tho City and Tran Thanh Du of Thu Dau Mot University reveals how rivers and water have evolved from everyday natural elements into powerful tools for understanding modern life in Vietnam. Published in 2026 in the International Journal of Applied and Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, the research shows that river imagery still plays a central role in how Vietnamese people think, communicate, and interpret complex issues—especially in economics and public policy. The findings matter because they highlight how cultural identity continues to shape modern communication. Even in discussions about finance or governance, Vietnamese language still relies on familiar images of water and rivers to make abstract ideas easier to grasp.

From Daily Life to Language

Vietnam’s geography, defined by dense river networks and a long tradition of wet-rice agriculture, has deeply influenced how people perceive the world. For generations, expressions like flowing water, boats, and riverbanks have been part of daily experience. According to Tran Thi Anh Dao, these elements are not just physical objects but cognitive tools. They help people explain abstract concepts such as time, emotion, and fate. In traditional folk songs and proverbs, river imagery often reflects personal feelings and life’s uncertainties. For example, water’s unpredictable flow becomes a metaphor for human destiny—sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent.

How the Study Was Conducted

The researchers analyzed 200 examples of river-related language. Half came from traditional sources such as Vietnamese folk songs and proverbs, while the other half came from modern journalism between 2021 and 2026, including major outlets like government and business news platforms. Using a cognitive linguistics approach, the study compared how river metaphors function in both contexts. Instead of focusing on technical theory, the researchers looked at how people naturally use familiar experiences—like flowing water—to explain more complex ideas.

Key Findings: A Shift in Meaning

The study found a clear transformation in how river metaphors are used over time.

From Emotion to Economics

-In traditional folklore, 72% of river metaphors describe emotions and personal fate.

-In modern journalism, 58% are used to explain economic and financial issues.

This shift shows how Vietnamese thinking has moved from reflecting personal life to managing complex systems like markets and national economies.

Flow Remains Central

Nearly half of all metaphors (47.5%) are based on the idea of “flow.” This includes expressions like capital flow, investment waves, or liquidity. This consistency suggests that movement—like water flowing—remains the core way Vietnamese people conceptualize change.

Language Simplifies Complexity 

Modern terms such as “bottleneck,” “unblocking flows,” or “market freezing” use water-based imagery to make abstract economic concepts easier to understand. Tran Thanh Du explains that this approach helps “translate complex systems into familiar experiences,” making information more accessible to the public.

Positive and Negative Framing

-45% of metaphors carry positive meaning (growth, expansion)

-30% negative (crisis, stagnation)

-25% neutral

This shows that river metaphors are not just descriptive—they guide how readers interpret events.

From Passive Acceptance to Active Control

One of the most significant insights is the shift in mindset. In traditional culture, people often saw themselves as part of nature, accepting fate like water flowing downstream. Today, the metaphor has changed. Rivers are no longer just something to observe—they are something to manage. Modern expressions like “steering the economic ship” or “directing capital flows” reflect a proactive attitude. Vietnamese society is increasingly focused on control, planning, and strategy rather than passive acceptance.

Why It Matters Today

The study highlights practical implications for communication, education, and policy. For journalists and media professionals, using familiar metaphors can make complex topics—like inflation, investment, or financial crises—easier to understand. This improves public awareness and engagement. For policymakers, the findings suggest that culturally grounded language can help build consensus. When policies are explained using familiar concepts, people are more likely to understand and support them. The research also has value for cross-cultural communication. Understanding how Vietnamese people think through water-based imagery can help international partners communicate more effectively.

Cultural Identity in a Global Era

Despite globalization and the adoption of international terms, Vietnamese language continues to adapt them through local experience. Interestingly, even concepts like “freezing” and “thawing”—which come from colder climates—are now used in Vietnam to describe economic conditions. However, they are understood through the broader framework of water behavior. This shows that Vietnamese culture does not simply adopt foreign ideas—it reshapes them through its own cognitive lens.

Author Profiles

Tran Thi Anh Dao is a researcher at FPT Education in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Her work focuses on cognitive linguistics, cultural language patterns, and metaphor studies. Tran Thanh Du is affiliated with Thu Dau Mot University, Vietnam. His research specializes in discourse analysis, applied linguistics, and the relationship between language and socio-cultural systems.

Source

Tran Thi Anh Dao & Tran Thanh Du (2026). Conceptual Metaphors of “Rivers and Water” in Vietnamese: From the Natural Environment to Socio-Cultural Spaces. International Journal of Applied and Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 249–262. 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijaamr.v4i4.214

https://nvlmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijaamr/index