FORMATION OF BIRD NAMES IN CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE

Abstract

Denomination is an inevitable demand of people all over the world. Birds play
a particularly important position in material and cultural life of the Chinese as well as the Vietnamese. Based on the survey of the names of 652 Chinese birds and 318 Vietnamese birds, this paper analyzes and compares the similarities and differences between the formation of bird names in two languages. These names are mostly formed by compounding method, including classifed/restrictive element and distinctive features. 14 distinctive features such as the feature of color, form/shape, habitat, sound… bear profound imprints of each country’s national culture.