Tonal errors of Vietnamese learners in Modern Chinese

Abstract

Vietnamese and Modern Chinese belong to the same typological family, sharing a number of similarities in phonology, vocabulary, and grammar. However, certain structural differences also exist between the two languages. These differences have posed specific challenges for Vietnamese learners of Chinese as a foreign language. This study provides a preliminary overview of the common phonetic errors encountered by Vietnamese learners when studying Modern Chinese phonology, focusing particularly on tonal errors and prosodic phenomena. It further analyzes the underlying causes of these errors and proposes practical corrective strategies to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning Modern Chinese phonetics among Vietnamese learners.