The Importance of the Vietnamese Language in the International Market

The Vietnamese language is the official language of Vietnam. It is a tonal language that is similar to Cambodia’s official language, Khmer. Although there are other languages spoken in Vietname, such as Chinese, Khmer, Cham, and other languages spoken by tribes in the mountainous regions, Vietnamese is widely understood as the first tongue of Vietnamese people.The written form of Vietnamese uses the Roman alphabet and accent marks are used to show tones; and this writing system is called quoc ngu. It was creates by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century, in order to translate the scriptures. However, this system eventually replaced the Chinese characters, called chu nom, which had been given a vernacular pronunciation, and which had been used by people for centuries.Some people may think that Vietnamese is not difficult to read, since it is using Romanized letters. However, proper speaking, pronunciation and spelling is a complex process. But, is it really essential to study the Vietnamese language? What is the vital importance of this language in the international market?Learning other languages means, learning the writing system, and its proper pronunciation as well, however, polishing all the aspects of the language learning process is quite complicated, thus, when it comes to learn the Vietnamese language, it is more appropriate to enrol yourself in a language school, and talking to native Vietnamese speakers using their native tongue is a big contribution to your learning. As the world is facing globalization, it is becoming more interactive, and communicating to different countries that are all part of the global market. In 1997, the World Bank Group submit a study concerning the changes in educational policies in Vietnam, and measure the significance of the English language both in education and in the Vietnam market. Many foreign languages have been imposed on Vietnam over the centuries, such as Chinese, French, and Russian. Today, however English serves as the dominant language for business in the East Asian region, including in Vietnam. A market that speaks the global languages does not reflect a specific national culture, but flows with the transnational capital, seeming to belong to everyone. In addition, the English language increasingly operates as a vehicle of communication and helps to develop an authentically local market. So, does it mean that the Vietnamese language is useless?Vietnamese language serves as a natural symbol for the identity of its people, it nourishes their culture and heritage. Vietnamese people use their language in business, education, media, and government. Thus, when dealing with any Vietnamese situations, it is important to use their official mother tongue as a sign of respect and recognition of their own identity.