Đặc điểm cấu trúc – ngữ nghĩa và lập luận của câu đố về động thực vật trong tiếng việt tt tiếng anh

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

VU THI HUONG GIANG

STRUCTURAL SEMANTIC AND REASONING
CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL AND
PLANT RIDDLES IN VIETNAMESE

Major: Linguistics
Code: 9.22.90.20

SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS OF LANGUAGE

Hà Nội - 2020


THE WORK IS COMPLETED AT:
HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

Science intructor:
1. Assoc. Prof.Ph.D. Nguyen Thi Luong
2. Assoc. Prof.Ph.D. Pham Van Tinh

Reviewer 1: Prof.Ph.D. Hoang Trong Phien
Ha Noi National University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reviewer 2: Prof.Ph.D. Đo Viet Hung
Ha Noi National University of Education
Reviewer 3: Assoc. Prof.Ph.D. Ha Quang Nang
Vietnamese dictionary and encyclopedia

The thesis will be protected before the thesis dissertation committee
The school met at Hanoi National University of Education
in ... ... hours ... days ... months ... years ...

The thesis can be found at the libraries:
- The National Library, Hanoi
- The Ha Noi National University of Education


1
INTRODUCTION

1. The reason for choosing the topic
1.1. Literature is the art of words. The riddle is a kind of folk literature so this kind of
text is made from the material of words. So considering the characteristics of language of
the riddle is contributing to affirming the value, role and uniqueness of this genre in the
national literary life.
1.2. Nearly one fifth of the treasure of Vietnamese riddles is the ones of fauna and
flora, which are familiar to farmers. These contains many original riddles that need to be
explored.
1.3. Many riddles are written texts. However, riddle texts have a special structure
compared to other cultural literature ones. Along with that, the problem of nominalization of
riddles in general, those of animals and plant in particular should also be more interested in
research. Moreover, because riddles do not reflect things, objects, events, etc. in the world
as explicitly but referring to them in a “skew” way, in others, words, something is
mentioned by mentioning “another” thing..
1.4. Therefore, understanding riddles in the overall structure and meaning, reasoning is
necessary to see the unique features of language of this genre as well as to decode the logic
of thinking and the philosophy of language of riddles.
1.5. So far, research into riddles in terms of linguistics is not very abundant. No work

has studied the structural, semantic and argumentative characteristics of riddles on animals
and plants.
For the above reasons, we shall choose the topic: Structural semantic and reasoning
characteristics of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese to conduct as a PhD
dissertation.
2. Research purposes and tasks
2.1. Purposes
When carrying out this topic, we would like to:
- Clarify the structural, semantics and reasoning characteristics of the riddle of plants
and animals in Vietnamese to explore the uniqueness of this special type of text from a
linguistic perspective.
- The unique of the structure, semantics and reasoning of riddles about animals and
plants in Vietnamese can be pointed out; and we can initially make comments, point out the


2
unique features of Vietnamese cultural thinking, thinking and philosophy through this
puzzle segment.
- Initially point out the basis - the decoding mechanism to be able to solve riddles
quickly, correctly and accurately.
2.2. Research tasks
To accomplish that purpose, the specific research tasks are as follows:
- Applying research methods into the specific object investigation, forging research skills.
- Consolidating and systematizing theoretical premises related to the topic
- Doing surveys, statistics, classification questions on animals and plants
+ Indicating structural characteristics of riddle text, modeling homogeneous structure
commonly found in animal and plant riddles
+ Finding structural and semantic characteristics
+ Clarifying reasoning characteristics of the animal and plant riddles: characteristics of
conclude, argument and some tactics to distract arguments from which the originality of

structures, meanings, arguments of riddles about animals and plants in Vietnamese are
pointed out. At the same time, initial comments are given on the characteristics of thinking,
cultural thinking, and Vietnamese folk philosophy through the animal and plant riddles.
3. Objectives and scope of research
3.1. Research objectives: due to the scope of the thesis and time limit, we only focus
on understanding animal and plant riddles (based on the text because the riddle is a folk
game realized with language).
3.2 Descriptive method: This method is used to describe structural characteristics, a
number of similar structural models in riddles, characteristic meanings selected as descriptive
elements…
3.3. Interdisciplinary research methodology - cultural studies
This method helps us decipher the artistic intent and partly understand the perception of
Vietnamese people through riddles about plants and animals.
4. Methods and tools of research
In order to achieve the goals and tasks set out, we use descriptive methods, semantic
analysis methods, interdisciplinary research methods and statistical and classification
tactics; comparative tactics…
4.1. Discourse analysis
We analyze, describe and contrast riddle texts (a special type of text) in order to find
the features of structure of animal and plant riddles.


3
4.2. Analysis and synthesis
We do analyses and statistics and summary of the data. Then basing the semantic
analysis, we denote the reasoning of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese.
4.3. This is an interdisciplinary approach to linguistics, culture studies, stylistics,
prosody that help decode the artic and cognitive features of animal and plant riddles.
5. Outcomes of the thesis
This is a systematic and intensive survey of linguistic characteristics: structural

characteristics, semantic characteristics (nominalization) and reasoning characteristics of
riddles about animals and plants in Vietnamese
6. Theoretical and practical significance of the thesis
Theoretically and practically, the dissertation has the following contributions:
6.1. Theoretically
The thesis contributes to supplement and complete additional research results on
riddles; contribute a new perspective on Vietnamese folk riddles from the perspective of
linguistics (text, reasoning, object projection (facility), identification).
The results of the thesis will contribute to strengthening the direction of the study of
semantic structure, combined with theoretical research for a specific type of discourse, the
riddle in Vietnamese.
6.2. Practicality
The results of the project will contribute to improving the compilation of Vietnamese
textbooks for high school students (especially in the context that the Ministry of Education
and Training is developing a program and compiling a new set of Literature books) ,
textbook of teaching Vietnamese, serving for linguistics training at bachelor's and postgraduate
levels, compiling reference books for analytical lectures in schools.

In addition, the results of the thesis are of useful value, good service in teaching
research, exploring puzzles in particular, folk literature in general from the linguistic
perspective. The thesis will be a reference for those who want to learn more about this
unique genre of folk literature.
7. Thesis structure
In addition to the introduction, conclusions, references, appendices, indexes, lists of
published works, the content of the thesis is implemented on three chapters:
Chapter 1: An overview of research situation and theoretical background
Chapter 2: Structural and sematic features of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
Chapter 3: Reasoning characteristics of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese.

4
CHAPTER 1
AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH SITUATION AND THEORETICAL
BACKGROUND
1.1. Overview of research situation
1.1.1. Research works of riddles in terms of literature
From the perspective of literature, riddles become an object to be recognized, explored
in comparison with other types of cultural literature. The authors Đinh Gia Khánh, Võ
Quang Nhơn, Chu Xuân Diện in the textbooks "Vietnamese Folk Literature" have raised the
most general features of the object such as content characteristics and functions of riddles
as well as its position in the spiritual life of the people.
In addition, in a number of MA's and BA's theses, riddles have also been studies in
terms of literature. In general, riddles seen from a literary perspective have been explored
quite comprehensively and systematically. Researchers have devoted a lot to understanding
and identifying riddles from the nature, origin and function to the production and use
environments.
1.1.2. The study of riddles in terms of linguistics
Some works on Vietnamese linguistics that are sporadic find out about different
similarities, in terms of presuppositions, referential expressions, cognition, rhetorical
measures in the riddle). No author has assumed that the riddles is a special type of text and
studied all its manifestations (composition, semantics, reasoning) as a complete text, a
special text.
Thus, so far, research into animal and plant riddles have mainly exploited from the
perspective of folk literature. Studying this genre from the perspective of linguistics has not
been fully and thoroughly exploited.
1.2. Theoretical background
In this section, we systematize some theoretical issues related to the topic: The riddle
theory (from a literary and linguistic perspectives), text theory, nominalization theory and
theory of reasoning.
Riddles are seen from the perspective of literature (in terms of concepts, genre

characteristics, functions), from a linguistic perspective (a special text).
In terms of text theory, we go into the concepts of text types, text structure,
characteristics of text and text cohesion.


5
Regarding nominalization theory, we explore the concept, the basis of nominalization
and peculiarities of thinking, culture, language in nominalization.
Argument theory focuses on the concepts of argument formulas, composition of
arguments, reasoning relationships, classifications of arguments, reasoning and reasoning.
The above theoretical issues are the background for the study associated with the
specific objects in the next chapters.
1.2.1. Riddles and their characteristics
1.2.1.1. Concept
For the dissertation author, the riddle is a type of folk literature. It has a complete
content presented with a peculiar language indicating creative thinking of the riddler.
Because the name of the riddled object is always hidden, the solver has to use reasoning
ability so s/he can decode unknowns encoded with language in the riddle.
1.2.1.2. Featured
i. Riddle - an intellectual game with words Recreational functions
ii. Riddle - a special problem
1.2.1.3. Function
i. Cognitive function
ii. Educational function
iii. Entertainment function
1.2.2. Several linguistic theories have been selected as the theoretical basis of the thesis
1.2.2.1. Theories of Text
The theory consists of many issues. In this dissertation, we present only what is related
in order to investigate the characteristics of structural and sematic of the riddle text:
Conceptualization, peculiarities, structures and cohesion.

i. Concept
From the conceptualization of text by some linguists in the world and Vietnam, we
follow the points of Trần Ngọc Thêm that “Text is a complete uniform entity in content and
in form” [110, page 43]. It is a complete unit of communication.
ii. Peculiarities
First, text has to be complete in meaning (content): It has to have a certain theme.
Second, text has to be complete in form.
Third, in order to be complete in form and content, text has to have cohesion.
(formal/content cohesion)


6
iii. Textual structure (general formation of text)
In their works, such authors as Diệp Quang Ban, Trần Ngọc Thêm,..agree that a text
has 3 three parts: opening, body and ending.
In this dissertation, we use the theory of textual formation to explore structural
formation of a riddle and find special features in this type of text.
iv. Textual cohesion
Textual cohesion consists of cohesion in form and in meaning (content). Cohesion in
content includes:
Theme cohesion: This is referred to as a topic: what to be mentioned. This kind of
cohesion requires all sentences in the whole text to move around a topic (By keeping or
developing the topic).
Logical cohesion: “known, first of all, as the part showing the peculiarities of
something/somebody mentioned” I5, page 550). That is the reasonable link between
something/somebody and their peculiarities in a sentence and between these peculiarities
and other peculiarities among sentences in cohesion.
In this dissertation, we do not study formal cohesion but explore content cohesion of
riddles and nominalization when studying topics reflected (in the solution) and the
peculiarities for describing riddled objects (through riddles).

1.2.2.2. Theories of Denotation, Reference
i. Denotative theory, expressions and meaning (referent)
For Đỗ Hữu Châu, “The relation between utterances (discourse) and the elements that
create a context is called “referent, also denotation) [17, page 186).
Thus, referential/denotative meaning is things that are referred to or signified. The
referential meaning of the riddle is the thing that is riddled. (the solution).
ii. Referential theory and referring expressions
Reference and referring expressions are devices for linking texts.
1.2.2.3. Theory of nominalization
i. Conceptualization
Mai Ngọc Chừ suggests that the way of understanding nominalization is “ the terms
that can be used to name things, phenomena, activities, qualities, relations,…in the
world.[22,page 195)
ii. Base for nominalization: without reasons (arbitrary) and with reasons (nonarbitrary).


7
iii. Nominalization ways: In/direct nominalization
v. Peculiarities of thinking, culture and language in nominalization
Language and culture have a close relationship. Nominalization shows human thinking
ability of cognition, culture of the objective world.
Animal and plant riddles are an interesting way of speaking-a type of defining things
according to folk thinking (i.e. second level nominalization) that brings a new and
unexpected view of things and phenomena that are inherently familiar to people.
Accordingly, we can see observation skills, intelligence and sensible speculations of
working people.
The theory of nominalization is used to investigate the features chosen as descriptive
elements-part 2.2. page 2.
1.2.2.4. Theory of reasoning
i. Conceptualization of reasoning

In “Đại cương ngôn ngữ học” (General linguistics), Đỗ Hữu Châu argues “Reasoning
is showing arguments in order to lead listener to a conclusion or an acceptance of
conclusion by the speaker”[15, page 155].
In spite of different expressions, linguists agree to the nature of reasoning that is
showing arguments (evidence and reasons) to orient the reader/listener to a conclusion.
Evidence makes people believe, reasons make people understand. When they have once
believed and understood, they are persuaded,, then reasoning is well-done.
ii. The structure of reasoning
We agree to Đỗ Hữu Châu’s viewpoint that full reasoning has two parts: arguments
(i.e. premises of reasoning that can be reasons or evidence) and conclusion (what comes
from premises, proved by premises)
iii.Reasoning relation
For Đỗ Hữu Châu, it is the relation between the parts of an argument.” There are
arguments with either same direction or reverse direction.
iv. Reasoning background
It is what people rely on to launch arguments and then arrive at conclusions. Referring
to reasoning background is talking about “common sense”.
1.3. Chapter conclusion
The riddle as a product of folklore has been studied and approached in two directions:
literature and linguistics. Approaching from the literary aspect, there are general riddle


8
studies (mainly collection and compilation nature), there are riddle studies for specific
subjects. In terms of linguistics, the authors have focused on the rhetorical measures in
riddles (puns, metaphors, etc.), studying the semantics of riddles, studying pragmatics of
riddles ( projection of object description ...). However, from the linguistic approach, there
has not been a comprehensive study of the total expression of riddles from structure,
semantics to arguments as a complete text, nor has there been a study that shows the
mechanism of deciphering the riddle from its form as well as its content.

The study of riddles is mainly a collection and compilation. Some in-depth studies
only stop at a few aspects (descriptive referential expressions, descriptive art, puns, etc.). So
far, the riddle has been studied from a literary and linguistic perspective, but there has not
been any work in depth to understand the riddle of plants and animals - as a special text on
all three aspects: semantic, structural and reasoning characteristics.
Diep Quang Ban's theory of text (specifically the theory of textual structure) is the
premise for us to explore the structural characteristics of the riddle text of animals and
plants in Vietnamese, thereby pointing out general characteristics and structural
characteristics of this particular type of document.
Do Huu Chau's theory of object projection, the logical link of Diep Quang Ban,
identification theory is the basis for us to study the semantic characteristics of riddles of
animals and plants in Vietnamese (the topics are reflected and the method of
implementation, the characteristics selected as the element description and the method of
description)
Do Huu Chau's theoretical theory (specifically, the components of argument, structure
of argument, basis of argument) is the theoretical basis that helps us to understand the
characteristics of animals and plants riddles in Vietnamese.


9
CHAPTER 2
STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL
AND PLANT RIDDLES IN VIETNAMESE
Each riddle is a special text. In this chapter, we apply the theory of text formation by Diệp
Quang Ban to consider the structure of riddles in Vietnamese. At the same time, we study some
similar structural models in riddles (without considering their solutions) about the animals and
plants, from which, we show an overview of the distinctive expression of riddles.
2.1. Characteristics of the structure of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
As a text (mainly a descriptive text), a riddle has a 3-part structure like a common text.
However, a riddle is also a special text so it has its own characteristics of structure.

2.1.1. Textual structure of text of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
First of all, as a text, a riddle also has a 3 part structure. However, in addition to very
few riddles with the common structure, most riddles have on the body and ending part as
shown in figure 2.1.
Table 2.1. Textual structure of word animal and plant riddles about in Vietnamese
No

Composition of the riddles

Quanlity/1124 quiz

Ratio(%)

1

Common structures

122

10,9

2

Special structures

1002

89,1

2.1.1.1. A common riddle text

A common text usually consists of three parts: the opening, the body and the ending.
Due to the need to hide the name of the riddled thing, this type of text does not takes up
much (122 sentences, accounting for 10.9%).
2.1.1.2. A text with a special structure
It is the riddle text has only the body and the ending. Due to the need to hide the
name of the riddled thing, this type of text takes up more numbers (1002 sentences,
accounting for 89.1%). The ending of the riddle text is in the solution. The problem is in
the body (the part describing the characters of the riddles) without the opening - the
keyword leading to the topic.
2.1.2 The similar structural models of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
Through a survey of 1124 riddles on animals and plants, we found that there are 291
riddles (25,9%) use similar models.


10
Table 2.2.Number of animal and plant riddles with similar structural models
NO

Similar structures in riddles

Number of riddles Ratio (%)

1

Riddles with common structure

3

1,4

2

Riddles with common structure

5

2,4

2.1.2.1. The similar structural models in riddles with common structure
i. The similar interrogative model
The similar interrogative structure is a question with near/similar grammatical
formation.
In Vil riddles

Frequency/

Ration

488

(%)

1

Birds

123

25,2

2

Insects

115

23,6

3

Animals

108

22,1

4

Aquatic animal

94

19,3

5

Others (reptiles)

48

9,8

It is clear that the animals in animal riddles have close relation and effect on peasants’
life, particularly agricultural life with small animal husbandry.
ii. The topics in the solution of animal riddles in Vietnamese
The plant world also goes into the diverse and colorful riddle repertoire


13
Table 2.9. Topics in the solution of Vietnamese plant riddlest
STT

Topics in the solution of plant riddles

Frequency/636

Ration
(%)

1

Tree, grass

287

45, 1

2

Tuber, fruit, seed

258

40,6

3

Flower, leave

91

14, 3

It is clear that plant riddles describe a Vietnamese agriculture of Vietnamese inhabitants in
a true and lively way. The diversity of animals and plants also give us a picture of food of the
Vietnamese: mainly rice, vegetables or animal that are easily found are eaten in the meal, and
the state of food are made mainly from the source of animals and plants in nature.
2.2.1.2. Riddles-introduciton, development of text topic
In a three part text, the opening often introduce in a general way of the text topic with
nouns (con/fruit,cây/tree) and the topic is then developed in the body with the linguistic factors
of text. If we consider the above topics to be the big ones, one riddle is a subtopic of that topic.
The uniform of topic (the name of riddled things – solution) is realized with a series of nouns
in relation. That is, for animal riddle texts, the riddler often describe such body parts as
hands, legs/feet, ears,eyes, head,…For plant riddle texts, the riddler often describe the types of
trees, flowers, leaves, tubers, seeds,... They can be described as whole or just their parts such as
the plant body, branch, petal, peel, tuber color, root,…
2.2.2. Topic deployment for animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
The semantic peculiarities of riddles are seen as those used to orient the reference to
the object.
2.2.2.1. Feature chosen to be descriptive elements

i. The general feature chosen to be descriptive elements in animal and plant riddles in
Vietnamese
Through surveys and statistics, we find 13 feature chosen as descriptive elements for
both animal and plant riddles


14
Table 2.10. Descriptive elements of animal riddles in Vietnamese
No

Descriptive elements

Animal riddles

Plant riddles

Total
number

1

Formation

53

78

131

2

shape, size

51

53

104

3

Color

4

55

59

4

function,role

10

29

39

5

Living position

16

7

23

6

Time appearance

13

8

21

7

Smell

3

18

21

8

Position, specific state

15

4

19

9

Name

6

7

13

10

Protection react

7

5

12

11

Price

4

2

6

12

Quantity

4

2

6

13

Human effect

4

2

6

ii. The separate feature chosen to be descriptive elements in animal and plant riddles in

Vietnamese
a. The separate feature chosen to be descriptive elements in animal riddles in Vietnamese
Table 2.11. Separate descriptive elements of animal riddles in Vietnamese
No

Descriptive elements

Riddle
number

1

Routines, ways of living

18

2

Transport means

17

3

Sounds

8

4

Instinct

7

5

Reproduction

6

6

Personality

3

7

Bad influences

3

8

Food, food earning time, ways and speeds of hunting

3

9

Sức mạnh

1


15
b. The separate feature chosen to be descriptive elements in plant riddles in Vietnamese
In addition to the common characteristics, plant riddles still have some separate ones
to describe: moments of blooming, smelling, using,….
Table 2.12. Separate descriptive elements of plants riddles in Vietnamese
No

Descriptive elements

Riddle number

1

Ways of using, cooking, preserving

16

2

Tastes

12

3

Part positions

10

4

Time of blooming and smelling

8

5

Ways of sowing and caring

7

6

Living energy

3

7

Time of using and ways of harvesting

2

These separate characteristics are the hints to help identify groups of things for us to
decode the riddle more quickly and faster.

2.2.2.2. Cách thức miêu tả các đặc điểm
In addition, riddles can describe riddles things directly or indirectly.
Table 2.13.Ways of describing riddled things in animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
No

Ways of describing riddled things

Number

Ratio (%)

1

Direct desciption of riddled things

274

24,4

2

Indirect desciption of riddled things

850

75,6

i. Direct desciption of riddled things: The riddler reflects the things with proper
features of descriptive elements (riddles), showing the peculiarities of riddled things
(solutions), in other words, these peculiarities lies in riddled things.

ii. InDirect desciption of riddled things:

That is the definition of riddled things

according to folk thinking not to common definitions as in dictionaries.
2.3. Chapter conclusion
The riddle is a special text in structure because most riddles do not have enough parts
(opening, body, ending) as a common text. Particularly, the ending is always an implcation,
only appearing when the solver has once found the solution. In many cases, subjects,
conjunctions are elliptical to make a compression for the riddles to make more difficulty for
the solver. Additionally, the riddles is special about its similar models of structure.


16
The semantic peculiarities of riddle are understood as the ones in riddles to orient
reference to the riddled thing. Through the solution-referential meaning, the world of
animals and plants appears extremely abundant and diverse with species of animals, close to
people's life. The person who offers the riddle can give the essential characteristics, true to
the object itself, create the logical link in the directly description (direct nominalization) or
put a new color on the riddled thing (indirect nominalization). This is the basis to help
recognize the riddled thing and show the thinking of Vietnamese people that they often rely
on outer characteristics, easlily found, of the riddled things.
In addition the model of common similar grammatical structure, the decriptive
elements that are used for both animal and plant riddles, they have separate characteristic
models of their own that are attached to each other.
From the semantic and structural characteristics of animal and plan riddles in
Vietnamese, we can find an interesting thing that sometimes more than one solution can be
used for the same riddle, that is, a text can refer to many riddled things and vice versa, a thing
can be observed in many aspects and described in many ways by the riddler to make different
texts. That makes the riddle familiar but strange, strange but familiar.

CHAPTER 3
REASONING CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL
AND PLANT RIDDLES IN VIETNAMESE
Reasoning is a verbal act in close relation to comunication. Riddling-solving is a
communicative action so its reasoning needs to be studied. Moreover, riddle text is logical
one so its reasoning is very important for to form logic, common sense and folk philosophy.
And, in the riddles containing indirect description of riddled things, the riddler use
distracted reasoning for his/her own creative thinking.
For this chapter, we utilize Đỗ Hữu Châu’s theories of concept, formation of
reasoning, referential meaning in order to investigate the characteristics of parts and
structure of reasoning. Then we use them for studying the reasoning of animal and plant
riddles in Vietnamese. Exploring the reasoning of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese,
we aim to show original feartures of reasoning of this special type of text. Accordingly, the
dissertation can contribute to decoding folk thinking through riddles.


17
3.1. Characteristics of reasoning parts in animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
3.1.1. Characteristics of the ending parts in animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
3.1.1.1. Characteristics of quantity (quantity of parts, quantity of riddled things)
Conclusion (solution) of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese can show one or
some riddled things. Through surveys and stattistics, we find of 1124 riddles of animals and
plants, most of their conclusion contains only one riddled thing (1019 sentences, occupying
90,6 %), 105 sentences (9,4 %) là the conclusions with many riddled things.
Table 3.1. Number of riddled things of riddles of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
No

Number of riddled things

Riddle number

Ration (%)

1

Conclusions with one riddled thing

1019

90,6

2

Conclusions with two riddled things and more

105

9,4

Of 105 riddles with 2 riddled things and more, most of them are the ones with two
riddled things, occupying 86 sentences (82 %)
3.1.1.2. Semantic characteristics
Conclusion (solution) is referential meaning (riddled thing). They are usually the ones
in close relation.
3.1.2. Characteristics of the parts of reasoning in animal and plant riddles in
Vietnamese
3.1.2.1. Characteristics of quantity
Reasoning in riddles is mainly descriptive reasoning. One descriptive content
(descriptive elements) is regarded as an argument. The riddler can describe some
characteristics of the riddled thing, thus the quantity of arguments are at least of two or

more than two.
Table 3.2. Quantity of arguments in riddle reasoning of animals and plants.
No

Number of reasoning in a riddle

Riddle number

Ratio(%)

1

Two arguments

120

10,7

2

Two arguments and over

1004

89,3

For each type, we have specific descriptions and demonstrations.
For a reasoning with two arguments one of which is defined for the riddled thing
(Câytree/hoaflower/quả/fruit gì...), referring is easier.

18
The quantity of arguments with two or more than two is the hints to slve the riddle.
However, in fact, how successful the effect of reasoning and referring does not depend on the
quantity of arguments but on how the riddler selects, describe the signs of the things that are the
arguments for reasoning.
3.1.2.2. Semantic characteristics
i. For the riddle with direct description: explicit description of inherent characteristics of
the riddled thing.
ii. For the riddle with direct description: Also description of animal and plant but the
riddler takes the solver to a verbal trap in order to distract the solver, making the solver
think, discuss in order to understand the riddler’s message.
3.2. Structure of reasoning of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese
Due to the fact that the conclusion of the riddle is always implicit, i.e. in a hidden or
unspoken state (just “appear” once the solver has found the solution of te riddle, we mainly
rely on the appearance of arguments, considering the structure of reasoning of riddles.
Table 3.3. Structure of reasoning of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese.
No

Structure of reasoning

Riddle number

Ratio (%)

1

Explicit structure of reasoning

90

8

2

Implicit structure of reasoning

1034

92

3.2.1. Explicit structure of reasoning
The riddle with explicit structure of reasoning (explicit arguments) is the structure of
reasoning with fully present arguments. The structure of reasoning appears in the riddles
with available nouns denoting “species” (con/animalcây/tree/hoa/flower/quả/fruit/củ/tuber
...) going together with interrogative wordsgì (what),chi (what), nào (Which)... Because it
has to hide the riddled things, this structure is not abundant (90/1124 sentence, 8%). For the
riddles with the explicit reasoning, the riddled thing has already been defined with the
“type” (animal or plant).
3.2.2. Implicit structure of reasoning
The riddle with implicit structure of reasoning is the structure of reasoning without
direct arguments. Due to having to hide the riddled thing, most riddles have this kind of
structure reasonong (1034/1124 sentences, chiếm 92%). For those riddles, nouns denoting
“species” and interrogative words do not appear.They are hidden and the solver has to infer
the object that must be guest in the riddle.


19
For explicit structure of reasoning, riddled things (con/animal, cây/tree...) are “halfguiding”, for implicit structure of reasoning, riddled things are “secretly hidden”, it is the
solver who define the object (either animals or plants) to decode the question.

3.3. Reasoning background of riddles on animals and plants in Vietnamese
3.3.1. Common sense reasoning
Riddles with common sense reasoning are the ones with direct description of inherent
features, i.e. a true description as in reality on the riddled thing. In other words, those are
obviuos characteristics of riddled things.
3.3.2. Reasoning by separate creative thinking (not by logic or common sense)
Animal and plant riddles refer to animal and plants in the world. However, in order to
“jam”, or/and distract the solver with reasoning, nouns calling riddled things are usually
deleted, hidden and the descriptive elements are also disguised – indirect description with
reasoning by separate creative thinking.
Table 3.4. Some forms of reasoning by separate creative thinking
Riddle
No
Reasoning by separate creative thinking
number
1 Reasoning of field transference
491

Ration
(%)
57,8

2

Reasoning of use of differences of truth, common sense

118

13,9

3

Reasoning of word playing (puns)

112

13,2

4

Reasoning of virtualization

83

9,7

5

Reasoning of depending on/inferring from other ideas

38

4,5

6

Reasoning of saying “vulgar” but meaning “courteous”

8

0,9

In the scope of dissertation, we just study some of the following types of reasoning:
3.3.2.1. Reasoning of semantic field transference
In the referring expressions of riddles on animals and plants, the riddler ofter uses the
word system of different fields from the ones of the referents in riddles (people, things, …) to
describe the riddled thing (animals and plants), though they are suitable both for description
and guessing thanks to similar relations.
Table 3.5. Ways of semantic field transference in the reasoning of riddles in Vietnamese
No
1
2
3
4
5

Ways of semantic field
transference
Humanization
Materialization
Plantization
Animalization
Naturalization

Riddle
number
393
61
19
14

4

Ratio (%)
80,0
19,6
3,9
2,9
0,8


20
Có phương thức chỉ được dùng ở nhóm này mà không được dùng ở nhóm kia.
i. Common semantic field transference used for both animal and plant riddles:
Humanization, materialization.
ii. Separate semantic field transference of animal and plant riddles
a. Field semantic transference of animals: plantization, naturalization.
b. Field transference of plants: animalization
In those riddles, despite the appearance of nouns denoting things, there is a change in those
nouns (into metaphor of humanization, materialization …) to show riddled things vividly. Then,
the solver cannot base the original meaning of the noun to define the riddled object but has to
infer according semantic change, and base the descriptive elements to find the referred things.
3.3.2.2. Reasoning of use of differences of truth, common sense
Through surveys and statistics, we find 75 riddles on animals and 43 on plants use this
kind of reason.
i. Reasoning of use of differences from truths
A truth is obvious without being denied. In order to make a distraction of reasoning, this
type of riddles usually has reverse ways of speaing: denying – confirming through: Không/no
X mà/but Y, with X but no Y, Không phải X/it is not X mà (có) Y/ but it is Y, ….(In which, X
is a premise to Y, Y is a obvious result from X), X lại bảo rằng Y/ X but speaking Y hoặc X
nhưng/but Y (X, Y have reverse meanings) …

ii. Reasing of use of differences of common sense
The riddle use this kind of reasoning often put the riddled things into illogical state
without common sense or object rules.
3.3.2.3. Reasoning of playing words (puns)
It is the reasoning that uses similarities of sound, meaning, scripts, contexts, make
interesting unexpected associations.
Table 3.6. Ways of playing words (puns)
STT

Reasoning of playing words (puns)

Riddle number

Ratio (%)

1

Synonyms, near synonyms

84

75

2

Homonyms, near homonyms

28

25

Word - playing is a rhetorical measure that focuses on exploiting the phonological,
semantic, literary and contextual similarities to create unexpected and interesting
associations. Here we only consider the riddle using the word play in a direct relation to it,
not the case of the solution.


21
3.3.2.4. Virtualized argument
Virtualization argument is one of the tactics of misleading arguments by changing the
concept (using a unreal objects to talk about real objects) or creating an unusual,
virtualization of sound, image, of grammatical structure ...
3.4. Page conclusion
A riddle is an argument that is the conclusion for the solution, forcing the solver to
deduce to find out. it is always hidden, not explicit and only appears after the solver finds
the solution. And the argument in the riddle offer data (clue) for finding objects. In addition
to the riddles that offer nominalization and directly describe the riddled object, helping the
solver easily find the solution, the majority of the riddles about animals and plants are
described indirectly. The riddled object is familiar to people but the riddler offers
strange/uncommon features to it with some tactics of misleading arguments; aiming to trap,
fool the solver. With these riddles, the solver are often placed in two meaning spaces:
surface meaning and hidden meaning. Riddlers often describe, express a situation on the
surface of language on which another object is figure out. Riddlers deploy a reasoning
source based on a meaning transference to deceive the sover in many ways (field
transference, illogical arguments, contra-arguments, puns, courteous image in vulgar riddle
words, etc. ... according to folk thinking. A conclusion that is drawn is unlike a common
one. It is a deductive conclusion as conceptual information because it is the result of
arguments, speculations and assumptions.
In order to decode an anonymous referent and find out its correct name of that
“strange” and “familiar” object, it is necessary for both riddlers and solvers to be alert based

on background knowledge, common “denominator”, imagination mobilization, deduction,
analogic reasoning, logical judgment and knowledge of language.
.


22
CONSOLIDATION
As a unique linguistic phenomenon in the national cultural heritage, riddles retain the
sustainable values of human thinking, soul and creativity. With the topic “Structural
semantic and reasoning characteristics of animal and plant riddles in Vietnamese”, by taking
surveying, doing statistics and analyzing the source, we achieved the following results:
1. In terms of structure, the riddles of plants and animals in Vietnamese are a special
document because except few riddles, which have three parts as the structure of a normal
text; most of them consist only of the body and the ending, especially the ending is always
"hidden". In addition, the similar structure of riddles, according to tip patterns, is also a
distinctive feature of this text type.
2. The meanings of the riddle are the total meanings of the statements. The semantic
characteristic of riddles is chosen as a descriptive element, which helps to orient the
identification and reference of the puzzle objects. And the meaning of the solution is the
meaning of object reflection.
If the solution helps us to see a large, rich, colorful picture of the animal and plant
world, the element of descriptions appearing in the riddle shows the vivid visual thinking,
loooking into the appearance of animals, with the intelligence, observative ability, quick
response of the makers.
The variety of riddles about the same thing reflects the perception of reality in a multidimensional view. Beside the common characteristics selected as a descriptive element for
both plants and animals with a different density, each group possesses its own
characteristics. This is the key, the important data, has been encoded difficultly. This is also
an interesting language problem.
3. The Vietnamese rationale on animals and plants is mainly descriptive, in which the
conclusions (solutions) are always hidden and only come out when the solutionist finds an

answer. The number of arguments (descriptive elements) in a puzzle is usually more than
one. Effective argument does not depend only on the number of arguments but also on the
characteristics selected as the prime description in the argument
In addition to the explicit argument structure, the riddle also has a hidden function
argument structure. Beside the logical structure of reasoning, many sentences have the
structure of reasoning according to the creative thinking of the puzzle (based on changing
fields; puns; the difference with truth, common sense; virtualization ...) . Thanks to the


23
deviated text - the matrix of words, the puzzle is hidden. Without thinking, reasoning, the
solutionist is easy to fall into the trap of words, which have already been set in the riddle.
Vietnamese puzzles on plants and animals have unknown factors (because puzzles are
often familiar plants, flowers, tubers) but there are hidden clues. If the similar structure
makes strange objects to be familiar, the reasoning structure based on creative thinking will
make things strange. That creates attraction for puzzles of plants and animals in particular
and in general, doesn't it?
4. Mechanism of decoding puzzles
The beauty of riddles is the art of encoding. The puzzle is encoded by object to object.
There is a question that how to make the coded object similar to the tested object without
being exposed. If the person giving the puzzle is the one who "encodes" then the person
solving the puzzle is the one who "decodes" the text. Based on the characteristics of
structure - semantics, arguments of riddles on animals and plants in Vietnamese, we can
come up with the mechanism of decoding the puzzle as follows:
Firstly, based on the structural characteristics (form): For the puzzle texts that have both
the opening, the body and the ending, the opening (to ask: what animail / tree ...) is a very
important suggestion, so that the solutionist can determine the puzzle of the animal or plant.
Based on the clues on the bosy of the riddle, the solutionist can refer to the object. In addition
to this, there are riddles without an opening. The solutionist should pay attention to the nouns
that appear in the puzzle: If the words that show the parts of the leg, hands, eyes, head, the

riddle can be refered to animal; stems, branches, leaves, etc. may be refered to plants.
Solving riddles that have the same grammatical structure model, if solutionists are not
really alert and calm, they will easily fall into the trap of familiar but strange words set by
the maker. At first, hearing the familiar opening, the listener thought that the riddles about
the objects he knew but that the same structure model was just a decoy trap. After that the
listener will be driven to another puzzle with other facts.
In addition to the general models used for animal and plant puzzles, there are models
that can only be used for animal questions (the model shows the nature/ activity/ objective
existence/ habitat / quantity. ). There are models only used to puzzle about plants (position /
statement ...). These are also suggestions on the relationship between puzzle model and
solution, which helps the solutionists to decode the problem.


24
Secondly, based on the content characteristics:
To be able to refer and correctly solve the puzzles, solutionists need to get

rich

knowledge. To do this, it is necessary to regularly observe and remember the characteristics
of plants and animals;especially external characteristics, easy- identifing features. Besides
general characteristics, it is also necessary to pay attention to specific characteristics
associated with each specific object, because these are also important clues to help solve
puzzles: cries - animals, time to bloom, aroma - plants ...
With directly describing riddles, explicitly the characteristics of the riddle, the
solutionist needs only to link good descriptors to find the solution. But with riddles that
indirectly describe the characteristics, arguing according to the riddle's own creative
thinking, the solutionist must be really alert, observant; use judgmental mind, manipulate
logical thinking, deduce and deduce; manipulating imagination and ability to associate;
combining experience, living capital, knowledge, rich background knowledge in all aspects

of cultural and social life and nature with knowledge of language,literature ... to peel off
each layer, decode, refer to the puzzle, find the hidden factors that is both familiar (strange)
and strange (familiar).


LIST OF PUBLISHED WORKS
1. Vu Thi Huong Giang, A number of misleading tactics argued in the Vietnamese
riddles about plants, Proceedings of the 2013 National Linguistics Conference,
Faculty of Literature, Hanoi National University of Education, p. 260 - 269.
2. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Diversionary ways of argument in floral riddles in
Vietnamese, Journal of Academic Dictionary and Encyclopedia, No. 4 (30), July
2014, p. 68 - 72,78.
3. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Some typical symmetric structures of Vietnamese plant – related,
Language Journal No. 7 (302) / 2014, p. 67 - 76.
4. Vu Thi Huong Giang, The riddles of plants in Vietnamese from the viewpoint of
semantics, Collection of Literature Studies (volume 2), Graduate Science Seminar in
Literature - 2016, Faculty of Philology, Truong Dai Teacher of Hanoi Pedagogy, p.
618 - 628.
5. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Arguments in the Vietnamese riddles about plants, Proceedings
of the Literature Research Project (Volume 3), Graduate Science Seminar in
Philology - 2017, Faculty of Philology, Hanoi National University of Education , p.
657 - 664.
6. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Interrogative similar structures in Vietnamese riddles of plants,
Journal of Academic Dictionary and Encyclopedia, No. 6 (50), 11/2017, p. 8 - 13.
7. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Word - playing in Vietnamese riddles based on animals and
plants, International Science Workshop: "Modern linguistic trends and language
research in Vietnam", April 2017, Institute of Linguistics, Institute Vietnam
Academy of Social Sciences.