432 - Was Ancient Vietnamese Just the New Chinese Language? Ancient Vietnam with Prof. John Phan

The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

Welcome to the first episode of our sub-series, Ancient Vietnam, where we explore the depths of Vietnam's early history through language, culture, and forgotten stories. In this inaugural conversation, co-host John Phan—linguistic historian at Columbia University and author of Lost Tongues of the Red River—guides us through the intricate relationship between ancient Vietnam's spoken languages, literary traditions, and writing systems.

Together, we'll unpack how linguistic clues offer profound insights into the social dynamics, cultural exchanges, and political landscapes of premodern Vietnam. Join us as we discuss the secrets hidden in scripts and sounds, the lost tongues of ancient communities, and how language can illuminate centuries-old realities.

John guides us into the linguistics of ancient Vietnam—where every word is a clue, every script tells a story, and every conversation uncovers a forgotten world.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.

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