Empty Locative and Temporal Expressions in Vietnamese Sentences and Their Role in Conveying Meaning

Abstract

The study investigates the use of empty locative and temporal expressions (ELTEs) in Vietnamese and their role in communication. It uses two methodologies: Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG) and Construction Grammar (CG). LFG examines empty locatives and temporals as non-finite sentences with empty constituents, while CG views them as schematic structures embodying abstract linguistic patterns and usage-based standards. The research uses a qualitative methodology, examining 20 Vietnamese newspapers using the NVivo 14 program for analysis. The findings reveal the various roles and subtleties of these terms in Vietnamese speech, highlighting their importance in transmitting locative and temporal information, as well as their contribution to the pragmatic and stylistic components of communication. The study emphasizes the interaction between these statements and the broader language and cultural environment. The findings contribute to Vietnamese linguistics and offer valuable insights for language teachers, learners, and scholars.