Since Da Nang became a centrally governed city in 1997, urbanisation has rapidly progressed. Alongside its positive impacts, this process has significantly affected the lives of local residents, particularly the coastal fishing community. As living spaces and survival environments have transformed dramatically, the challenge of preserving the local dialect to maintain the traditional culture of fishermen has become increasingly difficult.

The ‘Cau Ngu’ (Whale Worshiping) Festival in Son Tra District is held annually, rotating among the three wards of Man Thai, Nai Hien Dong, and Tho Quang in Son Tra District, to pay homage to ancestors and pray for national stability, peace, and favourable weather conditions.

Fading of coastal village dialect

Upon returning to the Nai Hien Dong fishing village, which boasts one of the largest numbers of fishermen in Da Nang, one can hear Mr. Dang Van Nhat, the leader of Thanh Dat production group in Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, recounting fishing activities in the honest and straightforward dialect of a coastal dweller.

Mr. Nhat continues to use familiar everyday terms which are words he heard from his grandparents and parents since childhood and have remained with him ever since when conversing with us. However, only those within the profession truly understand these terms, as the younger generation has increasingly shifted to using more common language due to exposure to external work and study environments.

Nevertheless, Mr. Nhat’s primary concern remains the dwindling workforce in the fishing industry. He expressed that he currently owns a fishing vessel with a capacity of 740CV, operating in deeper waters, but the demanding nature of this work leads many young people to choose easier jobs.

The reduction in the fishing workforce has gradually diminished the environment for communication and the use of terminology related to the fishing profession in the local community.

From a linguistic perspective, Master’s degree holder Hoang Thi Mai Sa from the Faculty of Literature at the Da Nang University of Science and Education noted that the gradual disappearance of local dialects and commonly used terms is a natural part of the evolution of regional language, including professional vocabulary. Words inevitably change according to the development trends of various professions. As certain terms fall out of regular usage, the concept of "dead words" emerges, reflecting the disappearance of specific professional terminology.

Moreover, urbanisation in coastal villages in Da Nang has occurred earlier than in other provinces in the Central region. The cohabitation and migration within the fishing community have naturally altered the local dialect.

Mrs. Mai Sa explained that the growth of traditional professions facilitates the development of language and dialect. As such, slang continues to emerge and be adopted by the people. The unique language of the fishing profession is a creative expression of a specific community, and the loss of certain professional terms and local dialects evokes a sense of regret. She emphasised the high risk of losing some traditional professions, suggesting that these changes create a "sad picture" of the coastal village’s language in the long run.

The nature of professions related to the sea necessitates a youthful workforce and continuity across generations. Over the past decade, the living space of the fishing villages in Da Nang has shown a decline in interaction among fishermen. Where once small clusters of residents lived closely together to engage in fishing, this is no longer the case. The fading of the coastal dialect can be attributed to this factor.

According to social development, language reflects the higher creative expressions of culture. The use of local dialects serves as a means of identifying specific phenomena. It is evident that effective collection and preservation of language and dialects from coastal villages in Son Tra, Thanh Khe, or Lien Chieu districts will contribute additional "small bricks" to the broader cultural picture of coastal villages in Central Viet Nam.

Need to preserve local cultural values

According to People’s Artist Phan Van Quang, Head of the Performing Arts Department at the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre, who had just participated in a folk singing programme, the coastal community has a deep passion for traditional “tuong”, as these performances serve both spiritual and entertainment purposes.

He remarked that the sayings and idioms distinctive to coastal fishermen are still evident in the lyrics of traditional folk songs and chants. The vocabulary of fishermen in the ‘Cau Ngu’ (Whale Worshiping) Festival, including “ba trao”, serves as the foundation for creative adaptations into poetry and melodies.

While performers replicate the daily life and spiritual practices of fishermen, the original scripts must reflect their activities. When restoring and re-enacting these traditions, artists often enhance the aesthetic quality because it is an art form, yet it must remain rooted in its origins to embody authenticity, goodness, and beauty.

By exploring the terminology associated with fishing in the cultural life of the local community as expressed in their speech and folk poetry, people can discern the cultural and spiritual nuances of Da Nang's fishermen. These songs and chants represent their bond with the sea and their profession, reflecting their love for life and work. This also exemplifies their charm and optimism in the face of life’s challenges, as they embrace the "waves and winds" with a warm and simple demeanour.

Ms. Dinh Thi Trang, Chairwoman of the Da Nang Folklore Arts Association, noted that the local dialect of Da Nang's coastal fishermen possesses unique features. In terms of vocabulary related to fishing tools and equipment, many terms are widely recognised, such as boat, raft, and net. However, there are also numerous terms understood only by fishermen, such as "ruong," "tru," and "cau gian". Similar distinctions exist within the fish sauce industry, where common tools like plastic barrels and bottles are known, yet specialized terms like "chut" and "lu" may not be familiar to all.

In reality, different stages witness the emergence of various terms to describe different activities. The methods of extraction also depend on the type of fish being caught, reflecting the daily labour experiences of coastal residents. The fish sauce trade is replete with unique terminologies for each production stage, often misunderstood by outsiders.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Trang, the folk culture of coastal villages encompasses various aspects such as festivals, beliefs, language (speech, folk songs, proverbs), traditional knowledge, and crafts. To preserve the folk culture of coastal villages, it is necessary to collect and research cultural heritage, subsequently implementing suitable solutions tailored to different cultural elements. For example, festival and belief practices reflecting the community's harmony with nature should be regularly maintained to ensure that residents remain the driving force behind these activities. At the same time, restoring and enhancing monuments linked to these festivals and beliefs is essential.

"Regarding the development of the fish sauce industry, the city should invest in infrastructure, branding, and production capacity, as many individuals involved in this trade are older, with few young successors. Additionally, it is crucial to promote the brand of the craft village as an essential culinary product in Vietnamese cuisine. Furthermore, additional policies should be implemented to support fishermen and encourage young people to continue the traditions of their ancestors, as fishing is not merely a livelihood but also plays a vital role in safeguarding national sovereignty over seas and islands", Mrs. Trang emphasised.

Reporting by DOAN LUONG, TRUONG AN - Translating by TRUC VY