Decolonizing French loanwords in Vietnamese

Abstract

For nearly a century, Vietnam was under French rule, a period that saw the introduction of new concepts, foods, clothing, and occupations. However, these objects were never meant for good, but rather instruments of colonial control. Over time, the local population adopted their names into everyday language, turning them into loanwords. Today, while most traces of the colonial era have faded, these loanwords persist. This raises a crucial question: Do loanwords serve as remnants of colonialism? And what role can a designer play in reclaiming them