Spatial Conceptualization in Vietnamese: A Contrastive Analysis of ‘Ra’ and ‘Vào’ and Their English Equivalents

This study explores the cognitive mechanisms underlying spatial conceptualization in Vietnamese, focusing on the directional markers ra (‘out’) and vào (‘into’) in contrast with their English equivalents. Using a cognitive linguistic framework and bilingual corpus analysis, the study reveals that, unlike English, which primarily employs goal-oriented prepositions, Vietnamese conceptualizes spatial relations through containment schemas and hierarchical reference frames. Vietnamese conceptualizes motion based on interior/exterior contrasts, narrow/wide spaces, and regional axes (e.g., vào Nam ‘into the South,’ ra Bắc ‘out to the North’), while English focuses on endpoints with prepositions like into or to . The findings highlight key differences in spatial cognition, particularly in directional conceptualization and sociocultural influences. This study contributes to cognitive linguistics, cross-linguistic spatial representation, and translation studies, offering insights into how language-specific structures shape conceptualization and influence meaning construction across different linguistic systems.