John Phan
Academic and professor specializing in Vietnamese history and linguistics who researches the origins of chữ Quốc ngữ and vernacular literature; provides expert commentary on language, script development, and cultural change.
Best podcasts with John Phan
Ranked by the Snipd community
14 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 6min
443- Did Chinese Writing "Civilize" Vietnam? The Origins of Vietnam with Professor John Phan
In this conversation with Professor John Phan, an Associate Professor of Vietnamese Humanities at Columbia University, listeners dive into the fascinating evolution of the Vietnamese language. Phan examines its intricate relationship with Chinese influences and dispels the myth that Vietnamese originated from Chinese roots. He elaborates on the development of Vietnamese writing and its cultural significance, along with the impact of technology on language and identity. The discussion brilliantly intertwines historical context with modern cultural expressions in Vietnam.
10 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 18min
468 - Is Modern Vietnamese Writing The Colonizer’s Alphabet? Viet Origins with Professor John Phan
John Phan, a professor of Vietnamese history and linguistics, traces how Quốc Ngữ emerged from 17th-century collaborations between missionaries and local consultants. Short, lively segments explore Nôm’s literary boom, missionaries as field linguists, the glossary work of de Pina and de Rhodes, and how 20th-century print culture and reforms transformed a niche script into a national writing system.
