Decision No. 07/2003/QD-BGDDT On the issuance of temporary regulations on capitalizing proper nouns in textbooks

 

DECISION

Regarding the issuance of temporary regulations on capitalizing proper nouns in textbooks

MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2002/ND-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/CP dated March 30, 1994 of the Government on the tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Primary Education Department and the Director of the Educational Publishing House,

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Temporary Regulations on Capitalizing Proper Nouns in Textbooks.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. These Regulations shall be applied in the compilation and editing of textbooks based on the curricula for primary, secondary, and high school subjects (issued pursuant to Decisions No. 43/2001/QD-BGDĐT dated November 9, 2001, No. 03/2002/QD-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2002, and No. 47/2002/QD-BGDĐT dated November 19, 2002 of the Minister of Education and Training).

Article 3. The Head of the Ministry's Office, the Directors of the Primary Education Department and the High School Education Department, the Director of the Educational Publishing House, and the Heads of units related to the Ministry of Education and Training are responsible for implementing this Decision.

 

TEMPORARY PROVISIONS

On Capitalizing Proper Nouns in Textbooks

(Issued together with Decision No. 07/2003/QD-BGDĐT dated March 13, 2003)

of the Minister of Education and Training)

I. WRITING RULES FOR PROPER NOUNS IN VIETNAMESE

1. Personal Names: Capitalize the first letter of all syllables.

Example:

- Dinh Tien Hoang, Tran Hung Dao.

- Tran Phu, Ngo Gia Tu, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

- To Huu, Thep Moi.

- Vu A Dinh, Ban Tai Doan.

* Note: Historical figures whose names consist of common nouns combined with specific names are also considered proper nouns and should follow the rules for personal names.

Example:

- Mr. Giong, Mrs. Trung.

- Do Chiieu, De Tham.

2. Geographical Names: Capitalize the first letter of all syllables.

Example:

- Thai Binh, Tra Vinh, Can Tho.

- Thua Thien Hue, Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

- Sa Pa, Mu Cang Chai, Pac Bo.

* Note: Geographical names formed by combining common nouns or directional terms with specific names are also considered proper geographical names and should follow the rules for geographical names.

Example:

- Northern Region, Southern Region, Northwest, Northeast.

- Vam Co Dong, Truong Son West.

- Ho Guom, Cau Giay, Ben Thuy, Cu Viet, Deo Ngang, Vung Tau.

3. Ethnic Group Names: Capitalize the first letter of all syllables.

Example:

Kinh, Tay, San Diu, Lo Lo, Phu La, Ha Nhi.

4. Multi-syllable Names of People, Geographical Places, and Ethnic Groups of Minorities: For each part forming the proper noun, capitalize the first letter of each syllable and use a hyphen between syllables.

Example:

- E-de, Ba-na, So-dang, Ta-o-i.

- Ko-pa Ko-long, No-trang-long.

- Y-ro-pao, Chu-pa.

5. Names of Organizations, Institutions, and Mass Organizations: Capitalize the first letter of the first syllable and the first letter of each syllable in each part forming the proper noun.

Example:

- Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

- Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

- Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

- Ministry of Education and Training;

- Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- Central Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth.

- Hanoi Pedagogical University I; Kim Dong Primary School.

- Agricultural Machinery Factory I.

6. Words and Phrases Used as Personal Names for Characters: Capitalize the first letter of each syllable forming the proper noun.

Example:

- (Mr.) Mouse, (Mr.) Bear, (Ms.) Oriole, (Ms.) Red-billed Leiothrix

- (Mr.) Iron Pot, (Ms.) Straw Brush, (Mr.) Crane

- (Mr.) Sun, (Ms.) White Cloud.

II. WRITING RULES FOR FOREIGN PROPER NOUNS

1. Personal Names, Geographical Names:

1.1. In cases where the name is transliterated through Chinese characters: Follow the rules for writing Vietnamese personal names and geographical names.

Example:

- Mao Zedong, Kim Il Sung.

- Germany, Japan, Portugal, North Korea.

1.2. In cases where the name is directly transliterated without using Chinese characters: For each part forming the proper noun, capitalize the first letter of each syllable and use a hyphen between syllables.

Example:

- Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin.

- Moscow, Italy, Algeria.

2. Names of Foreign Organizations, Institutions, and Mass Organizations:

2.1. In cases where the name is translated: Follow the rules for writing Vietnamese organizations, institutions, and mass organizations.

Example:

- Moscow State University named after Lomonosov.

- Beijing Institute of Education Science.

2.2. In cases where the name is abbreviated: Write the abbreviation as it is. Depending on the case, the full name may be added or the original non-abbreviated name may be added.

Example: WB (World Bank), or WB (World Bank).