SEMANTIC FEATURES OF COMBATING AND PREVENTING MARITIME DRUG-RELATED CRIME TERMS IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE

Vu Thu Hien, Tran Van Thuat

doi:10.59266/houjs.2026.1134

Authors

Vu Thu Hien, Tran Van Thuat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59266/houjs.2026.1134

Keywords:

Coast Guard terms, drug-related crime terms, drug control, semantic features

Abstract

This study conducts a comparative semantic analysis of 517 English and 450 Vietnamese terms related to combating and preventing maritime drug-related crimes. Drawing from legal and operational corpora, the research examines the characteristics of denotation, connotation, and polysemy across four functional domains. The findings reveal a model of Semantic Functionalism: while both languages prioritize denotative precision to ensure legal clarity, English terminology favors conceptual generalization, serving as a strategic interface for international frameworks such as UNCLOS. Conversely, Vietnamese relies on granular specification, serving as a tactical interface for detailed operational measures and entity classification. The study concludes that recognizing these distinct functional roles is essential for standardizing terminology and enhancing the interoperability of international law enforcement forces.

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