Rationale
The advent of the Internet has revolutionized how we access news, making online newspapers an essential part of our daily lives With just a click, we can stay informed about national and international events across various topics, including business, sports, education, society, politics, and culture Online news not only enhances our knowledge but also provides entertainment Recognizing this significance, the author has conducted research focusing on the impact of online news in today's digital age.
As an English teacher at Vietnam University of Commerce, the author is passionate about teaching business English, particularly to English majors To enhance students' learning, the author incorporates authentic materials, such as online business news, which have proven to be effective and convenient for classroom use Additionally, students are encouraged to read business news at home, as this practice significantly boosts their knowledge and expands their business vocabulary.
Students often struggle to comprehend news articles due to complex semantic relationships between words and the presence of unfamiliar vocabulary Understanding cohesive devices within a text enhances students' insight into the organization of the writer's message, as lexical cohesion is fundamentally linked to meaning According to Halliday and Hasan (1976), the cohesive effect is achieved through careful vocabulary selection Therefore, acquiring knowledge of lexical cohesive devices can significantly improve students' understanding of business news.
The study titled “A Contrastive Analysis of Lexical Cohesive Devices Used in Business News on English and Vietnamese Online Newspapers” aims to identify and compare the lexical cohesive devices in business news across both languages By examining the similarities and differences, the research seeks to provide valuable insights for educators and students striving to master business English Ultimately, the findings will facilitate translation between English and Vietnamese, thereby enhancing the teaching and learning experience of business English.
Aims of the study
The main aims of the thesis are as follows:
- To figure out the types of lexical cohesive devices in business news on English and Vietnamese online newspapers
- To identify the frequency and roles of lexical cohesive devices that attribute to the success of business news in Vietnamese and English online newspaper
- To pinpoint the similarities and differences between lexical cohesive devices used in English and Vietnamese online business news
3 The research questions of the study
In order to achieve the aforementioned aims, the study is intended to find out the answer to three following research questions:
1 What are the types of lexical cohesive devices used in business news on English and Vietnamese online newspapers?
2 How frequent are lexical cohesive devices used in English and Vietnamese online business news and their corresponding roles?
3 What are the similarities and differences in the use of lexical cohesive devices between English and Vietnamese online business news?
Online newspapers cover a wide range of topics including sports, entertainment, politics, technology, health, and business This thesis specifically aims to explore the use of lexical cohesive devices in online business news.
The Internet has revolutionized access to a vast array of online newspapers, making it easier than ever for readers to find news in multiple languages Prominent English-language news sources include BBC, CNN, AP, and Reuters, while Vietnamese readers can turn to popular sites such as VNEXPRESS, VNECONOMY, and CAFEF With countless articles being published and updated continuously, the author aims to focus on business news from two reputable English agencies, BBC and CNN, alongside two Vietnamese business-oriented websites, VNECONOMY and CAFEF.
As clearly stated above, the focus of the study work towards the similarities and differences of lexical cohesive devices used in business news on English and Vietnamese online newspapers
The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, analyzing 30 business articles from English and Vietnamese online newspapers—15 from each language—to identify similarities and differences in cohesive devices The research process involves three key steps: recognizing common types of cohesive devices, determining their frequency of occurrence, and comparing the two languages to highlight their similarities and differences Additionally, supplementary techniques such as reviewing relevant materials, consulting with a supervisor, and making personal observations were utilized.
The study is composed of three main parts organized as follows:
Part 1 – INTRODUCTION specifies the background of the study which covers a wide range of information such as rationale, aims, research questions, scope, methods, and design of the study
Part 2 – DEVELOPMENT is broken into three chapters
Chapter 1 provides an overview of literature on cohesion, lexical cohesion, online newspapers, news in general and business news in particular
Chapter 2 discusses the research method of the study
Chapter 3 deals with the findings and discussion of the study
Part 3 – CONCLUSION encapsulates the key findings of the study, highlighting its limitations and offering recommendations for future research Furthermore, it discusses the potential implications of utilizing business news as instructional materials in language teaching, learning, and translation practices within the classroom setting.
PART B - DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Cohesion
Cohesion refers to the lexical, grammatical, and relational connections that link various parts of a text According to Halliday and Hasan (1976), the essential determinant of whether a group of sentences forms a coherent text lies in the cohesive relationships present within and among the sentences, which together create a sense of texture.
Cohesion in discourse arises when the understanding of one element relies on another, creating a relationship where the interpretation of one cannot be fully grasped without reference to the other This interdependence leads to a cohesive connection between the presupposing and presupposed elements, allowing them to be integrated into the text (Halliday and Hassan 1976:4)
Cohesion is a semantic concept that is expressed through grammar and vocabulary It can be categorized into two types: grammatical cohesion and lexical cohesion Grammatical cohesion encompasses devices like reference, substitution, ellipsis, and conjunction In contrast, lexical cohesion is further divided into reiteration, which includes repetition, synonymy, near synonym, and superordinate terms, as well as collocation, which refers to the co-occurrence of lexical items (Halliday and Hasan, 1976).
Cohesion is the linguistic element that ensures a discourse is semantically coherent According to Hoa (2000: 23), it refers to the formal relationships that bind texts together, creating a unified whole.
Cohesion and coherence are essential concepts in discourse analysis and text linguistics, each serving distinct roles in written texts Cohesion refers to the lexical and grammatical connections that link different parts of a discourse, utilizing techniques such as repetition, synonyms, superordinate references, and collocations For instance, transitional phrases like "first of all," "then," and "finally" effectively establish a clear sequence within the text Understanding these elements enhances the clarity and flow of written communication.
“However”, “moreover”, or “in addition” link ideas and arguments in a discourse
Coherence in writing is the unity established among ideas, sentences, paragraphs, and sections, which guides the reader through the text It enhances readability by presenting ideas in a logical and natural flow, allowing readers to anticipate what comes next.
Cohesion acts as the glue that connects sentences and paragraphs, while coherence focuses on the logical flow of ideas and their interrelated meanings.
Cohesion in writing is categorized into two main types: grammatical cohesion and lexical cohesion Grammatical cohesion includes elements such as reference, substitution, ellipsis, and conjunction Lexical cohesion encompasses reiteration and collocation Reiteration involves not only the repetition of the same word but also the use of related terms, such as synonyms or superordinates On the other hand, collocation refers to the natural association of words that frequently appear together.
Cohesion, as defined by Halliday and Hasan (1976), is categorized based on linguistic form, with its types relying on either semantic relations within the linguistic system or lexico-grammatical connections This means that cohesive relations can be understood as either lexicogrammatical or semantic in nature.
It can be illustrated clearly in the following description:
Nature of cohesive relation Types of cohesion
Relatedness of form Substitution and ellipsis; lexical collocation Relatedness of reference Reference; lexical reiteration
Grammatical cohesion includes reference, substitution, ellipsis, and conjunctions, while lexical cohesion consists of reiteration and collocation Together, these two forms of cohesion enhance the coherence of written text.
(Halliday and Hasan, 1976; Benson et al, 1986)
Table 1.2: Grammatical and Lexical Cohesion 1.1.4 Lexical cohesion
Lexical cohesion is the connection between meaning in a text, particularly among content words It arises when the understanding of certain elements in the discourse relies on others There are two primary types of lexical cohesion: reiteration, which encompasses repetition, synonyms, near-synonyms, and superordinate terms, and collocation, which refers to the habitual juxtaposition of words.
