Rationale
A business letter is a widely used form of communication for various commercial purposes, including business deals, complaints, warnings, notices, invitations, declarations, information, and apologies Different types of business letters exist, such as application letters, acceptance letters, demand letters, letters of complaint, resignation letters, and sales letters Among these, the resignation letter is often overlooked, as many believe leaving a job severs ties with the previous employer However, a well-crafted resignation letter is crucial for maintaining a positive relationship with former employers and can be essential for obtaining future references Despite its importance, there is a lack of research on resignation letters in both English and Vietnamese This study aims to enhance understanding of resignation letters by comparing and contrasting the discourse structures of English and Vietnamese versions.
The aims of the study are:
To review the background knowledge of discourse analysis and resignation letters
To point out the similarities and differences between discourse structures of English and Vietnamese resignation letters
To give some suggestions for writing resignation letters in English and Vietnamese
This study focuses on the discourse structures of resignation letters in English and Vietnamese, rather than attempting to cover all aspects of discourse analysis.
What are the similarities and differences between discourse structures of English and Vietnamese resignation letters?
This research employs a "move analysis" approach to examine the discourse structure of resignation letters in both English and Vietnamese Additionally, the study utilizes a comparison and contrast method to identify the similarities and differences in the discourse structures of resignation letters across these two languages.
6 Organization of the Thesis: the study is divided into five main parts as follows:
This part consists of rationale for choosing the topic, aims and scope of the study, research question, research methodology, and organization of the study
Chapter 1 – Literature Review and Theoretical Background
This chapter includes general description of discourse analysis, discourse structure,
„Move analysis‟, and general information about English and Vietnamese resignation letters
This chapter describes the participants and methods which are applied to collect and analyze the data
Chapter 3 – Analysis of Discourse Structure in English and Vietnamese Resignation Letters
In this chapter, the author analyzes discourse structures in English and Vietnamese resignation letters in detail
Chapter 4 – Comparing and Contrasting Discourse Structure of English and Vietnamese Resignation Letters
The similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese resignation letters in terms of discourse structures are pointed out in this chapter
In this part, the author gives some recommendations for writing a good resignation letters, points out some limitations of the study, and gives suggestions for further study
Chapter 1 – Literature Review and Theoretical Background
Discourse analysis is usually known as the study of the relationship between language and the contexts in which it is utilized Harris (1952), Austin (1962), Hymes
Prominent linguists such as Searle (1969), Grice (1975), Halliday and Hasan (1976), Widdowson (1979), and Brown and Yule (1983) have significantly shaped the field of discourse analysis through their foundational theories In Vietnam, Tran Ngoc Them is recognized as a pioneer in this emerging area of study Numerous researchers have explored genre analysis, focusing on academic genres like research articles (Swales, 1990), sales promotion letters, job applications (Bhatia, 1993), sociology articles (Brett, 1994), and dissertations (Hyland, 2003) Notable studies include Ding's (2007) analysis of personal statements for medical and dental school applications and Brown's (2004) examination of rhetoric in psychology personal statements However, there remains a lack of research specifically addressing resignation letters.
This study aims to investigate the discourse structure of resignation letters in both English and Vietnamese By examining these structures, the research seeks to enhance the understanding of writing skills, particularly in the context of crafting resignation letters in both languages, thereby contributing to teaching and learning practices.
2.1 General Description of Discourse and Discourse Analysis:
Discourse refers to a continuous stretch of language that exceeds a single sentence, often forming a coherent unit such as a sermon, argument, joke, or narrative (Crystal, 1992) It is characterized by its meaningful, unified, and purposeful nature (Cook, 1989) According to Nunan (1993), discourse encompasses these essential qualities, highlighting its significance in communication.
Discourse is defined as a collection of sentences that work together to create a meaningful whole, as emphasized by Widdowson (1979) He asserts that discourse involves using sentences to carry out communicative acts that coalesce into larger units, ultimately forming a rhetorical pattern that defines the overall communication style of the language used.
Discourse is often defined as language that transcends the sentence level, emphasizing its role in meaning-making during interactions It encompasses the use of language within specific situational and cultural contexts, highlighting its dynamic nature in communication.
The terms "Text" and "Discourse" have generated various interpretations among linguists, with some using them interchangeably while others emphasize their distinctions Widdowson (1984) describes discourse as a communicative process resulting in a change of state through interaction, where information is conveyed and intentions clarified, with its linguistic product being text Conversely, Brown & Yule (1983) define text as the representation of discourse and the verbal record of a communicative act David Nunan (1993) further clarifies that text refers to any written record of a communicative event, while discourse pertains to the interpretation of that event within its context.
In this thesis, the terms are used interchangeably to denote any segment of language in use, typically extending beyond a single sentence for clarity and simplicity.
Discourse analysis, emerging as a key area of language study since the early 20th century, has established itself as a crucial foundation in applied linguistics Influential scholars, including Halliday and Hasan (1976) as well as Brown and Yule, have significantly contributed to its development over the years.
Since the pioneering work of Tran Ngoc Them on discourse in Vietnam, numerous researchers, including Diep Quang Ban (1999) and Nguyen Hoa (2003), have explored language in use, building on insights from scholars like Widdowson (1984) and Cook (1998).
In The Handbook of Discourse Analysis, Schiffrin et al (2001) categorize discourse analysis into three main definitions: the examination of language use, the exploration of linguistic structures beyond the sentence level, and the investigation of social practices and ideological assumptions related to language and communication.
The first type of analysis emphasizes traditional linguistic constructs, specifically phrase and clause structures The second type examines the organization of extended sequences of utterances or sentences, focusing on systematic text construction The third type investigates participants' actions within specific communication events or explores the general traits of speech and discourse communities, particularly regarding power dynamics and gender issues.
Discourse analysis provides valuable insights into the nuances of language use, revealing how discourse norms vary across cultures, how conversational patterns emerge in diverse contexts, and how texts are organized beyond mere sentence structure.