A comparative study on apologizing in english and vietnamese conversations

Trang 5 ABSTRACT This thesis delves into a detailed cross-cultural examination, specifically targeting the nuances of apology strategies within English and Vietnamese contexts.. Modality

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY BUI THI LE SUONG A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON APOLOGIZING IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE CONVERSATIONS Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Truong Van Dinh, PhD Binh Dinh - 2023 BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC QUY NHƠN BÙI THỊ LỆ SƯƠNG NGHIÊN CỨU ĐỐI CHIẾU PHÁT NGÔN XIN LỖI TRONG HỘI THOẠI ANH - VIỆT Ngành: Ngôn ngữ Anh Mã số: 8220201 Người hướng dẫn: TS Trương Văn Định Bình Định - 2023 i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I certify that this master thesis entitled “A Comparative Study on Apologizing in English and Vietnamese Conversations” is ultimately my own original work To the best of my knowledge, this thesis has not been submitted for any purposes in any materials Any works of other authors consulted in this thesis are listed in the reference Binh Dinh, 2023 BUI THI LE SUONG ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been accomplished in time without the massive contribution of all individuals involved Firstly, I owe many thanks to my supervisor, Dr Trương Văn Định, who devoted his time and effort to guiding and giving me invaluable support despite his vast workload and busy schedule Without his enthusiasm and encouragement, I might not have finished my master’s thesis Secondly, I truly appreciate all the lecturers from Quy Nhon University (QNU), especially Assoc Prof., Dr Nguyễn Thị Thu Hiền, and others, for their wholehearted contribution to sharpening my academic knowledge during the course Thirdly, I would like to sincerely thank the Department of Postgraduate Training and the Department of Foreign Languages of QNU for the cooperation and support Last but not least, I am immensely grateful to my husband, who has given me considerable support and motivation so that I could wholeheartedly concentrate on my thesis My honest thanks will be sent to my classmates and many others, who supported me while I was carrying out this thesis Binh Dinh, 2023 iii ABSTRACT This thesis delves into a detailed cross-cultural examination, specifically targeting the nuances of apology strategies within English and Vietnamese contexts With data comprising 50 diverse utterances from each linguistic backdrop, the research discerns both universal constants and culturally distinct nuances in the approach to apologizing Notably, while English utterances tend to prefer direct apologies, Vietnamese counterparts often seek forgiveness, perhaps reflecting societal values of humility and indirectness The analysis also reveals distinct linguistic and cultural trends in the use of modality markers Vietnamese dialogues exhibit a pronounced use of politeness markers, potentially influenced by societal values rooted in respect and possibly even Confucian philosophy Yet, despite these variations, certain conversational strategies appear universally adopted across both languages, suggesting shared human conversational tendencies The implications of this study span enhancing cross-cultural interactions and pedagogical advancements Firstly, the findings illuminate pathways to improved intercultural communication by promoting understanding, empathy, and reduced misunderstandings In educational settings, the insights provide teachers and curriculum designers tools to amplify language instruction with cultural contexts, fostering appreciation and practical life skills for learners However, a notable limitation is the data set's limited scope Additionally, sourcing predominantly from cinematic dialogues might not always encapsulate the genuine subtleties of day-to-day conversations Future research includes expanding data sources, considering cultural roots influencing apology strategies, and widening the linguistic scope to include other languages, furthering the understanding of global conversational norms This research, thus, serves as both a foundational study and a launchpad for more extensive explorations in the realm of cross-cultural communication iv TABLES OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS viii LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION .1 1.1 Rationale 1 1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study 2 1.2.1 Aim of the Study 2 1.2.2 Objectives of the Study 2 1.3 Research Questions .2 1.4 Scope of the Study 3 1.5 Significance of the Study 3 1.6 Organization of the Study 3 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 5 2.1 Theoretical Background .5 2.1.1 Speech Act 5 2.1.1.1 Definition of Speech Act 5 2.1.1.2 Classification of Speech Act 7 2.1.2 Politeness 11 2.1.2.1 Definition of Politeness 12 2.1.2.2 Politeness Strategies .15 2.1.3 Politeness - Directness - Indirectness in Apologizing 25 2.1.4 Apology Strategies 27 v 2.1.4.1 Apology Strategies by Blum-Kulka and Olshtain 27 2.1.4.2 Apology Strategies by Fraser 28 2.1.4.3 Apology Strategies by Holmes 29 2.1.5 Cross-cultural Communication 32 2.1.5.1 Definition of Communication 32 2.1.5.2 Politeness in Vietnamese Culture 33 2.1.5.3 Politeness in Anglo-American Culture 33 2.1.6 Theory of Modality 34 2.1.6.1 Definition of Modality .34 2.1.6.2 Classification of Modality Markers in Conversations 36 2.2 Previous Studies 39 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 46 3.1 Research Methods .46 3.2 Data Description 46 3.2.1 English Movies 48 3.2.2 Vietnamese Movies 48 3.3 Data Analysis .49 3.4 Research Procedures 51 CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 53 4.1 Apology Strategies in English and Vietnamese 53 4.1.1 Apology Strategies in English 53 4.1.1.1 An Explicit Expression of Apology 54 4.1.1.2 Explanation or Account 56 4.1.1.3 Acknowledgment of Responsibility 57 4.1.1.4 Promise of Forbearance 57 4.1.2 Apology Strategies in Vietnamese 58 4.1.2.1 An Explicit Expression of Apology 60 vi 4.1.2.2 Explanation or Account 61 4.1.2.3 Acknowledgment of Responsibility 62 4.1.2.4 Promise of Forbearance 64 4.1.3 Similarities and Differences in Apology Strategies in English and Vietnamese 65 4.1.3.1 An Explicit Expression of Apology 66 4.1.3.2 Explanation or Account 67 4.1.3.3 Acknowledgment of Responsibility 67 4.1.3.4 Promise of Forbearance 68 4.2 Modality Markers in Apology Utterances in English and Vietnamese 69 4.2.1 Modality Markers in Apology Utterances in English 69 4.2.1.1 Downgraders 71 4.2.1.2 Upgraders .73 4.2.2 Modality Markers in Apology Utterances in Vietnamese 75 4.2.2.1 Downgraders 76 4.2.2.2 Upgraders .80 4.2.3 Similarities and Differences in Modality Markers in English and Vietnamese 81 4.2.3.1 Downgraders 83 4.2.3.2 Upgraders .84 CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION .87 5.1 Conclusion .87 5.2 Implications 88 5.2.1 Enhanced Cross-Cultural Communication: 88 5.2.2 Pedagogical Implications 88 5.3 Limitations 89 5.4 Suggestions for Further Research .89 vii REFERENCES 92 APPENDICES 95 APPENDIX A .95 APPENDIX B .101 QNU viii EU VU LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Quy Nhon University English Utterance Vietnamese Utterance