INTRODUCTION
Motivation of the study
Vietnam is experiencing rapid development and increased international cooperation, particularly in cultural and educational exchanges As a result, learning foreign languages, especially English, has become essential English serves as a vital tool to facilitate these activities However, traditional language learning methods, which prioritize vocabulary and grammar, are becoming outdated In today's context, English is learned primarily for communication, making it clear that a focus solely on vocabulary and grammar is insufficient.
Culture plays a crucial role in effective communication, as neglecting it can lead to misunderstandings and embarrassment Each country possesses unique cultural traits that learners must understand to facilitate successful interactions A solid foundation in cultural knowledge enables speakers to navigate communication more effectively, particularly in cross-cultural contexts where differing customs and etiquettes can cause misinterpretations For instance, the act of making requests varies significantly between English and Vietnamese speakers, reflecting their distinct politeness standards While both languages share similarities in making requests, their cultural backgrounds influence what is considered polite, highlighting the importance of cultural awareness in communication Therefore, preparing for these cultural differences is essential to achieving successful interactions and fostering mutual understanding.
The study of speech acts, particularly in making requests in English and Vietnamese, aims to enhance communication effectiveness and reduce misinterpretations By understanding how to formulate polite requests, individuals can foster better social interactions across cultures, ensuring conversations remain engaging and encouraging the desired responses from addressees This research serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and achieve successful interactions.
Aims of the study
This article compares and contrasts the nuances of making requests in English and Vietnamese, highlighting key similarities and differences in communication styles It explores common strategies employed by both English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) when formulating requests, providing valuable insights for Vietnamese learners of English By understanding these strategies, learners can enhance their request-making skills in a cross-cultural context, leading to more effective communication.
Provide some pedagogical suggestions for Vietnamese learners of English.
Scope of the study
This study explores the differences and similarities in requests made by English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS), focusing on the politeness strategies employed in both direct and indirect requests It examines how factors such as social status, age, and gender influence these communication styles among Vietnamese and English speakers.
Significance of the study
This study explores the speech act of making requests, highlighting its role in establishing social relationships within specific cultures By examining how English and Vietnamese speakers formulate polite requests, the findings aim to aid Vietnamese learners of English in overcoming potential communication challenges Improved understanding between interlocutors from both cultures can lead to more effective interactions, ultimately fostering successful communication.
Research method
To achieve the study's objectives, the primary method utilized will be the distribution of questionnaires, complemented by contrastive analysis Consequently, all observations, remarks, and conclusions presented in the thesis will serve as the foundation for data analysis.
Data collection for this study primarily involves the use of questionnaires and observations to explore the speech act of making polite requests in English and Vietnamese Carefully designed questionnaires aim to uncover how participants engage in this act, highlighting the cultural similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese contexts Two types of questionnaires—one in English and one in Vietnamese—are distributed to thirty native speakers of each language in Ho Chi Minh City, a hub for expatriates Additionally, personal observations are conducted in various social settings, including university campuses, bookstores, and parks, to gather real-world examples of request-making These observations play a crucial role in formulating hypotheses and interpreting statistical data, effectively validating the theoretical framework of politeness in both cultures.
Data analysis in this study involves the use of statistical methods to compile and interpret responses collected from questionnaires and observations By categorizing the different politeness strategies used in requests by English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS), the data is transformed into percentages for clearer understanding Furthermore, the analysis aims to compare and contrast the speech acts of making requests in both languages, highlighting similarities and differences while identifying common strategies employed by VNS and ENS This comprehensive examination seeks to enhance communication clarity and minimize misunderstandings between speakers and listeners.
Related previous studies
In 2 nd term 2007, Dau Thi Thanh focused and emphasized on the relationship between politeness and indirectness used in the speech acts of making requests in English and Vietnamese The study pointed some major differences in making requests in English and Vietnamese The study mentioned above are helpful to this study in terms of providing the theoretical background for the thesis as they are closely related to making polite requests in English and Vietnamese right in the thesis.
Organization of the study
This study is divided into five chapters, as followed
Chapter 1 is introduction, which presents an overview of the study in which the reason for the research, the aims, the research methods, the scope, the significance of the study, related previous study as well as the organization of the study is briefly presented
Chapter 2 is literature review, which includes the theoretical issues relevant to the study including the theory of speech acts in general and the speech act of request in particular, politeness in making polite requests in Vietnamese and English,
Chapter 3 is methodology discussing somes issues of research questions, research participants, research procedure, data collection, and method of analysis Chapter 4 presents an overview of results and discusses about the results of survey questionnaire about request-making in Vietnamese and English; the politeness strategies for requests made by ENS and VNS under the impact of three factors: social status, gender and age
Chapter 5 is conclusion addressing the key issues in the study, summarizing some shortcomings revealed during the process of completing the thesis, compare, contrast and synthesize the ways people in the two culture make polite requests so that Vietnamese learners as well as teachers of English can get some suggestions to better studying and teaching.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Politeness theory
Communication is an essential aspect of human interaction, serving various purposes such as sharing information, expressing opinions, and making requests The effectiveness of communication often hinges on the speaker's authority and the politeness of their approach, as these factors influence the hearer's willingness to respond Politeness is a crucial communicative strategy that fosters positive relationships and facilitates ongoing dialogue Researchers, including Lakoff (1977), have explored the concept of politeness, suggesting it is a societal construct designed to minimize conflict in interactions and is governed by specific rules that enhance communicative success.
3 Make the receiver feel good
The first rule of politeness, "Don’t impose," emphasizes maintaining distance and formality by allowing the speaker to show respect through requests and preemptive apologies, thereby minimizing the burden on the listener The second rule, "Give options," highlights the importance of deference, as it allows the addressee to have a choice in responding to the speaker’s request Lastly, the third rule, "Make the receiver feel good," focuses on using language that fosters a sense of appreciation and belonging for the listener These principles collectively contribute to reducing imposition, as illustrated in the forthcoming examples.
(1) Turn the light on ( imposition)
(2)Could you turn the light on? ( less imposition)
(3)I wonder if you could turn the light on (option)
(4) Darling, turn the light on (encourage husband or wife to turn the TV off with much sweet love)
The first sentence illustrates a strong demand from the speaker, who holds more power than the hearer However, the imposition in the subsequent examples is softened by phrases like "Could you," the term "darling," or by providing options Notably, the use of "darling" in the last example enhances politeness, making the request feel less imposing and more comfortable for the hearer The phrase "Could you" transforms the request into a question, assessing the hearer's willingness and reducing the seriousness of the demand compared to the first example In the third example, the hearer experiences greater freedom in deciding whether to comply with the request.
Brown and Levinson's theory of politeness centers on the concept of "face," defined as the public self-image that individuals strive to maintain They identify two components of face: "positive face," the desire for acceptance by others, and "negative face," the need for independence and freedom from imposition Communication can involve Face Threatening Acts (FTAs), which threaten the face wants of either the speaker or the addressee To mitigate these threats, Brown and Levinson propose strategies: positive politeness strategies, such as claiming common ground and demonstrating cooperation, for positive FTAs; and negative politeness strategies, including indirectness and hedging, for negative FTAs These strategies aim to maintain face and facilitate smoother interactions.
Scholars widely acknowledge that employing politeness strategies in communication is crucial for speakers to minimize imposition on listeners, thereby facilitating the achievement of their objectives.
Speech act
Physical acts like cooking, eating, driving, and gardening, alongside verbal communication, play a crucial role in expressing opinions, desires, and information Verbal acts, including telephone calls, letters, and reports, serve as powerful tools for information transfer, regardless of their form Language emerges as the primary means to accomplish various daily tasks, prompting extensive research by linguists into the nature of utterances This exploration has led to the development of pragmatics, which examines utterances from multiple perspectives.
Pragmatics is the study of how utterances acquire meaning in specific speech situations involving speakers and listeners, focusing on utterance meaning, while semantics addresses sentence meaning For example, the phrase "It is hot today" can serve various purposes—such as an assertion about the weather or a request to turn on the air conditioner—based on the speaker's intention In contrast, semantics would interpret this statement as merely indicating that the weather is hot This illustrates that sentences can perform actions beyond mere communication, leading to the concept of speech acts The theory of speech acts, foundationally established by philosopher J.L Austin, asserts that many utterances function as actions rather than just conveying information.
Yule (1996) supports Austin’s theory of speech acts, stating that individuals not only use grammatical structures and words to express themselves but also perform actions through their utterances These actions, known as speech acts, can be categorized into specific labels such as apology, complaint, compliment, invitation, promise, or request Since people often accomplish more with words than just conveying their literal meaning, it is essential to consider speech acts within the context of real-life interactions, such as in a classroom setting.
A sentence can often serve as a request rather than a mere question, highlighting the gap between literal meaning and intended significance The layers of meaning in communication reveal that some utterances function as actions rather than statements seeking information In these instances, the utterance is a request for the listener to pay attention and cease any distractions.
Austin's theory (1962) identifies three interconnected types of acts performed by an utterance: locutionary acts, which derive meaning from individual linguistic elements; illocutionary acts, where speakers convey their intentions in a manner recognizable to listeners; and perlocutionary acts, which result in specific effects on the audience's feelings, thoughts, or actions.
Request as a speech act
Understanding spoken communication goes beyond mere words, as it encompasses multiple layers of meaning that convey various messages This complexity makes it challenging to discern the speaker's true intentions Requests, in particular, are intricate speech acts that comprise several interrelated elements According to Blum-Kulka (1991), these elements form a request schema that includes requestive goals influenced by cultural contexts, linguistic encoding strategies, situational parameters such as distance and power dynamics, and the social implications of the request shaped by cultural and situational factors.
Requesting is an act that requires others to perform actions through spoken interaction, where the speaker seeks the hearer's time, energy, or resources This act can be seen as a constraint on the hearer's freedom, as it imposes the speaker's interests According to Austin's classification of speech acts, requests fall under the sensitive category of illocutionary acts, which encompass the speaker's intentions and the effects on the hearer Searle's taxonomy of illocutionary acts, further elaborated by Yule, includes directives, commissives, expressives, representatives, and declarations, with directives specifically aimed at prompting the hearer to take action.
As attempts on the part of a speaker to get the hearer to perform or stop performing some kind of action, requests are therefore labeled as one type of directives
Requests are illocutionary acts where a speaker seeks to have a hearer perform an action that benefits the speaker, often posing a threat to the hearer's negative face by impeding their freedom of action Linguistically, requests can be expressed through imperatives, interrogatives, and declaratives, but direct imperatives are often seen as impolite due to their tactlessness, which can jeopardize compliance Consequently, English speakers tend to favor indirect requests to minimize the imposition on the hearer’s face In contrast, Vietnamese speakers commonly use direct requests, reflecting their cultural norms rather than a lack of respect for the hearer's face Brown and Levinson's model of politeness offers insights into the varying strategies of interaction across cultures, highlighting the importance of face considerations in communication.
Politeness strategies in requests
Research by Sifianou (1992) highlights that in English-speaking cultures, the degree of indirectness in communication significantly influences perceptions of politeness, largely due to the emphasis on individualism and privacy These societies prioritize non-imposition and maintaining distance in social interactions, which are viewed as essential for polite communication, especially in directive speech acts like requests However, cultural variations exist; for instance, in Vietnam, directness is valued as a sign of solidarity and sincerity, contrasting with the indirect approach favored in English contexts Similarly, Greeks tend to make requests more directly, viewing it as their duty to support one another without concern for imposition Blum-Kulka's (1987) study on Israeli Hebrew speakers further indicates a preference for directness, suggesting that these cultures emphasize involvement and social interdependence over individual autonomy Overall, many of these societies align with positive politeness norms, where indirectness does not inherently equate to politeness.
Recent studies on indirect speech acts and their connection to politeness in Vietnamese, particularly Dau's 2007 thesis on English and Vietnamese indirect requests, highlight important nuances Dau argues that in Vietnamese culture, indirectness and non-imposition do not automatically equate to politeness Instead, the politeness of requests is influenced by various factors, including the interpretation of illocutionary meaning and socio-cultural contexts, rather than solely relying on the spectrum of directness and imposition.
Vietnamese and English cultures exhibit distinct approaches to politeness, particularly regarding indirectness, yet both recognize its significance in effective communication, especially in making requests Politeness enhances the clarity of intentions and increases the likelihood of successful actions while minimizing pressure on the listener, fostering comfort for both parties To analyze the politeness strategies employed by Vietnamese and English speakers in request-making, this study draws on Brown and Levinson's (1987) classification of requests, which identifies nine subcategories within cross-cultural interlingual studies of speech acts.
4 Obligation statement: utterances which state the obligation of the hearer to carry out the act
9 Mild hints: utterances that makes no reference to the request proper (or any of its element) but are interpretable as requests by context
5 Want statement: utterances which state the speaker’s desire that the hearer carries out the act
6 Suggestory formulae: utterances which contains a suggestion to do X
7 Query preparatory: utterances containing reference to preparatory conditions (e.g., ability, willingness) as conventionalized in any specific language
8 Strong hints: utterances containing partial references to object or element needed for the implementation of the act
2 Perfomatives: utterances in which the illocutionary force is explicitly named
1 Mood derivable: utterances in which the grammatical mood of the verb signals illocutionary force
3 Hedged performatives: utterances in which the naming of the illocutionary force is modified by hedging expressions force
In the realm of speech acts, particularly in making requests, direct and indirect strategies play a crucial role Direct requests are straightforward, while indirect requests can be further categorized into conventional and unconventional types According to Brown and Levinson's classification, various politeness strategies are employed in formulating these requests, illustrating the complexity and nuances of interpersonal communication.
Categories of requests English requests Vietnamese requests
1 Mood derivable Please keep it secret! (Xin)Làm ơn giữ bí mật này dùm nha
2 Performative I request you to keep it secret
Bác yêu cầu con phải giữ bí mật chuyê ̣n đó
3 Hedged performative I have to ask you to keep it secret
Tôi phải yêu cầu anh giữ bí mật này thôi
4 Obligatory statement You have to keep it secret
Anh phải giữ bí mật chuyê ̣n này dùm tôi nha
5 Want statement I would like you to keep it secret
Tôi muốn anh giữ bí mật chuyê ̣n này
6 Suggestory formulae Why don’t you keep it secret?
Tại sao cô không giữ bí mật chuyê ̣n này nhỉ?
7 Query preparatory Mr Brown, would you mind keeping it secret?
Phiền giám đốc giữ bí mật này dùm tôi
8 Strong hint I am sad if you tell anyone this secret
Tôi sẽ buồn nếu anh nói cho ai nghe biết bí mật này
9 Mild hint My wife know the truth, I will be kicked out
Vợ tôi mà biết sự thật này chắc cô ấy đuổi tôi đi khỏi nhà
Both Vietnamese and English share commonalities in politeness when making requests, particularly through the frequent use of "please." This word significantly softens the impact of imperatives and is sometimes found in English indirect requests as well The presence of "please" fosters a comfortable communicative environment, which is especially important in Vietnamese direct requests, where it translates to "xin" or "làm ơn." This suggests that directness can embody a form of politeness within Vietnamese culture.
In Vietnamese culture, the politeness of direct requests is significantly enhanced by the use of address terms These terms vary based on the age, gender, and social status of the individuals involved, leading to different expressions for the "I-You" dynamic.
The use of familial address terms such as "bác-cháu" (uncle-niece/nephew) and "tôi-anh" (I-brother) reflects respect in communication Variations in these address terms can alter the perceived relationship between the speaker and the listener Consequently, it is essential to consider the appropriate use of address terms in daily interactions to maintain respect and clarity in relationships.
In formal contexts, English native speakers (ENS) often show respect by using a family name followed by "Mr." However, both Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) and ENS may also employ titles when making requests, as this is associated with politeness For instance, the use of "giám đốc" (manager) in a request highlights the hierarchical relationship between the employer and the employee, enhancing the level of politeness towards the boss.
Politeness in requests varies significantly between English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS), influenced by several factors beyond easily identifiable elements This analysis employs Brown and Levinson's classification to explore the preferred politeness strategies in requests for both groups A request, as a speech act, involves asking someone to perform an action, and it is inherently a face-threatening act that poses risks to the speaker's or hearer's face Consequently, it is essential to identify effective strategies that minimize face threats while facilitating smooth communication within society.
Social variables affecting politeness strategies for request-making
Politeness strategies for making requests vary significantly between cultures, such as Vietnam and English-speaking countries, primarily due to cultural differences Additionally, social factors like social status, gender, and age play a crucial role in influencing communication styles, particularly in the context of requesting This article explores these factors in depth to reveal how individuals from different cultures employ distinct strategies when making requests.
Power dynamics and politeness are intricately linked, as highlighted by Brown and Levinson (1987) They assert that social status creates an asymmetrical relationship where the degree of power affects how individuals manage their self-image, or "face." In contexts with clear hierarchical differences, such as between a boss and an employee or a professor and a student, the less powerful party tends to employ more redressive strategies Consequently, the politeness exhibited by the more powerful individual is generally more pronounced Conversely, in relationships marked by equal social status or among close friends, participants tend to utilize a variety of politeness strategies tailored to specific situations.
Gender significantly influences communication styles between males and females Research indicates that women typically engage in cooperative speech, valuing connection, intimacy, and solidarity, which leads them to emphasize shared experiences and active listening In contrast, men’s conversations tend to be more individualistic and competitive, often aiming to control the dialogue and assert their status within a hierarchical framework This difference highlights how women focus on interdependencies and relational dynamics, while men prioritize independence and status maintenance in their interactions.
Research by Holmes (1996) indicates that women are generally more attuned to the positive face needs of their friends and intimates, leading them to express friendliness and positive politeness in private interactions more frequently than men Women's requests often reflect a greater concern for the feelings of others Conversely, in public settings, women are more likely to employ negative politeness strategies to avoid threatening others' face McKay (1996) further suggests that men tend to prioritize negative politeness, honoring others' desire not to be imposed upon, rather than focusing on positive politeness that seeks to foster likability and admiration.
In Vietnamese culture, straightforwardness is often seen as a key quality in men, while women tend to favor indirect communication, reflecting stylistic differences in language use between genders Similar to English-speaking societies, various social, cultural, and historical factors influence the dynamics of gender roles and expectations in Vietnam, leading to observable differences in language, including lexical variation, intonation, and voice quality These gender differences in language appear to be universal, and the distinctions between male and female communication styles in both English and Vietnamese may also reveal differing perspectives on politeness in making requests Therefore, exploring how gender as a social variable impacts the preference for direct or indirect spoken invitations in these two languages remains an important area for further investigation.
Age is a crucial factor in understanding politeness strategies for requests, as it significantly influences human behavior across different cultures In Vietnam, for instance, age is closely tied to respect and the perception of wisdom, with older individuals often regarded as wiser Therefore, neglecting the role of age in social interactions can lead to an incomplete analysis of politeness dynamics.
In Vietnamese culture, elderly individuals are granted significant authority in family matters, with age playing a crucial role in determining respect and communication styles Younger generations often exhibit high deference when addressing older people, leading to a common practice of inquiring about age to ensure appropriate terms of address This cultural norm can be puzzling for Westerners, who may find such questions intrusive In contrast, English native speakers do not prioritize age as a primary factor in showing respect; they value personal achievements and social interactions more As a result, there is generally less deference afforded to the elderly in Western cultures compared to Asian cultures, including Vietnam, where age is a key determinant of social hierarchy and politeness.
METHODOLOGY
Research questions
(1) How different are the ways of making requests in English and Vietnamese in terms of politeness?
(2) Do social factors such as nationalities, age, genders, social status influence on the ways people make polite requests?
Research participants
This study examines the similarities and differences in the speech act of requests between native speakers of English and Vietnamese Participants, comprising native speakers from both languages, provided information about their nationality, age, occupation, gender, and education level This data is crucial for understanding the factors that influence how requests are made in each language.
The study will involve thirty native English speakers living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, comprised of fifteen males and fifteen females aged between twenty and sixty Participants will come from various professions, including English teachers, professors, students, and businessmen, and they will all share English as their first language, regardless of nationality Data will be gathered from diverse locations such as university campuses, bookstores, and parks, with the researcher focusing on their responses and observations regarding perceived differences from established norms.
In Cao Lanh city, thirty native Vietnamese speakers aged twenty to sixty are participating in a study alongside thirty native English speakers, engaging in various job roles Participants are not restricted by job type; however, they must provide essential information, including nationality, gender, age, profession, and education level, before responding to questions regarding polite requests in a questionnaire designed for data collection.
Research procedure
To successfully achieve the thesis objectives, the research process unfolds in three key stages The initial stage involves sourcing relevant materials and drafting the proposal, where the supervisor's guidance is crucial for shaping the research direction This phase is expected to last approximately two months, from early October to late December The second stage, occurring from early January to the end of the month, focuses on conducting surveys and personal observations, with questionnaires distributed to English native speakers in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese speakers in Cao Lanh City The final stage, spanning from early February to early May, centers on data analysis, specifically comparing and contrasting polite request-making between native Vietnamese and English speakers Throughout this process, the supervisor's insights remain vital, culminating in the completion of the thesis in both form and content.
Method of data collection
To achieve the aims of the study with high reliability, the study employs two data collection instruments These are survey questionnaires and personal observations
A questionnaire is a crucial tool for data collection in analysis, particularly in surveys that require responses to five specific situations, primarily focused on making requests At the outset, participants must provide essential background information, including their nationality, age, gender, profession, and education level, as these factors significantly influence their politeness strategies when making requests in various contexts The main section of the questionnaire comprises five carefully designed situations, accompanied by discourse completion questions, aimed at gathering data for the study This design effectively highlights both the similarities and differences in request-making strategies between English and Vietnamese speakers.
Situation 1: requesting someone to repeat what (s)he has just said because of her/his fast the speed of speaking
Situation 2: requesting someone for help with the heavy stuffs
Situation 3: requesting someone to keep the love problem secret
Situation 4: requesting someone to turn the TV off because of its noise
Situation 5: requesting someone to join the requester’s promotion party
Each situation of the questionnaire is designed to serve a certain purpose Situations
The study aims to explore how gender and social status influence participants when making requests, utilizing six discourse completion questions across two specific situations Additionally, the research examines the impact of gender and age on the politeness strategies chosen by requesters in two separate situations, each featuring six discourse completion questions Furthermore, when analyzing the effects of age and social status, a single situation is evaluated, comprising nine discourse completion questions.
This study examines two types of questionnaires designed for native English and Vietnamese speakers, each featuring five scenarios Data collection occurred over four weeks, followed by analysis using Blum Kuka's (1989) classification of requesting strategies, which includes Mood derivable, Performative, Hedge performative, Locution derivable, Want statement, Suggestory formula, Query preparatory, Strong hint, and Mild hint The goal is to identify the politeness strategies employed in each culture and to understand how social factors such as status, age, and gender influence the methods of making requests.
The study involves English-version questionnaires distributed to thirty English-speaking expatriates residing in Ho Chi Minh City, including participants from the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom Additionally, Vietnamese versions of the questionnaires are provided to Vietnamese speakers in Cao Lanh City The collected data is then analyzed through the lens of cross-cultural communication to enhance understanding of the theoretical framework.
Observation is a valuable method for understanding how polite requests are communicated in English and Vietnamese By observing real interactions, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, where a significant number of native English speakers are present, researchers can gather evidence on the nuances of polite requests Ideal locations for this observation include universities, bookstores, and parks, where conversations between native English and Vietnamese speakers can be easily monitored Careful note-taking during these interactions allows for a thorough analysis of the strategies used in making polite requests.
Method of data analysis
The statistical method of consolidating data from questionnaires and observations is crucial for effective data analysis By systematically listing and counting responses based on various politeness strategies used in requests by English Native Speakers (ENS) and Non-Native Speakers (VNS), researchers can transform these figures into percentages for clearer insights into the data.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
An overview of result
The study features two identical questionnaires tailored for Vietnamese Native Speakers (VNS) and English Native Speakers (ENS), each containing five scenarios and a total of 33 discourses A total of 30 responses were gathered from both VNS and ENS participants, resulting in 990 discourses per group, calculated by multiplying the 33 discourses in each questionnaire by the 30 respondents.
Table1 Politeness strategies used by VNS and ENS for making requests
The analysis reveals a significant difference in request strategies between Vietnamese and English speakers Vietnamese respondents predominantly utilize direct requests, accounting for 83%, while English speakers employ this approach only 22% Conversely, English speakers favor indirect strategies, with a striking 62% compared to just 13% used by Vietnamese respondents Additionally, the non-conventional indirectness strategy is utilized by 14% of English speakers, in contrast to only 4% by Vietnamese speakers Overall, these findings suggest that Vietnamese individuals are more straightforward in their requests, whereas English speakers tend to prefer conventional indirect forms, typically presented as questions.
This study reveals that social status, gender, and age significantly influence the request-making strategies of Vietnamese Native Speakers (VNS) and English Native Speakers (ENS) Notably, the gender and age of counterparts affect how ENS and VNS females formulate requests, with females tending to use indirectness more often than males, particularly when addressing individuals of the same gender The findings indicate that VNS females are more direct in their requests to both younger and older requestees compared to their male counterparts, while ENS females adopt a more indirect approach when addressing younger individuals and utilize fewer conventional indirect strategies with older requestees Additionally, both ENS and VNS females exhibit a tendency to issue fewer suggestory formulae and direct requests when communicating with younger males, highlighting that age significantly influences their choice of politeness strategies Overall, females from both groups demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to the age and gender of their addressees, employing varied strategies in contrast to their male counterparts.
Requests made by VNS and VNS
Direct strategies for verbal negotiation strategies (VNS) and indirect strategies for effective negotiation strategies (ENS) are generally preferred However, factors such as age, gender, and social status significantly influence how requests are made in both VNS and ENS contexts.
Firstly concerning the case in which social status and age in situation 5, all of the three cases of social status examined
Table 2.a Direct strategies employed by VNS
When the social status of those being asked (requestees) is higher than that of the individuals making the requests (requesters), the directness of the requests tends to decrease Conversely, when requestees have equal or lower social status, requesters are more likely to make direct invitations to join the party.
(6) Đi ăn tiệc mừng vào thứ sáu tuần này nha
(7) Hãy đi dự tiệc mừng của tôi vào thứ sáu này
Therefore, the some sentences used for formal context is not necessary in this case such as:
(8) Anh có thể dự tiê ̣c cùng chúng tôi chứ? (can you join the party with me?)
(9) Chị có phiền không nếu đi dự tiệc của chúng tôi vào thứ sáu này ?( do you mind joining the our party on Friday ?)
In formal contexts, particularly when addressing individuals of higher status, it is crucial to use appropriately structured sentences While VNS recognizes this importance, the specifics of their understanding remain somewhat ambiguous.
Table 2.b Indirect strategies for request made by ENS
In contrast to VSN, ENS predominantly utilizes indirect strategies, especially as social status rises, highlighting the significant influence of status on request-making ENS demonstrates a strong respect for others' autonomy, striving to avoid being intrusive This is evident in their structured approach when inviting others to join a party, particularly in situation 5.
(10) Would you like to join the party with us?
(11) You are not busy tonight Why don’t we join the party?
(12) We are happy to have your attendance at the party
(13) I wonder if you could come the party
Politeness and respect in communication often manifest through phrases like "Would you like " or "Why don’t you ," as they help speakers avoid imposing on their listeners By offering options, such as in the example "I wonder if you could come to the party tonight," speakers create a more inviting atmosphere, encouraging a positive response.
Moreover, under the impact of the age, the case in which the younger people causes VNS to request more directly than the older or the equal-age
(14) Ê, tối thứ sáu đi tiê ̣c nha.( Friday , attend the party.)
(15) Tối bữa đó ăn tiê ̣c đi mày ơi , viê ̣c thì để đó tính sau đi ( that night, join the party The work would be done later)
VNS places significant importance on age, showing greater respect for older requestees Even when requesters are younger but the requestees are older, VNS requesters tend to use indirect strategies to navigate the interaction.
Chào Anh Nam! Anh có thể tham gia buổi tiệc cùng chúng tôi vào tối thứ Sáu không?
Age is a factor considered by English as a Native Language Speakers (ENS), but it holds less significance than social status Despite the influence of age, ENS generally do not alter their indirect strategies significantly When requestees are younger than requesters but share the same social status, requesters tend to maintain indirect approaches rather than switching to direct strategies However, when ENS are of the same age and status, they are more likely to adopt directness in their requests compared to situations where requestees are either younger or older than the requesters.
In general, VNS take the age of requestees much more seriously in their consideration than ENS but ENS do take the social status much more seriously
Secondly, concerning the relationship between social status and gender in situation
The data reveals that direct requests made by Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) of both genders significantly outnumber those made by English native speakers (ENS) and other categories.
(17) Xin anh (làm ơn) lặp lại dùm.( please, repeat that!)
(18) Tôi muốn anh nó i lại một lần nữa.(I want you to repeat that.)
(19) Bác muốn cháu lập lại một lần nữa I want you to repeat that
(20) Con xin cô lập lại điều đó một lần nữa ( I want you to say that one more time)
In various contexts, VNS (Varieties of National Speech) express direct requests in unique ways, influenced by the nature of the relationship between speakers The use of address terms is crucial, as it reflects the dynamics of the "I-You" relationship in English conversations, highlighting the importance of context in communication.
In Vietnamese culture, the use of address terms such as "tôi-anh," "bác-cháu," and "con-cô" plays a crucial role in enhancing politeness Similarly, the word "please," translated as "xin" or "làm ơn," serves a significant function in both English and Vietnamese It reflects the requester's awareness of potentially inconveniencing others when expressing their desires Consequently, the phrases "xin" and "làm ơn" are widely used and accepted in Vietnamese communication, highlighting the importance of politeness in social interactions.
Both male and female VNS exhibit loyalty to direct strategies in their selections, particularly when requestees share the same gender as the requesters However, when interacting with requestees of higher social status, VNS demonstrate awareness and respect by reducing indirectness, although significant changes in their approach remain limited.
Table 2.c The direct strategies for requests made by VNS to the people of the same gender (n0)
The data indicates that VNS females are less direct in their communication compared to males, often opting for a more indirect approach when making requests to individuals of the same gender.
(21) Chị nói như vậy là nhanh quá Tôi chẳng có nghe ki ̣p đâu (you speak so fast I can’t catch up with what you say )
Indirect communication allows requestees to discern the requester's intentions, as contextual clues often reveal the underlying meaning For instance, the phrase “I can’t catch up with what you say” subtly conveys a request for repetition.
In ENS’ data, both ENS males and females prefer indirectness in their requests As discussed above, the higher social status is, the more indirect ENS are
Table 2.d The indirect strategies for requests used by ENS to the people of the same gender (n0)
The data indicates that ENS males employ significantly more indirect strategies when making requests to higher-status individuals of the same gender compared to their male counterparts.
(22) Sorry Mr Edward, could you repeat that please?
Request making influenced by some factors of social status, gender and age
The study explores the influence of social status and age on request-making, utilizing a questionnaire that includes 9 discourse questions answered by 30 participants for each subject (VNS or ENS), resulting in a total of 270 discourses These discourses are categorized by social status—lower, equal, and higher—with each category containing 90 discourses Additionally, the discourses are further divided by age into three groups: younger, same-aged, and older, with each age category comprising 30 discourses The findings reveal how participants make requests based on the social status and age of the individuals involved.
Figure 3.1.a Percentage (%, n) of total politeness strategies employed to the requestees of lower status in situation 5
In the analysis of politeness strategies, it is evident that ENS predominantly utilizes conventional indirect forms (63.5%) when addressing individuals of lower status, compared to direct (19%) and non-conventional strategies (14%) In contrast, VNS primarily relies on direct strategies (87%), with non-conventional forms being exceptionally rare (2%) This highlights a significant difference in the application of politeness strategies between ENS and VNS based on the status of the requestee.
Table 3.1.a Participants choosing politeness strategies for requesting the people of lower status
Table 3.1.a reveals that while VNS predominantly use direct request forms (93.5%) when addressing younger individuals, ENS favor conventional indirect forms (70%) and utilize hints (10%) more frequently This indicates that the age of the requestee affects ENS's approach differently than VNS Additionally, when the requestee is the same age or older than the requester, VNS consistently employs direct strategies at a much higher rate (85% and 80%) compared to ENS (26.5% and 16.5%) ENS's highest use of politeness strategies in these scenarios is seen in conventional forms (60%), often utilizing suggestive phrases like “Why don’t we…?” or “Would you like to…?”
(33) Would you like to join the party with us?
(34) Why don’t you attend the party?
(35) How about going to A restaurant for party?
The study reveals a growing trend among English native speakers (ENS) to utilize indirect strategies for making requests across various age groups Notably, while Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) tend to use more conventional indirect requests for older individuals (16.5%) compared to their peers of the same age (10%), the frequency of hints employed by both groups remains low and equal at 3.5% This indicates that participants requesting from individuals of equal age status are more likely to favor direct communication methods.
Figure 3.1.b Percentage of total politeness strategies employed to the requestees of equal status in situation 5
Figure 3.1.b illustrates the contrasting politeness strategies employed by English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) when addressing individuals of equal social status, particularly influenced by age ENS predominantly utilize conventional indirect strategies (76.5%), with minimal use of direct (15.5%) and non-conventional indirect strategies (9%) In contrast, VNS favor direct requests (88%), with only about 11% employing conventional indirect strategies and a mere 1% using hints Overall, while VNS rely heavily on direct politeness strategies, ENS prefer conventional indirect approaches, and both groups rarely use hints, especially VNS.
Table 3.1.b Participants choosing politeness strategies for requesting the person of equal status
Table 3.1.b illustrates that English native speakers (ENS) rarely use hints for requests when addressing individuals of the same age or younger (7%), with a slightly higher usage when the requester is younger (13%) Additionally, when the requestee holds an equal social status but is older, ENS tend to deliver requests less directly (7%) compared to requests made to peers (16.5%) or younger individuals (20%) In scenarios where both the requester and requestee share the same social status, direct strategies dominate the politeness approaches used by Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) However, this directness diminishes as the requestee's age increases, leading to a minimal use of hints (3%) when addressing older individuals Moreover, VNS employ conventional indirect politeness strategies in varying proportions—3.5% for younger individuals, 16.5% for peers, and 13.5% for older individuals—though these strategies are less frequently used than those by ENS.
Figure 3.1.c Percentage of total politeness strategies employed to the requestees of higher status in situation 5
Figure 2.1.c illustrates a distinct difference in request-making strategies between VNS and ENS when addressing individuals of higher social status, particularly influenced by age While most ENS favor indirect politeness strategies, VNS predominantly opt for direct approaches Among ENS, conventional indirect requests are preferred over non-conventional ones Although VNS also utilize both types of indirect strategies, they do so less frequently Notably, when the requestee holds a higher status, VNS tend to employ more indirect politeness strategies, such as questions or hints, compared to situations where the requestee is of lower or equal status.
Table 3.1.c Participants choosing politeness strategies for requesting the person of higher status
Table 3.1.c indicates that there is minimal variation in the politeness strategies employed by Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) when making requests to individuals of similar or younger age, with 83.5% of requests being direct, 10% conventional indirect, and 6.5% non-conventional indirect In contrast, when addressing older requestees, VNS exhibit a slight shift, with 80% of requests remaining direct and 13.5% being conventional indirect, suggesting an awareness of age differences Despite this, the overall influence of age on the choice of politeness strategies is limited, as direct strategies remain predominant even for higher-status individuals This age factor significantly impacts the terms of address used, as Vietnamese culture emphasizes kinship terms that reflect age and politeness Consequently, rather than varying politeness strategies, VNS opt for different terms of address to convey respect to requestees of varying ages Notably, English native speakers (ENS) also consider the age of the invitee in their interactions.
Total 30 100 30 100 in this situation ENS issue more direct requestss (20%) to people of the same age, less (16.5%) to those of younger age and least (13.5%) to those who are older Concerning the amount of conventional indirect politeness strategies used by ENS, the majority of them is for older people (70%), second position is for younger and the third is for people who are as young as they are (57.5%) The number of hints given in this case is highest to the requestee of the same age (20%) followed by the younger (20%) and the older (16.5%)
Age and social status significantly influence the politeness strategies used by English Native Speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese Native Speakers (VNS) ENS predominantly favors conventional indirectness, particularly when making requests to peers, while VNS leans towards directness, especially with younger individuals Notably, ENS tends to use direct requests for peers of the same age, hints for older individuals, and conventional indirectness for younger ones In contrast, VNS exhibits a higher tendency for indirectness with older invitees and directness with younger partners This highlights a key distinction: ENS prefers indirect invitations for younger people, whereas VNS finds direct invitations more appropriate.
In social interactions, ENS tend to make direct requests to younger individuals while employing a mix of conventional and unconventional indirect approaches with older partners Conversely, VNS favor conventional indirect politeness strategies with peers of the same age and use more hints when addressing older individuals, although they still maintain a high level of directness with younger counterparts The influence of the addressee's age and status prompts VNS to adopt more conventional indirect requests for older individuals Additionally, this dynamic encourages ENS to deliver more direct and hinted invitations to peers of the same age The analysis of politeness strategies used by both ENS and VNS in relation to social status and gender will be explored in the following section.
The study investigates how social status and gender affect politeness strategies in requests through two similar situations presented in a questionnaire Each situation generates six discourse completion questions based on the combination of gender and social status, resulting in a total of 12 questions—six for male requestees and six for female requestees A total of 30 questionnaires were distributed to 30 participants, evenly split between males and females in both the VNS and ENS groups, yielding 360 responses in total, categorized into four specific cases.
The case in which 15 males respond to 6 discourses for male requestees has
The case in which 15 males respond to 6 discourses for female requestees has
The case in which 15 females respond to 6 discourses for female requestees has 90 responses
The case in which 15 females respond to 6 discourses for male requestees has
In each of the four cases presented, there are six discourse questions directed at both males and females, ensuring an equal representation of social status among respondents, with two individuals from lower, equal, and higher social statuses each Consequently, each case yields a total of 30 responses for every social status category, as illustrated in Table 3.2.
Social status Requester to requestee
Table 3.2 Cases of making requests by males and females of one group (VNS or
ENS) according to social status in each type
This study aims to investigate the frequency of politeness strategies employed by both VNS and VNS when making requests, taking into account the influences of social status and gender Specifically, it focuses on participants making requests to individuals of the same gender, considering the impact of their respective social statuses.
Figure 3.2.a Percentage of total politeness strategies employed by VNS in comparing to those by ENS to the requestees of the same gender in situation 1,3
Both Figure 3.2.a and Table 3.2.a demonstrate the request strategies employed by English native speakers (ENS) and Vietnamese native speakers (VNS) when interacting with same-gender partners The findings indicate that both male and female ENS favor conventional indirect politeness strategies over other methods Notably, females make slightly more direct requests (27%) to their female counterparts than males do to their male partners (24.5%) In contrast, VNS predominantly utilize direct strategies with same-gender partners, with a minimal number opting for indirect hints Additionally, Vietnamese males exhibit a stronger tendency to make direct requests to their male counterparts (92% compared to 89%) and are less likely to use indirect strategies (6% compared to 9%) than females do with their same-gender requestees.
This point seems to be different from what the ENS males and females did in the same case
Table 3.2.a Participants choosing politeness strategies for requesting the person of the same gender in situation 1,3