Use of addressing forms to express informality in English and Vietnamese. M.A. Thesis Linguistics : 60 22 15

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES TRỊNH THỊ VIỆT HƢƠNG TÓM TẮT LUẬN VĂN USE OF ADDRESSING FORMS TO EXPRESS INFORMALITY IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE (SỬ DỤNG CÁC TỪ XƢNG HÔ ĐỂ THỂ HIỆN TÍNH KHƠNG NGHI THỨC TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ TIẾNG VIỆT) M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 602215 HANOI, 2011 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES TRỊNH THỊ VIỆT HƢƠNG USE OF ADDRESSING FORMS TO EXPRESS INFORMALITY IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE (SỬ DỤNG CÁC TỪ XƢNG HÔ ĐỂ THỂ HIỆN TÍNH KHƠNG NGHI THỨC TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ TIẾNG VIỆT) M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 602215 Supervisor: Ths Nguyễn Thúy Hƣơng HANOI, 2011 iv TABLE OF CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHAPTER: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of problem and rationale 1.2 Aims and objectives: 1.3 Research questions: 1.4 Research methodology: 1.5 Significance of the study: 1.6 Structure of the thesis : CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Culture, language and communication 2.2 Addressing forms 2.2.1 Addressing forms and their definitions 2.2.2 Features of addressing forms 2.2.3 Factors affecting the choice of addressing forms 2.3 The use of addressing terms to express informality in English and Vietnamese 10 2.3.1 The concept of informality 10 2.3.2 The use of addressing forms to express informality in English 11 2.3.3 The use of addressing forms to express informality in Vietnamese 12 v CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 14 3.1 Research questions revisited 14 3.2 Selection of participants 14 3.3 Data collection instruments 15 3.4 Data collection procedures 16 3.5 Data analysis 17 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSTIONS 18 4.1 Results of the study 18 4.1.1 Vietnamese responses 18 4.1.2 English responses 24 4.2 Discussion of the findings 31 4.3 Major similarities and differences between Vietnamese and English languages and culture in using AFs to express informality32 4.4 Implications for English language teaching ……………………………… .… 35 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 37 5.1 Findings of the study revisited 37 5.2 Limitations of the study 38 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………39 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AFs: ……………Addressing forms M: …………… Male F: …………… Female T: …………… Title alone TLN: ………… Title with last name (TLN): E.g Mr Clinton … LN: ……………Last name alone … FN: ………… First name MNs: ………… Multiple names P: ………………Pronouns F: …………… First name terms T: …………… Nick name Bt: …………… Bare title E: ………………Terms of endearment D: ………………Demonstrative words ELT …………… English language teaching vii LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES FIGURES Figure1: Vietnamese respondents’ information Figure 2: English respondents’ division Figure 3: English respondents’ information TABLES Table 1: Different addressing forms that may be used to express informality in Vietnamese Table 2: Different relations in which addressing forms can be used to express informality in Vietnamese Table 3: Different settings in which addressing forms can be used to express informality in Vietnamese Table 4: The frequency with which addressing forms can be used to express informality in Vietnamese Table 5: Different factors that can affect the choice of addressing forms to express informality in Vietnamese Table 6: The level influence of the factors on the choice of AFs in Vietnamese Table 7: Different addressing forms that may be used to express informality in English Table 8: Different relations in which addressing forms can be used to express informality in English Table 9: Different settings in which addressing forms can be used to express informality in English Table 10: The frequency with which addressing forms can be used to express informality in English Table 11: Different factors that can affect the choice of addressing forms to express informality in English Table 12: The level influence of the factors on the choice of AFs in English Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of problem and rationale In communication using a appropriate addressing forms is the first step to a successful conversation How people address each other is not only a matter of creating intimate atmosphere but also the aspect of social and culture expression One important issue in studying communication is to learn how individuals manage to open conversations or how people may address one another in a given language English users (not native speaker) are faced with different factors that make them feel unconfident when learning and using English especially when using addressing forms In an attempt to decrease learners‟ errors especially students‟ errors in using addressing forms, the researcher aims to find out the similarities and differences in the use of addressing forms in informal way as well as the factors that affect the choice of addressing forms in Vietnamese and English speaking cultures 1.2 Aims and objectives: The aims of the study are: - To investigate major similarities and differences in using addressing forms in English and Vietnamese and the factors that affects the choice of addressing forms in the two cultures - To suggest some implications for ELT about AFs between English and Vietnamese in order to help learners of English avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication in cross-culture communication 1.3 Research questions In short the paper is going to answer two research questions as follow: What are the major similarities and differences in using addressing forms to express informality in English and Vietnamese? What are the factors that affect the choice of AFs in two cultures? 1.4 Research methodology The study begins by providing the theoretical background with viewpoints of various authors concerning the issue These different viewpoints are dealt with in two ways: - Bringing the viewpoints and then giving discussion - Briefly analyzing these viewpoints In order to achieve the aims of the study, the main method is quantitative which is mainly relies on:  Review of relevant literature  Survey questionnaire  Statistics, description and analysis of the collected data  Personal observation  Consultation with the supervisor 1.5 Significance of the study The study is hoped to be a useful source for both pedagogical and research purpose Specifically, equipped by the outcomes of the study, language teachers and learners may find the subject matter no longer complicated but motivating uses of AFs to express informality in English so that English learners can understand deeply addressing forms and can be confident in using addressing forms successfully 1.6 Structure of the thesis The thesis consists of five chapters, organized as follows: Chapter one is written to introduce the background to the study and statement of the problems It also presents the aims, the research questions, research methodology, significance of the study and the design of the thesis Chapter two presents a review of theoretical background that is relevant to the study It presents the definitions and discusses the relation of culture, language and communication All key terms of addressing forms and informality as well as some common features and factors affecting the choice of addressing forms are also mentioned Chapter Three states the methodology used in the study Therefore, research questions are revisited, the information about subjects, the data collection instruments, the data collection procedures and the data analysis Chapter Four discusses the outcome of the data analysis Chapter Five is the conclusion to the thesis CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Culture, language and communication Culture, language and communication are the three concepts that are closely related Before being examined in the relationships with the others, each is expected to be perceived in a thorough way In the first place should be the concept of culture Social scientists have been interested in culture and how it influences people for years Over the years there have been many different definitions of culture, with similarities as well as differences Culture influences all aspects of our lives We use culture to explain similarities within and differences between groups of people (Tooby & Cosmides, 1992) Culture is not a static entity, but is ever-evolving; what we commonly know as “the generation gap” is a cultural difference as it refers to different ways of life and being for people who are raised in different periods of time (Pipher, 1998) Richard et al, (1992, 138) give clear definition of culture and point out some problems in culture between people of different background: “culture is the total sets of beliefs, attitudes, customs, behavior, social habits of the members of a particular society” Referring to culture, Harrison and Huntington (2000) comment sophisticatedly: “The term „culture‟, of course, has had multiple meaning in different disciplines and different context” (p.15) Culture is also defined in a broader sense by Triandis (1994) as follows: “… a set of human – made objective and subjective elements that in the past have increased the probability of survival and resulted in satisfaction for the participants in an ecological niche, and thus become shared among those who could communicate with each other because they had a common language and they live in the same time and place” Obviously, there are many ways to define culture Culture, in short, can be comprehended as a shared learned behavior that is transmitted from one generation to 36  The other instruments such as: recording, written literatural works should e used REFERENCES Bonvillain, Nancy(2003), Language, Culture, and Communication: The Meaning of Messages (4th edn ed.) Upper Saddle River, N.J, Prentice Hall Brown, Applied H D(1994), Principles Linguistics Learning of Language and in English Linguistics and Teaching (3rd edn) Prentice Hall Regents Brown, R & Ford, M(1964), Address in American English In Hymes (ed.) Language in Culture and Society Haper and Row, New York Cooke, J(1968) The Pronominal Reference in Thai, Burmese, and Vietnamese Berkl ey University of California Press Dewi, D.Y.F(2008), A Contrastive Study between English and Indonesian address System Retrieved June 12th, 2011 from http://etd.eprints.ums.ac.id/3660/1/A320040065.pdf Holmes, J & Meyerhoff, M (Ed.)(2002), The Handbook of Language and Gender Blackwell Publishing Fitch, Kristine L(1991), The Interplay of Linguistic Universals and Cultural Knowledge in Personal Address Columbian Madre terms Communication Monographs 58: 254–272 Murray Schneider(1980), American Kinship: a Cultural Account University of Chicago Press Larry Rios(2004), Speak Basic Spanish in No Time Que Corporation,U.S 10 Leech, Geoffrey(1999), The distribution and function of vocatives in American and British English conversation In: Hasselgard, Hilde/Oksefjell, Signe (eds.): 37 Out of Corpora Studies in honor of Stig Johansson Rodopi: 107–118, Amsterdam 11 Morford, Janett(1997), Address Journal 12 of Social Indexicality in French Pronominal Linguistic Anthropology 7: 3–37 Oyetade, Solomon Oluwole(1995), A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Address Forms in Yoruba, Language in Society 24: 515–535 13 Nida, E.(1998), „Language, culture, and translation‟, Foreign Languages Journal 115/3: 29-33 14 Nordquist, R(2009), Term of address, Retrived August, 12th, 2011 from http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/termofaddressterm.htm 15 Pipher, M(1998), Another country: Navigating the emotional terrain of our elders, Putnam, New 16 York Richards, J.C., Platt, J and Platt, H(1999), Longman dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics, Longman, London 17 Samovar, L.A(2007), Communication Between Culture, 6th ed, Thomson Wadsworth (pp16,23,40), Belmont 16 Tooby, J., & Cosmides, L(1992), Psychological foundations of culture In L Cosmides & J Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind (pp 19-136), Oxford University Press, New York 18 Triandis , H(1994), Culture and Social Behavior, Mc Graw-Hill.(p23) New York 19 Wardaugh, R(1986), An introduction to Sociolinguistic, Brasil Blackwell Oxford 20 Cu, Dinh Tu(2001) , Phong Cach Hoc va Dac Diem Tu Tu Tieng Viet („Stylistics and features of Vietnamese stylistics‟), Nha Xuat Ban Giao Duc, Hanoi 21 Luong, Van Hy (1990) Discursive Practices and Linguistic Meanings: The Vietnamese System of Person Reference, John Benjamins, Amsterdam/ Philadelphia 38 22 Nguyen, Thai Hoa (1999), Cac Phuong tien tu tu va cac bien phap tu tu cua tieng Viet („Tools and methods of stylistics in Vietnamese‟) In Phong Cach Hoc Tieng Viet.(ed) L T Dinh, 161‐275, Nha Xuat Ban Giao Duc, Hanoi 23 Phan, T.T.T (2006),Hô Ngữ Tiếng Việt ( Trong So Sánh Với Tiếng Hán Hiện Đại), University of Education Press, Ho Chi Minh city I APPENDICES Appedix 1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE The contents of this form are absolutely confidential and are used for scientific purpose only Information identifying the respondent will not be disclosed under any circumstances My name is Trinh Thi Viet Huong, from FPS, ULIS, VNU I am conducting a research survey for pots graduated paper title: “Use of addressing form to express informality in Vietnamese and English” Your completion of the survey is highly appreciated Please feel free to express your opinions as they are what the paper really stresses on Thank you for your cooperation Please fill in the blanks and put a tick ( ) where appropriate Required What is your nationality?* What is your gender ?* Male Female Please specify at least addressing forms that you may use to express informality in your culture ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… II You have listed some addressing forms that express informality, in which of relations below can those addressing terms be used parents → children children → parents between siblings wife ↔ husband friend ↔friend neighbor ↔ neighbor colleagues boss- staff → worker staff worker → boss teacher → student student → teacher others You have listed some addressing forms that express informality, in which of settings below can those addressing forms be used public setting (bus-stop, pub, supermarket ) home school/ university work place library others (please specify) None III In your opinion, when using addressing forms to express informality, what factors below affect the choice of addressing forms Age Length of time you have known him/her Manner of communication (formal, informal…) Occupation Setting (at home, at work…) Gender Social status Finance power Order of importance Other (Please specify) None IV Appedix 2: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE The contents of this form are absolutely confidential and are used for scientific purpose only Information identifying the respondent will not be disclosed under any circumstances My name is Trinh Thi Viet Huong, from FPS, ULIS, VNU I am conducting a research survey for pots graduated paper title: “Use of addressing form to express informality in Vietnamese and English” Your completion of the survey is highly appreciated Please feel free to express your opinions as they are what the paper really stresses on Thank you for your cooperation Please fill in the blanks and put a tick ( ) where appropriate Required What is your nationality? * What is your gender ? * Male Female There are addressing forms below According to you, how often are those addressing forms be used ? AFs categories Bare kinship term (Bk) Pronouns (P) First name terms very often often sometimes rarely never V AFs categories very often often sometimes rarely never (F) Bare title (Bt) Standard short form of name (S) Title with nick name (T) Slang (Sl) Terms of endearment (Te) In your opinion, when using addressing forms to express informality, what extend these factors affect the choice of addressing forms? Categories of factors Age gap Length of time you Much Not much Little VI Categories of factors have known him/her Manner of communication (formal, informal…) Setting (at home, at work…) Gender Social status Finance power Other (Please specify) Much Not much Little VII Appedix 3: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE (BẢN ĐIỀU TRA) Nội dung câu hỏi bảo mật tuyệt đối sử dụng cho mục đích nghiên cứu thong tin người tham gia khơng tiết lộ hình thức Tôi Trịnh thị Việt Hương đến từ khoa sau đại học, trường đại học ngoại ngữ, đại học Quốc Gia Hà Nội thực câu hỏi khảo sát cho khóa luận tốt nghiệp có tiêu đề “Sử dụng từ xưng hơ để thể tính không nghi thức tiếng Anh tiếng Việt Tôi mong nhận hợp tác quí vị cách hoàn thành câu hỏi Đừng ngại đưa quan điểm riêng q vị điều mà nghiên cứu tơi quan tâm Hãy đánh dấu tích () điền vào chỗ thích hợp Gới tính?* Nam Nữ Hãy liệt kê từ xưng hô anh/ chị thường dùng thể tính khơng nghi thức: ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… Anh/ chị vừa liệt kê từ xưng hơ thể tính khơng nghi thức , những mố i quan ̣ nào sau các từ xưng hô đó có thể đươ ̣c dùng: bố mẹ → cái cái → bố me ̣ VIII giữa anh chi ̣em vơ ̣ ↔ chờ ng bạ n ↔ ba ̣n hàng xóm ↔ hàng xóm đờ ng nghiê ̣p lãnh đạo → nhân viên nhân viên → lãnh đạo giáo viên → học sinh học sinh → giáo viên mối quan hệ khác Anh/ chị vừa liệt kê từ xưng hơ thể tính khơng nghi thức , những điạ điể m nào sau các từ xưng hô đó có thể đươ ̣c dùng: nơi công cô ̣ng (bế n xe buýt, quán rượu, chơ ̣ ) nhà trường ho ̣c nơi làm viê ̣c thư viê ̣n những nơi khác (xin haỹ liê ̣t kê cu ̣ thể ) không nơi nào Theo anh/ chị sử dụng từ xưng hô để thể hiê ̣n tính không nghi thức những yế u tố nào sau ảnh hưởng tới sự lựa cho ̣n từ xưng hô: t̉ i thời gian quen biế t tính chấ t cuô ̣c hô ̣i thoa ̣i IX nghề nghiê ̣p điạ điể m (tại nhà, nơi làm việc…) giới tính điạ vi ̣xã hô ̣i lực tài chiń h mức đô ̣ quan tro ̣ng yếu tố khác (xin haỹ liê ̣t kê cu ̣ thể ) không có yế u tố nào X Appedix 4: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE (BẢN ĐIỀU TRA) Nội dung câu hỏi bảo mật tuyệt đối sử dụng cho mục đích nghiên cứu thong tin người tham gia không tiết lộ hình thức Tơi Trịnh thị Việt Hương đến từ khoa sau đại học, trường đại học ngoại ngữ, đại học Quốc Gia Hà Nội thực câu hỏi khảo sát cho khóa luận tốt nghiệp có tiêu đề “Sử dụng từ xưng hơ để thể tính khơng nghi thức tiếng Anh tiếng Việt Tôi mong nhận hợp tác q vị cách hồn thành câu hỏi Đừng ngại đưa quan điểm riêng q vị điều mà nghiên cứu quan tâm Hãy đánh dấu tích () điền vào chỗ thích hợp Gới tính?* Nam Nữ Dưới từ xưng hô thể tính khơng nghi thức tiếng Việt Theo q vị từ xưng hơ sử dụng mức độ nào? Rất thường xuyên Đại từ nhân xưng Quan hệ họ Thường Thỉnh Hiếm xuyên thoảng Không XI Rất thường xuyên Thường Thỉnh Hiếm xuyên thoảng Không hàng Tên riêng Biệt danh Từ thân mật Từ định Theo quí vị sử dụng từ xưng hơ thể tính không nghi thức tiếng Việt, từ xưng hô bị ảnh hưởng mức độ sau đây: Yếu tố ảnh hưởng Tuổi Thời gian quen biết Tính chất giao tiếp Hồn cảnh Giới tính Địa vị xã hội Khả tài Nhiều Khơng nhiều Ít XII Yếu tố ảnh hưởng Giáo dục Nhiều Không nhiều Ít