i Vinh University Foreign Language Department = = = = = = Summary of graduation thesis Some Register Features in Agreement between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Trade Relations ( mét sè đặc điểm ngữ vực hiệp định thơng mại việt - mü) Field: Linguistics Student’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1s name: Phạm Thu Giang, 43A1 Supervisor: Lê Đình Thảo, M.A Vinh 2006 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The thesis could not have been completed without the help of my teachers and friends during the time my researching process Firstly, I should like to acknowledge my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, M.A Lê Đình Thảo for the assistance with all his heart, excellent suggestions, detailed critical comments, without which the study would not have been completed Then, thanks are due to Mr Trần Bá Tiến, M.A for suggesting the idea to ii me to this study and helping me a lot with his advice and comments for the study; and Ms KiỊu Hun Tr©m for her pretty useful materials I would also like to offer my indebtedness to all my teachers in the Faculty of Foreign Languages for their great help Finally, my sincere thanks are due to my family, to my close friends and to those who have helped me carry out the study Vinh, May 8, 2006 Phạm Thu Giang ABBREVIATIONS BTA: Bilateral Trade Agreement (Agreement between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) et cetra For example That is to say and others World Trade Organization etc: e.g.: i.e.: Et.al: WTO: ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations Vietnam: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam U.S The United States of America : iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement ii Abbreviations iii Table of Contents .iv PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1 General introduction Rationale of the study Aims and Objectives of the study Scope of the study Methods of the study Design of the study 1 3 PART 2: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 1.1 Context of situation 1.2 Register theory 1.2.1 The Concept of Register 1.2.2 The Parameters of Register 1.2.2.1 Field 1.2.2.2 Mode 10 1.2.2.3 Tenor 11 iv CHAPTER 2: SOME REGISTER FEATURES IN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ON TRADE RELATION (BTA) 2.1 Background knowledge of the BTA 14 2.1.1 General introduction 14 2.1.2 BTA negotiation and sign principles 16 2.1.3 Result of the BTA 17 2.2 Some Register in the BTA 17 2.2.1 Use of Grammar .18 2.2.1.1 Kinds of sentences 18 2.2.1.2 Sentence order 22 2.2.1.3 Length of sentences 25 2.2.1.4 Modality 25 2.2.1.5 Use of Active voice and Participle 27 2.2.1.6 Use of Active voice and Passive voice 28 2.2.1.7 Unit of written discourse 30 2.2.2 Use of Vocabulary 32 2.2.2.1 Archaic words 32 2.2.2.2 Technical words 32 2.2.2.3 Borrowed words 33 2.2.2.4 Abbreviation 34 2.2.3 Thematisation 35 2.2.4 Application .37 PART 3: CONCLUSION 43 Review of the major findings 43 Suggestions for further study 44 v References PART 1: INTRODUCTION GENERAL INTRODUCTION In recent years, research into language of workplace English has increased in quantity such that it is becoming an established and important of applied linguistics There has been a growth in research activity on language so far but they only concern with the form of language systems which are studied and explained apart from their functions in relation to social situation In addition, structural theories are basically paid attention to This means the small units were arranged into and combined into the larger ones However, linguists have trended to research on discourse analysis In the area of discourse analysis study, language has been investigated in both form and meaning in distinctive situations and contexts And the meaning of not only sentences but also utterance and discourses is concerned In Vietnam, there are a few studies in the area of discourse analysis Therefore, this investigation may be considered a contribution to the field of discourse analysis Within the framework of graduation paper, this study focus on observing one of its sub–field, that is register This aimsfield, that is register This aims to enable us to uncover how language is used to convey the writer ’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1s intention, and understand and know the text well Those are very helpful to English learners, especially translators and interpreters to translate well REASONALE OF THE STUDY Vietnam nowadays is step by step adhering to the development in the world, so we have joined international organizations and signed international documents with other countries Therefore, there are lots of English learners, translators and interpreters interested in such documents Knowing these documents well does help them in their jobs Professional ones are aware of linguistic concepts such as vi Register, and they consider issues connected to these concepts in their everyday work Register Analysis is not only useful in studying different forms of variants or language form in communication, but interested in non –field, that is register This aims linguistic elements that effect on communicative procedure Understanding how the concept of Register is perceived is the key to approach such texts well However, it may be that, although they are aware of the importance of linguistic concepts such as Register, and although they are familiar with the theoretical background underlying this concept, the concept may still remain indefinite and appear to be distant from practical work The emphasis of the present study will be on the description of language variation of a specific legal document, BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreement) which plays a significant role in our economy development Therefore, we have decided to choose “Some Register Features inSome Register Features in Agreement between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Trade Relations” to be the theme of our study to be the theme of our study Hopefully, this study, to some extent, is helpful to English learners, translators and interpreters AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The object of this study is the BTA Although there is no comparison between English and Vietnamese texts, this study aims to provide an insight into BTA regarding the formality Driven by the need to recognize the description of language variation of the BTA, we focus on analyzing register in the BTA The objectives of the study are: To emphasize the importance of Register in the use and choice of vocabularies and ways of expressions - To study the Register analyze in the BTA discourse To enable readers, learners, translators and interpreters to uncover how language is used to convey the writer’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1s intention, then know the discourse in general and vii specifically, the BTA well After that, they will have a better orientation for the translation job SCOPE OF THE STUDY For the aim of this study, the investigation focuses on analyzing the BTA In addition, due to the time constraints and within the framework of a graduation paper, this analysis of the BTA is confined to only some register features METHODS OF THE STUDY In this study, we will examine the concept of register from two perspectives: theory and practice Firstly, a great number of documents and materials, together with the BTA will be selected and searched Then, we will give a description of the concept of register based on the ideas of researchers and scholars from the fields of linguistics Finally, the data obtained will be dealt with, analyzed in order to reach some conclusions on the subject matter under investigation, and necessary comments should be accordingly made DE SIGN OF THE STUDY We have divided the study as follows: Part 1: Introduction This part includes: General introduction, Reasonale of the study, Aims and objectives of the study, scope of the study and Methods of the study Part 2: Development This part is divided into chapters viii - Chapter 1: Briefly reviews the background to the study: the Context of Situation and the Concept of Register We especially focus on describing three parameters of Register: Field, Mode, and Tenor in order to clarify the Register Analysis orientation - Chapter 2: Firstly provides some background knowledge on the BTA such as: General introduction, BTA negotiation and sign principles, and Result of the BTA; then this chapter makes an effort to analyze the variations of language in the BTA based on theoretical background of the former chapter This chapter also offers some implications to teaching and learning English Part 3: Conclusion This part reviews the main findings of the study It also offers some suggestions for further works The last pages of the study are for Reference and Annex ix PART 2: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 1.1 Context of situation In the Hallidayan (also called Australian) functional theory of language (Hyon, 1996), “Some Register Features inanalysts are not just interested in what language is, but why language is; not just what language means, but how language means (Leckie-Tarry, 1993:26)” to be the theme of our study Halliday stresses the need for a look into the context in which a text is produced while analyzing and/or interpreting a text He points out that the really pressing question here is "which kinds of situational factor determined which kinds of selection in the linguistic system?" (Halliday, 1978:32; original emphasis) In D.A, Context of Situation, or context is an important factor that can’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1t be dissociated when interpreting the discourse Malinowski is the first one used the term “Some Register Features inContext of Situation” to be the theme of our study Malinowski (1923) supposed that any word of primitive language could only be understood via the context; in order to know the meanings of an utterance, it is necessary to see it in Context of Situation According to Halliday and Hasan, the Context of Situation, which refers to what is going on in the specific situation in which the text occurs, is given substance in the words and grammatical patterns of the text Halliday (1991) stated: Language is considered a system –field, that is register This aimsincluding vocabularies and grammar….; and specific discourses and constitutive.; and specific discourses and constitutive elements must be related to Context of Situation In David Nunan ’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1s opinion (1983:7), “Some Register Features incontext refers to the situation giving rise to the discourse and within which the discourse is embedded” to be the theme of our study He also divides context into two types: linguistic and non –field, that is register This aims linguistic The former encompasses and accompanies the piece of discourse under analysis The later includes the type of communicative event, the topic, the purpose of the event, the setting, x the participant and the relationships between them and the background knowledge and assumptions underlying the communicative event As indicating above, the linguistic context seems to be relevant to the analysis of the BTA whereas the non –field, that is register This aimslinguistic one does not since this study just purpose to describe the language variation of the BTA 1.2 Register Theory 1.2.1 The Concept of Register Register or functional styles have been differently viewed According to Halliday et al (1964:77), the term “Some Register Features inRegister” to be the theme of our study is widely used in socio –field, that is register This aimslinguistics to refer to “Some Register Features in variety according to use in the sense that each speaker has a range of varieties and chooses between them at different times.” to be the theme of our study., not a “Some Register Features invariety according to user” to be the theme of our study or in other words, Register shows what you are doing This use-related framework for the description of language variation Register or context of situation as it is formally termed, "is the set of meanings, the configuration of semantic patterns that are typically drawn upon under the specific conditions, along with the words and structures that are used in the realization of these meanings" (Halliday, 1978:23) and he also states: The term Register is used to explain for language use In different context, language will change to correspond with the situation (Halliday, 1964:87) It is concerned with the variables of Field, Tenor, and Mode, and is a useful abstraction which relates variations of language use to variations of social context The change of variations leads to the change of meanings For example: I saw Smith having dinner with a woman (Brown & Yule, 1983) If the listener is Smith’s name: Ph¹m Thu Giang, 43A1s wife, it is a warning that Smith has dinner with a woman But, in case, participants are friends, this information is just for fun The concept of Register was first formalized to indicate to the relationship between context and text Halliday (Halliday et al 1964), and later Ure and Elliss (1977), and Gregory and Carroll (1978) used register to refer to “Some Register Features ina variety according to use in sense that each speaker has a range of varieties and chooses between them at different time” to be the theme of our study (cited in Halliday et al 1964: 77) Therefore, Register is different from dialect in that the latter is ... through the Mood / Modality systems of the grammar Chapter 2: SOME REGISTER FEATURES IN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA AND THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ON TRADE RELATIONS (BTA)... renovation cause and to raise its economy''s competitiveness on the one hand, and on other hand to affirm the consistency of the Party and State''s policies to integrate the national economy into the. .. a number of economic and trade agreements, including those on copyrights and one on the operations of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Vietnam The two sides also signed the Framework