A politeness strategy in sympathy expression in english and vietnamese

- чѵ і- ' / ,•• - '-; ỷ s As ôã '- F ЛУІ OF MA.՜ >л ш>՝ :л 一 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HANOI UNIVERSITY NGUYEN MAI LAN A POLITENESS STRATEGY IN SYMPATHY EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER IN TESOL I； |： ж ÄS га в Hanoi September 2007 IHƯVỈỆỈỈ 丁ABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Acknowledgement i Abstract ii List o f abbreviation iii List o f tables and figures iv CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1 Background to the study 1.2 Aims o f the study Outline o f the study CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Speech Act 2.2 Politeness 2.2.1 Theory o f Politeness 2.3 2.2.2 The notion of face 11 2.Ճ.Յ Positive politeness vs negative politeness 12 Directness and Indirectness 14 2.3.1 Direct speech acts 14 2.3.2 Indirect speech acts 16 2.4 The Cooperative Principles 17 2.5 The Issues o f Implicature 19 2.6 The speech act of Comfort 21 2.7 Politeness in expressing sympathy 24 CHAPTER METHODOLOGY 29 3.1 The Research questions 29 3.2 Issues in data collection 29 3.3 3.2.1 Reasons for the choice o f the DCT 29 3.2.2 The DCT in speech act studies 31 Data collection instruments 32 3.3.1 Variables 32 3.3.2 A Metapragmatic questionnaire 34 3.3.3 A Discourse Completion Task 35 3.4 Data Collection Procedure 36 3.5 The Subjects 38 3.6 Analytical Framework 39 CHAPTER DATA A N A LYSIS DISCUSSION 45 4.1 The Data Analysis 45 4.2 CHAPTER 4.1.1 The choice o f strategy 45 4.1.2 The choice o f External Modification 46 4.1.3 The Internal Modification 47 4.1.4 The realization of sympathy expression 49 4.1.5 Summary o f the major findings 50 Discussion and Implications 51 4.2.1 Discussions 51 4.2.2 Implications 53 CONCLUSION 58 Appendix a Metapramatic Questionnaire 60 Appendix В Pragmatic Questionnaire 69 APPENDIXES BIBLIOGRAPHY 73 A CK N O W LED G EM EN T I would like to express my thanks to many people who have assisted my study work First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Mrs Ha Cam Tam, PhD in National University o f Hanoi for her instructions, encouragement, invaluable comments, very useful advice as well as her supply o f helpful references during the course o f my study I would also like to convey my sincere thanks to M r Vu Van Dai, PhD, Mrs Nguyen Thai Ha, M A as well as other teachers in the Department o f Post Graduate Studies o f Ha Noi University who have helped me with in-depth knowledge, useful experience and the source o f material in the subject M y special thanks also go to all informants for their completing the questionnaires Finally, my warmest and deepest gratitude come to my parents, my husband Vu Dang Luu and my friends for supporting me and encouraging me during the completion o f this study Without the enthusiastic assistance o f these people, this paper could have been hardly completed ABSTRACT This thesis presents a study o f the contrastive pragmatics by examining sympathy realized by the “ English speakers” and Vietnamese speakers Significantly, it studies the choice o f sympathy strategies, the internal and external modifications by the “ English speakers” and Vietnamese speakers The first groups were those living and working in Australia, New Zealand or Ireland However, they were called “ English speakers’，as their mother tongue was also English The second groups were Vietnamese living and working in Ha Noi The Vietnamese participants were officials, librarians, and teachers ect doing very little w ith English language The data were collected through two questionnaires: с이npletion a metapragmatic test (DCT) questionnaire The MPQ was (MPQ) conducted on and 57 a discourse Vietnamese participants and 52 English participants The DCT was conducted on 32 Vietnamese participants and 21 English participants Firstly, the MPQ was built in a bank o f situations taking the three variables: the relative power (P), the social distance (D) and the ranKing o f seriousness o f the sympathy into consideration Then it was delivered to collect the most frequent and depressing situations by the English speakers and the Vietnamese in their sympathy expressions Finally, the DCT was made from the selected situations by the two nations to realize their sympathy expressions Based on the data collected from these two questionnaires, the two nations exhibit many differences in their realization o f sympathy w ith respect to strategy, internal and external modifications Moreover, the result o f the MPQ and the DC T suggests that more care and much attention should be taken in pragmatics in general and in sociopragmatics and pragmalinguistics in particular S T A T E M E N T OF A U TH O R SH IP Except where reference is made in the text o f the thesis, this thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree In terms o f the conditions, I agree that the original o f my thesis deposited in the library should be accessible for the purposes o f studying and research, in accordance w ith the normal conditions established by the librarian for the care, loan or reproduction o f the thesis LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS A Addressee s Speakers H Hearers D The variable social distance F The variable frequency p The variable power R The ranking o f seriousness FTA Face - Threatening Act FSA Face - Saving Act MPQ A Metapragmatic Questionnaire DCT A Discourse Completion Task LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table Basic types of direct speech acts Figure Distinction between sympathy and apology Figure Possible strategies for doing F T A S Table Internal M odification Table External M odification Table Sympathy strategies by English speakers and Vietnamese Figure The choice o f sympathy strategies Table Distribution o f different types o f sympathy External Modification between two nations Figure Different types o f sympathy External M odification Table The range o f selected Internal Modification by two nations Table The realization of sympathy expression Table The realization o f preferable sympathy structures CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY In intercultural communication, pragmatic failure has aroused much attention People often fail to achieve the communicative goal due to misunderstanding with people from other cultures Though being polite is preferred universally, the connotation o f politeness might vary across cultures Therefore，researchers need to probe into specific cultures for the exploitation o f concrete speech acts and try to identify the different patterns and discourse strategies English has been taught in Viet Nam for many years however it has been oriented by an entrance exam which focuses on grammar and reading Up to now，in the process o f teaching and learning in Viet Nam, little attention has been paid to the communicative competence Therefore, learners have difficulties in oral communication though they can read and write well Moreover，since the open door policy, more and more Vietnamese people are now working in foreign companies and have to speak English in their work; the need for verbal communicative competence has become a primary concern for them Despite this pressing need for communicative goals and avoiding misunderstanding, however learners o f English often ia il to communicate effectively with foreigners due to the lack o f knowledge o f when, how, and whom to say what This study highlights some differences o f expressing sympathy in terms o f linguistics between Vietnamese speakers and English speakers in the context studied very often not very often rarely Your close friend tells that she had an accident and that her leg is hurt and her motorbike is broken a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Your co-worker who is close to you and has helped you a lot with your work tells you she just had a miscarriage a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Your friend who is studying with you in an English class is ill and rings you to let you know that he cannot go on a trip with your group as planned a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Both your best friend and you have applied for a job in the same company When the result is announced, you are selected but she is not，she is sad a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all 61 b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Your older sister is working for a big company as a cashier She miscalculated and lost a large sum o f money a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Your friend who has been sharing the room with you for a long time told you that her younger sister had been drowned in the storm a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Your colleague working with you in the same team phones you and tells you that her boyfriend has left her a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely You visited your aunt and was told that she had a fatal disease, a How depressing you think the situation is? 62 very depressing not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely 10 Your friend is not happy with her husband and she suspects that her husband has a love-fair with someone She tells you about the incident a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often not very often □ rarely 11 Your husband is a devoted officer and he has been trying to be promoted to a higher position However, he is eventually out o f the list a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing M not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely 12 Your friend is a portfilio investor, he tells you that his big investment has been terribly declined for a few weeks now a How depressing you think the situation is? □ very depressing □ not very depressing □ not depressing at all b How often you think people w ill comfort others in this situation? □ very often □ not very often □ rarely Thank you very much ! 63 BẢN KHẢO SÁT (Dành cho người Việt) Phiếu câu hỏi nhằm tìm hiểu cách thức biểu lộ cảm thông an ủi tiếng Việt để thực nghiên cứu cách sử dụng ngôn ngữ X in quý vị vui lòng trả lời câu hỏi điều tra X in cam đoan nội dung phiếu câu hỏi dùng cho mục đích nghiên cứu khơng nêu danh quý vị trường hợp A X in quý vị đánh dấu (V) điền vào thích hợp trả lời câu hỏi sau: * Tuổi quý vị: □ 18-30 □ 30-40 □ 40 * Giới tính: □ Nam □ Nữ * Nghề nghiệp quý v ị : * Trình độ học vấn cao quý vị: Đại học cao đẳng PTTH B Xin quý vị đọc tình sau trả lời câu hỏi kèm cách đ n h d ấ u V v o lự a c h ọ n m b n c h o rằ n g th íc h h ợ p n h ất: Một đồng nghiệp làm việc bạn thời gian dài, thân với bạn nói với bạn anh bị sa thải a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: 64 rât nghiêm trọng nghiêm trọng khô ng nghiem trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Bạn thân bạn kể với bạn cô vừa bị tai nạn xe máy, chân cịn đau xe bị hỏng a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: ' nghiêm trọng b 丁heo nghiêm trọng П khơng nghiêm trọng bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thơng/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ thinh thoảng □ Hiếm Bạn người đồng nghiệp thân, giúp đỡ bạn nhiều cho biết cô ta bị sảy thai a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: □ nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ khơng nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thơng/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Bạn học lớp tiếng Anh buổi tối bạnbị ốm gọi điện thông báorằng không tne du lịch nhóm với bạn định a Theo bạn mức độ nghiem trọng tình là: □ nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thơng/an ủi khơng? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Bạn người bạn gái thân nộp đơn xin việc côngty K h i xem kết quả, bạn trúng tuyển cịn bạn khơng a T heo bạn m ức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ khơng nghiêm trọng b 丁heo bạn, tình bạn có thường dưa lời cảm thơng/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Chị gái bạn thủ quỹ công ty lớn Trong làmviệcdo sơ xuất chị tính nhầm trả thừa khoản tiền lớn a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: □ nghiem trọng nghiêm trọne □ khơng nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thơng/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Người bạn gái sống nhà trọ với bạn thời gian dài tâm với bạn em gái cô bị chết đuối bão a 丁heo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: i nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an UI không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm M ột người đồng nghiệp làm tổ với bạn gọi điện tâmsự với bạn bạn trai cô bỏ cô theo cô gái khác a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tìnhhuống là: □ nghiêm trọng □ Nghiêm trọng vừa □ nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình huong bạn có thường đưa lơi cảm thông/an UI không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm 66 Bạn đến thăm dì bạn biết dì mắc bệnh nan y, khó lịng chữa khỏi Dì buồn a 丁heo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng cua tình là: nghiêm trọng nghiêm trọng không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiem 10 Bạn gái bạn sống không hạnh phúc với chồng cô nghi ngờ chồng có tình nhân Cơ gặp bạn tâm a Theo bạn mức độ nghiem trọng tình là: □ nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiem 11 • Chồng bạn cán say sưa công việc Anh cố gắng phấn đấu để đề bạt chức vụ cao Nhưng hôm anh nói với bạn anh khơng có tên danh sách đe bạt a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình là: □ nghiêm trọng □ nghiêm trọng □ không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an ủi không? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiem 12 Bạn bạn nhà đầu tư chứng khoán Anh đầu tư lượng tiền lớn để mua cổ phiếu công ty Nhưng suốt tuần cổ phiếu cơng ty giảm nghiêm trọng a Theo bạn mức độ nghiêm trọng tình huong là: 67 rât nghiêm trọng nghiêm trọng không nghiêm trọng b Theo bạn, tình bạn có thường đưa lời cảm thông/an ủ ikhông? □ thường xuyên □ □ Hiếm Xin chan ílĩànlt cảm ơn hợp tác quỷ vị 68 A P P E N D I X Iỉ PRAGMATIC QUESTIONNAIRE This questionnaire is designed for my research into how English speaking people comfort or encourage others in depressing situations The information o f this questionnaire shall be used for the purpose o f this study only and personal information shall be kept strictly confidential A Please tick (V) where appropriate or fill in the blanks with necessary information - Your n a tio n a lity: • Ag e: □ 18-30 • Gender: Ũ 30-40 □ Male □ over 40 Female • Your occupation: • Your education: □ university □ college □ secondary school B Could you please read these depressing situations carefully and write down what you would normally say or when you were in these situations 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