Vietnamese and english greeting

VIETNAMESE AND ENGLISH GREETINGS
INTRODUCTION
There are many different ways of greeting. In Western countries such as France,
Spain or Italy, people greet friends by kissing on both cheeks while in the Middle East,
Muslims always hug persons of the same sex when greeting each other. What an
interesting thing! How about Asians like us? The peoples in Asian countries are quite
reticent. So, the way they greet is also discreet and respectful. In Vietnam, greetings are
part and parcel of everyday life. Vietnamese ancestors said: “Lời chào cao hơn mâm
cỗ”. The statement reveals that greetings played an important role in the old days of our
country.
According to Goffman, greetings provide the means of the opening
conversations appropriately, establish and maintain social relationship (as cited in Li,
2009, p.1), for example “Hello” or “Hi”. In addition, the basic functions of greetings are
also to identify the presence of communicators and to show their concern. However,
modes of communication in all languages are not the same. That is the reason why
imposing the rules of one language on another’s can cause negative transfer which
leads awkwardness and misunderstanding.


In this paper, I focus on English and Vietnamese greetings and draw out some
differences in terms of content, semantics, syntax and lexis. Then, some implications
for language teaching are discussed so that learners can avoid pragmatic transfers
from their native language to the second one. I hope that through the paper, you will
have a deep look into two languages in greetings, an indispensable culture in the
world.

CONTENT
Greetings in Vietnamese
Definition
The definition of greeting is illustrated in terms of linguistics, sociology,
and anthropology.

According to two linguists, Schegloff and Sacks (1973), greetings are
considered as a speech event constituted by two parts side by side such as GreetingGreeting:
A: Hi

B: Hi

Or Greeting- Request for information
A: Hi

B: Do you have a class today?

Unlike the linguists’ outlook, Goffman (1971), the sociolinguist stated
that greetings consist of several interlinking behaviors:
(1) Verbal

(3) Non verbal

(2) Term of address

(4) Social context

Meanwhile, in anthropological linguistics perspective, Fieg and Mortlock


(1989) defined greetings as “ritualistic expressions” which are affected by social
factors, particularly cross-cultural differences (as cited in Williams, 2001).
In Vietnamese, greetings, as stated by professor Ngan (2005), mean that people
speak or use gesture in order to show their respect and sociability when they meet
someone. Or in Vietnamese proverbs, we can see that how important greetings are in
comparison with “mâm cỗ”.

“Lời chào cao hơn mâm cỗ”
In brief, no one can give the accurate definition which satisfies other people. It
is obvious that each nation has different ways to greet, so there are variances in
greeting concept.
Greetings in English
In English, there are some main formulaic expressions frequently used in
informal contexts such as “Hi”+ (first name) and “Hello”+ (first name). In addition,
people tend to greet each other according to the time of a day (see Table).
Greetings according to time
Morning

Good Morning

From midnight

- Good morning,

+

to midday

Mr Tom

(title/

name)

first
Or

- Mornin’ Jerry

Mornin’ (short

Afternoo
n

form)
Good afternoon +
(title/ first
name) Or
Afternoon

After midday until
5p.m

- Good
afternoon,
professor Mike
- Afternoon Mary


Evening

Good Evening
+(title/ first
name) Or
Evenin’

After 5p.m until

- Good evening,

people have gone to

Ms Catherine

sleep

- Evenin’ Jones

In the Evaluation of Greeting Exchanges in Textbooks and Real Life Settings,
Williams (2001) classified greetings into two types: (1) a mirrored greeting, a response
is an exact duplicate of a greeting and (2) a greeting- response, a response is a
question.
(1)

A: Hi

B: Hi

(2)

A: Good morning.

B: How are you?

Both types make use of adjacency pairs that the second utterance is expected
to follow up the first one.
On the research of Eisenstein and Bodman (1988), speakers don’t always utilize

the formulaic expressions mentioned above. According to this research, greetings can
be divided into 8 forms.
Greetings on the run
This is a greeting between two people who have a close relationship. They meet
by chance and have no time to talk much. So, they just say in a few words.
Example: Friends meet by accident.
A: Hi, how ya doin’?

B: Hi! Gotta run, I’m late for a

class Speeding greetings
This form is quite common for colleagues. They greet and exchange information
briefly while they are going to somewhere.


Example: Two colleagues greet each
other A: Hi, How are things going?
B: Not bad. ‘N
you? A: So-so.
The chat
This is quite similar to the speedy greeting but enclosed with a topic for
discussion.
Examples:


A: Good morning, Mr.
Tony. B: Good morning,
Mr. Pike.
A: Did you watch the football match yesterday. I missed it.
B: What a pity! MU played well. They won.

The long greetings
The purpose of this kind is to warm up the relationship after a long time. It
includes mixed greetings and talks.
Example:
A: Mary!
B: Catherine!
They hug each other.
A: Long time no see!
B: Yes, too long. Where’ve you been?
A: Well, I had the project in Japan and stayed there one
year… The intimate greeting
It occurs between people who know each other well. Sometimes, thanks to
their intimacy, they may use a great deal implied or unsaid, non verbal gesture and
ignore a greeting itself.
Example: a husband and a wife
The husband kisses his wife: Well?
A wife: Yes.
A husband: Great. You know today I have been promoted to a manager.


A wife: Oh, really! Let’s celebrate.


A husband: Of course. Where do you want to go?
The all-business greeting
This typically happens between people who have non-social relationship.
Because of the other’s time limit, they show respect and consideration by starting their
business right away.
Clerk: Mr. Jones.
Director: Yes?

Clerk: Mrs. Sabrina has come here.
Director: Really. What’s up?
The introductory greeting
It relates to people who meet for the first time. Its primary function is to allow the
participants to find a connection. The opening is not always a greeting but probably a
comment.
A: Nice party!
B: Yes.
A: Who do you know
here? B: Mary. I work with
her… The re-greeting
It involves acknowledging someone you have greeted earlier and see many
times during the day. It also encompasses non-verbal gesture or a few quick words.
Example: one co-worker having known earlier in the day that her co-worker was
not feeling well greets again:
A: Lorie? Feel better?

B: Yes, thanks!


In the book TESOL Techniques and Procedures (1985, p. 102), Bowen, Madsen
and Hilferty define greetings as a part of phatic communication. “They communicate
attitudes rather than just bare facts” (as cited in Gass & Neu, 1996, p. 90), so greetings
express both sincerity and insincerity. They are often accompanied by a friendly smile, a
hug or a kiss. Such the non verbal greetings are highly used.
Greetings in Vietnamese
According to Professor Ngân (2005), greetings, based on the presence of
performative verbs, are divided into two kinds: locutionary and illocutionary ones.
Locutionary greetings or direct greetings
According to Thành, they are “ritualistic greetings” used to open or end a

meeting so that parties can show their courtesy and modesty (as cited in Ngan, 2005).
It includes performative verbs such as “chào”, “kính chào”….In Vietnamese, greetings
are diversified due to participants, age and social hierarchy. Especially, Vietnamese
people attach great important to social positions. There are some relationships
constituting the warp and woof of social life which are those between parent and child,
husband and wife, senior and junior etc. These relationships are asymmetrical, or what
is called the hierarchical order. This is the reason why different people have different
ways to greet. Syntactic patterns and lexical distribution are used for emphasis on this
feature.
Greetings to senior addressee
In the asymmetric communication between seniors and juniors, people in lower
social positions have to greet first in order to show their respect for those in higher
positions.


Formulas:


(Dạ) “yes” + (First person) + chào “hello” + title/kinship term + polite particle “ạ”
(Dạ)

(em)

chào

thầy

ạ.

(Dạ)

(cháu)

chào

bác

ạ.

Or
Chào “hello” + title.

Chào bác

Title/ kinship term + ạ.

Ông ạ!

The unique feature in Vietnamese greetings is that a speaker can express his or
her emotion toward an addressee through a politeness intensifier “ạ”.
In addition, the phrases such as “xin kính chào”, “kính chào”, “chào mừng”, “nhiệt
liệt chào mừng” … are commonly used in a ceremony or a meeting.
Greetings to junior addressee
As mentioned above, hierarchy in Vietnamese society is extremely respected.
Usually, a junior greets first and then a senior responds by re-greeting or nodding. This
kind of greeting omits a first person and a polite particle “ạ”.
Chào + kinship term.

Chào cháu, Chào

em… Greetings to an equal addressee
A greeting is simpler than two previous kinds of greetings due to the equality of
age and social status.
(Chào) + name/nickname/title.
(Chào) Lan.
Chào bác sĩ.
Illocutionary
greetings


According to Searle (1969), a greeting is defined as an illocutionary act which is
simpler than other speech acts due to the lack of propositional content (as cited in
Gass & Neu, 1996, p. 90). However, in reality, people usually greet each other by using
questions, suggestions, comments, compliments etc as a normal greeting. Despite
different forms, they are served as greetings.
Greetings by using questions
Using questions is a common way Vietnamese people show their concerns in
the different level which is up to intimacy between parties. The main content of the
questions is health, family, job or activity.

Or

Cụ đang làm gì đấy ạ? đang làm gì đấy ạ?y ạ??

(What are you doing?)

Bác đi đâu sớm thế?m thế??

(Where are you going so early?)

In such these questions, it is no need for a speaker to listen to an addressee’s
response. They don’t intend to know exactly what an addressee is doing or whether he
or she has eaten or not. Therefore, to response the greeting can be a gesture (nodding
or smiling), a vague answer or sometimes a re-question.
Cô đi thể dục về đấy dụ đang làm gì đấy ạ?c về đấy đấy ạ?y
àh? Vâng, thế? bác đi
chợ ạ? ạ??
Greetings by using exclamations
Accompanying with happiness or surprise, such greetings in the form of
exclamations usually occur when an addressee turns up.
Ôi! Bác Vân đấy ạ?y àh!
A! Mẹ đã về. đã về đấy .


Intonation and gestures are also significant to express emotion and behavior. In
semantic formulas, it always includes an addressee and exclamation mark to express
the feeling of a speaker: “Kìa!. Trời!, Ơi!...”
Greetings by using compliments
“Chúc mừng ông”
Form:
(Please “Xin”) + Congratulation +title/ kinship
term (Xin)

chúc mừng

chị

It occurs when an addressee has good news such as a promotion and a
speaker knows it. Usually they have a close relationship with each other.
Greetings by using offers

“Mời bác vào xơi cơm ạ!
Or Mời cô chú vào xơi nước !”
The performative verb “mời” is obligatory in such greetings. These offers are
quite common in Vietnamese daily life. When a family is having a meal, a guest comes
unintentionally. People invite them to “xơi cơm” … in order to show their hospitality.
Therefore, an addressee doesn’t intend to accept the invitation. Instead, they refuse and
thank to the host: “Vâng, cám ơn bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”n bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”i ng ười cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”i cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...” t ự nhiên đi ạ!...” nhiên đi ạ?!...”
Greetings by using comments or compliments
According to Professor Quang, this salutation is “used to start a conversation, to
win the popularity of someone or to show the admiration…” (as cited in Ngan, 2005).
The politeness strategies support the relationship between participants. Greeting by a
compliment makes parties pleased and maintains the relationships.


“Hôm nay xinh thế!
Or Áo mới nha!”

Within this paper, I would like to discuss the contrast between English and
Vietnamese greetings in two aspects: forms and topics.
Firstly, English salutation is simpler and more standard than Vietnamese one
thanks to its informality. In reality, “Hi” is the most frequent linguistic form used. In
addition, “Good morning, Good afternoon…” are the certain ways of greetings in formal
contexts. In contrast, Vietnamese ones are very flexible because they are respectful of
hierarchical relationships. So, there are plenty of ways to greet. In her research on
Politeness Strategies in Hanoi Vietnamese Speech (2003), Srichampa counted up to 26
patterns in Vietnamese greetings. Different people have different strategies of greetings.
English: Hi,Jone.
Good morning, Ms.Lorie.
Vietnamese: Cháu chào bà ạ.
Đi đâu đấy ạ?y?

In addition, addressee forms in English are not as complicated as ones in
Vietnamese. Summons like Mary, Tom or politeness intensifiers Mr, Mrs are commonly
used in English greetings. Different usage to junior and senior addressee forms in
English is not very clear since English culture puts high value on equal or horizontal
relationships. “All men are created equally” and liberation of each individual is what
everybody wishes. Consequently, the relationships between people are symmetrical.
“Just call me by my first name” is a slogan illustrating the value of individualism and


equality. For instance, Hi, Jack! or Good morning, Ms Lorie. In contrast, Vietnamese
has more complex system of address terms in kinship than English does. The reason
is that Vietnam has a long history of feudalism. Thus, Vietnamese sociopolitical life has
been strongly influenced by the theory of Confucianism which lays great emphasis on
relationship. Moreover, the Vietnamese society is hierarchical in nature. Therefore, the
differences in age and paternal and maternal relationship are reflected in kinship
address terms. There are plenty of forms of the second personal pronoun, i.e., “cơ, dì,
chú, bác, ơng”, whereas English has only one form “you”. In “Chào xuân 67” by Tố Hữu,
we can observe how varied the Vietnamese second personal pronouns are:
“Chào cô dân quân vai súng tay cày
Chân lội bùn mơ hạ máy bay
Chào các cụ đang làm gì đấy ạ? bạ?ch đầu quân trồng cây chống u quân trồng cây chống ng cây chống ng
Mỹ Chào các mẹ già rua tay vá may cho chiến sĩ Chào các mẹ đã về. già rua tay vá may cho chiế?n sĩ
Chào các em những đồng chí tương laing đồng cây chống ng chí tươn bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”ng lai
Mang mũ rơn bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”m đi họi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”c đười cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”ng dài”
Additionally, both English and Vietnamese greetings use the form of question,
usually in informal settings.
English
A: Hi, how’s it going?
B: Oh, this is my worst
day. Vietnamese

A: Anh đi đâu đấy ạ?y?
B: Àh, tôi đi đằng này 1 lát.ng này 1 lát.
As we can see, a greeting is normally accompanied with a gesture. Kissing,


hugging or shaking hands are quite popular in English. Similarly, Vietnamese
people use lots of body language, gesture and even intonation. Based on the
hierarchical


relationships, for old people, a greeting is followed by a slight bow or folding their
aims. For a couple, they habitually hug and kiss each other instead of “Hi” in English;
meanwhile the Vietnamese express their sentiment in a reticent way from time
immemorial. A couple rarely hugs or kisses in public when greeting. This is one of the
typical features in Vietnamese greeting culture.
“Đi qua nghiêng nón khơng chào”
This proverb doesn’t mean that one is indifferent to another and doesn’t greet
each other. They greet implicitly through their eyes lovingly. This is the way couples
say “hello”.
Secondly, one major difference in greetings between English and Vietnamese
lies in a topic. In English culture, personal matters are regarded as one’s privacy and
people do not talk about them except with close friends. Thus, English speakers get
accustomed to greeting each other with linguistic routines such as “How’ve you
been?” or “Nice day, isn’t it?” or some other greetings that do not infringe on private
issues.
These talks are traditionally about health questions, weather or food. Vietnamese
people, on the other hand, like to greet people with “Bác đi đâu đ ấy ạ?y” (Where are you
going?) or “Bác đang làm gì đấy ạ?y” (What are you doing?). These are questions about
what people are doing at the time they meet each other to show politeness and mutual
care according to Vietnamese custom and tradition. Obviously, people in English

culture as well as Vietnamese culture have appreciation in “speaking politely”. Yet
some English people may find Vietnamese greetings unacceptable or even offensive
because it seems to be concerned about personal business although they are


appropriate and


friendly in Vietnamese culture. Another example is that a Vietnamese can greet
a longtime departed friend:
A: Chị Phương đấy àh! Lâu quá không gặp,trông chị vẫn không thay Phươn bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”ng đấy ạ?y àh! Lâu quá không gặp,trông chị vẫn không thayp,trông ch ị Phương đấy àh! Lâu quá không gặp,trông chị vẫn không thay v ẫn không thayn không thay
đổi. (Phương! Long time no see. You look the same as before)i. (Phươn bác” or “Vâng mọi người cứ tự nhiên đi ạ!...”ng! Long time no see. You look the same as before)
In contrast, this will offend a native speaker by implicating that he or she
should have been old. The above examples reflect the different communication rules
between the two cultures.

Through a contrastive view into Vietnamese and English greetings in two
aspects as mention above, I would like to discuss some implications for English and
Vietnamese teaching at high school in our country.
Firstly, I want to take a view of some failures in greetings. It is observable that
learners can perform a greeting well because it takes place very often in daily life,
especially at the beginnings of interactions. Thus, there are more chances for them to
learn greetings than other speech acts. However, sociopragmatic failures sometimes
occur. It is common that most students tend to transfer their native language into the
target one mechanically. It can lead to misunderstanding due to differences in many
aspects between two languages. For example, when they intend to say “How are
you?”, they use the phrase “How do you do?”. The inappropriate use of titles is also a
problem of learners. When talking to the head of a company, they say “Hi, director”
instead of “Good morning Mr …”. It is clear that students just know how to greet in
some familiar situations like in a classroom, but they have a few opportunities to greet

people in real social settings such as a meeting or a ceremony. They reveal that they


don’t know what to say and if possible, the greeting is not natural in the way native
speakers accept. In addition, Vietnamese learners don’t usually use stress or
intonation properly according to particular contexts. One big problem is that students
may violate cultural values if they don’t know well about distinct features of the new
culture. For instance, Vietnamese learners fail to achieve the communication goal and
give a bad impression in the first time they meet a native speaker when mentioning
individual matters which are considered as “a taboo” in English greetings although
they don’t mean to be curious about personal affairs.

Example: What are you doing, Jerry?
Or where are you going, Jerry?
Not only Vietnamese people but also native learners make the same
communication problems.
Example (as cited in Ngan, 2005): One Dutch scientist lives in a Vietnamese
village for several months in order to study Vietnamese rural areas. When Vietnamese
farmers see him, they greet:
-

Where is John

going? (Bác John đi đâu
đấy ạ?y?) He said: Go
straight.
(Đi thẳng)ng)
In short, the pragmatic failure, in intercultural communication, has aroused much
attention since there is always a misunderstanding between people from different