A vietnamese –english cross-cultural study on the use of responding to english greetings

a vietnamese –english cross-cultural study on
the use of responding to english greetings



Phùng Thị Đức


Trường Đại học KHXH&NV
Luận văn ThS. Chuyên ngành:English Linguistics; Mã số: 60 22 15
Người hướng dẫn: MA. Phan Thị Vân Quyên
Năm bảo vệ:2010

Abstract: Mastering a new language does not only consist of the ability to master its system of
form but also the ability to use its linguistic units appropriately. This is because languages differ
from one another not only in their systems of phonology, syntax and lexicon but also in their
speakers’ manners of pattering their discourse and relating speech act.
Therefore, people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds come into contact; there
always exists the possibility for misunderstanding. This thesis is an attempt to provide a cross-
cultural comparison of a speech behavior in English used by the Vietnamese and the British:
responding with the focus on responding to greetings the study is based on pragmatics factors in
choosing the right responses in each situation and based on the authentic data collected.
Special emphasis is given to:
- The realization of responding to greeting strategies
- The similarities and differences between the response of the Vietnamese and the British
in responding to greetings
Although responding to a greeting is a speech act, which is formulaic, the findings of the study
provide that responding, actually, are various and rather sensitive and subtle communicative act.
Thus, a number of strategies employed by both Anglicist and Vietnamese are similar and
different in the same context that suggests that the performance of responding to greeting is
culture-specific and reflective of the fundamental values of the society where they are from.

Keywords: Giao văn hóa; Giao tiếp; Tiếng Việt; Tiếng Anh
Content:
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS

RETENTION OF THE STUDY PROJECT REPORT i
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS ii
ABSTRACT iii
PART I: INTRODUCTION 1
I. Rationale 1
II. Aims of the study 2
III. Scope of the study 2
IV. Methodology 3
V. Design of the study 3
PART II: DEVELOPMENT 4
Chapter One: Literature Review 4
1.1. Language in communication 4
1.2. Language and culture 5
1.3. Cross-cultural communication 6
1.4. Cross-cultural pragmatics 7
1.4.1. Speech acts 7
1.5. An overview of greetings in English and Vietnamese 12
1.5.1. Definition of greetings 12
1.5.2. Functions of greetings 12
1.5.3. Characteristics of greetings 13
1.5.3.1. Addressing forms in greetings 14
1.5.3.1.1. Addressing forms in Vietnamese greeting 14
1.5.3.1.2. Addressing forms in English greetings 15
1.5.4. Types of greetings 16

1.5.4.1.Greetings in passing 17
v
1.5.4.2.Greeting before a conversation 17
1.5.4.3. Greetings in Business. 18
1.5.4.4. Greeting at a social event ( at a party) 19
1.5.4.5. Greetings in the classroom 20
1.6. Responding to a greeting in the light of Cross-Cultural Pragmatics 21
Chapter two: RESEARCH AND METHODOLODY 23
2.1. Hypotheses 23
2.2. Data collection 23
2.2.1. The questionnaire 23
1.2.2. The informants 24
Chapter three: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 25
3.1. Considerations when responding to greeting 25
3.2. The strategies of responding to greetings 26
3.2.1. Data analysis 26
3.2.3. Findings and results 37
3.2.4. Suggestion for using responses to greetings in English 40
PART III: CONCLUSION 42
APPENDIX I
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE I
BIBLIOGRAPHY II






1
PART I: INTRODUCTION

I. Rationale
In recent years, English has become an international language used widely all over the
world. It is not only the language of communication and media but also the language of
knowledge and culture. Mastering English is considered an obligated condition for
everyone in Vietnam and it is implied to be a “passport” for a good job because English
serves their job and their promotion. Therefore, people pay more and more attention to
learning English. They no longer do grammar and translation exercises only but listening
skill and speaking skill have been invested more time and better attention as well. As a
result, English has been learnt more properly and used more effectively.
However, in reality, Vietnamese learners of English often make mistakes in
communicating with English speakers. This is mostly caused by the effect of Vietnamese
culture and the limitation of understanding about English culture. One of the most
important parts in almost every conversation is greeting which generally plays an
important role in communication and functions as a start of a conversation or indentify the
appearance of speakers or to express the respect to the listener. In addition, greetings help
to establish, maintain a relationship and facilitates the conversation.
Greeting is the first step of the communication. The continual step is responding to the
greeting, a decisive agent assuring the success of the communicating. Thus, it is essential
to take great interest in not only what and how we greet each other but also what and how
we respond to greetings. Although greetings and responses are, to some extent, formulaic,
choosing a relevant response to a greeting is not an easy job. In fact, many Vietnamese
people failed to continue their conversation in English due to not only language ability but
also understanding about the culture of target language, English. In many cases, when
being greeted by a foreigner, many English learners feel confused to find out a good and
relevant response, some people cannot respond their partner’s greeting immediately.
Realizing the important role of responding to greetings, the author has chosen to study
Vietnamese and English cross-cultural communication in term of responding to greetings
with the expectation of finding out the similarities and differences between Vietnamese
and English responses to greetings then suggest relevant responses to greetings in specific
2

situations, which partly helps English learners in Vietnam have more confidence and
achieve more success in communicating in English.
II. Aims of the study
The ultimate goal of this research is
- to investigate the specific situations of responding the greetings among learners of
English with certain variables (i.e. age, gender, social hierarchy, etc.)
- to provide readers general information about English and Vietnamese greetings
and the way they reply a greeting in their own language
- to compare and contrast replying strategies in English and Vietnamese in order to
bring about the similarities and differences in the way Vietnamese and English
people reply a greeting
- Therefore, the research questions are:
 What are the verbal strategies used by Vietnamese and English people to reply a
greeting?
 What are the similarities and differences in responding to greeting in English and
Vietnamese?
III. Scope of the study
- Although the role of paralinguistic and non-verbal factors in real-life
communication is fully conscious, the study focuses on the verbal aspects of the act
of replying a greeting only.
- The study is confined only to strategies of replying a greeting in Vietnamese and
Anglophone culture. The Vietnamese Northern dialect and the English language
spoken in Great Britain are chosen for contrastive analysis.
- Conducting survey questionnaires enables the author to collect the data from a large
population in a short period of time. Recorded and videotaped face-to face
conversations are impossible due to the limitation of time, geographical distance
and financial difficulties.
3
IV. Methodology
In order to carry out this study theoretically, the author has based on careful studies and

analysis of linguistic, semantic and pragmatic materials with the great support of my
supervisor through her valuable remarks and comments as well as reference to both
home and foreign publications Thus, in order to achieve the objectives of a cross-
cultural research, the main method of study is the qualitative and quantitative one. The
survey questionnaire is designed for Vietnamese people about their ways of replying
greetings in their target language and English people about their ways of replying
greetings in their mother tongue. The survey was designed with different situations
basing on the routines and daily conversations. Their cultural and linguistic matters
will be analyzed by the statistics, data, and description collected. Besides, some
comments and suggestions are also given by personal observations or consultation with
the supervisor.
V. Design of the study
This study consists of three main parts. Part I - Introduction- In this first part, all the
theoretical background and academic routines are discussed. In part B – Development
focuses on the 3 chapters. In chapter I, cross-cultural and responding to a greeting are
defined cultural pragmatics and replying a greeting are mentioned. In this chapter, the
author distinguishes the differences and the similarities between responding to greeting in
English and Vietnamese. In the next chapter, the research methodology is discussed with
analysis and findings from the survey questionnaires conducted by the Vietnamese and
English. Part III is the conclusion of the study, here, the author summarize all the main
ideas, the important findings as well as some suggestions
V

REFERENCES:
In Vietnamese
1. Nguyen Quang (2000), “ Giao thoa văn ho
́
a va
̀
gia

̉
ng da
̣
y ngoa
̣
i ngư
̃
– K yu Hi
tho khoa hc quc gia : “Tha
̀
nh tố văn ho
́
a trong da
̣
y - hc ngoa
̣
i ngư
̃
” – Trươ
̀
ng
Đa
̣
i ho
̣
c Ngoa
̣
i ngư
̃
– ĐHQG Ha

̀
nô
̣
i.
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VI

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