An initial investigation of U.S and Vietnamese cultures in contrast through everyday conversations

An initial investigation of U.S and Vietnamese
cultures in contrast through everyday
conversations
Bước đầu nghiên cứu đối chiếu văn hóa Mỹ-
Việt thông qua các cuộc đối thoại hàng ngày

Nguyễn Thị Hoàng My

University of Languages and International Studies
M.A. Thesis. English Linguistics; Mã số: 60 22 15
Supervisor : Assoc. Prof. Trần Xuân Điệp
Năm bảo vệ: 2012

Abstract. Mastering a new language does not only consist of the ability to master its
system of forms, linguistic but also the competence to understand the way that language
used in certain contexts, compared to the mother tongue. Besides the distinctions of
phonology, syntax, and lexicon systems, languages differ from one another because of
the drive of culture. Since communication is meaning-based, conventional, appropriate,
and interactional and structured (Richards, 1983:242), speakers of a foreign language
must take into account the importance of knowing and understanding the culture if they
wish to communicate successfully in the target language without breakdowns or
unwanted hostility in cross-cultural interactions. This study was carried out with the
theoretical background of Contrastive Analysis, Conversation Analysis and viewpoints
on Language-Culture relationship as frameworks in order to investigate the similarities
and differences between the U.S and Vietnamese cultures through everyday
conversations.
Keywords. Ngôn ngữ; Tiếng Anh; Ngôn ngữ đối chiếu; Hội thoại
Content.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLE AND FIGURES
PART I: INTRODUCTION 1
1. Rationale of the study 1
2. Research questions 2
3. Aims and Objectives of the study 2
4. Scope of the study 2
5. Methodology of the study 3
6. Design of the study 3
PART II: DEVELOPMENT 5
CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 5
1.1 A brief overview on Contrastive Analysis 5
1.1.1 Definition 5
1.1.2 Macro-linguistic Contrastive Analysis 6
1.2 A brief overview on Conversation Analysis 6
1.2.1 Conversation 6
1.2.2 Conversation analysis 7
1.3 Language and Culture 8
1.3.1 What is Language? 8
1.3.2 What is culture? 9
1.3.3 The relationship between language and culture 10
1.4 An overview on Friendship 12
1.4.1 Definition 12
1.4.2 Types of friendships 12
1.4.3 Friendship in the U.S culture 14
1.4.4 Friendship in Vietnam culture 15
CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY 16
2.1 Data collection instruments 16

2.1.1 Survey questionnaire 16
2.1.2 Audio taping 17
2.2 Participants 17
2.2.1 Survey questionnaire 17
2.2.2 Audio taping 18
2.3 The procedure of data collection and analysis 18
2.3.1 Survey questionnaire 18
2.3.2 Audio tapes 18
CHAPTER III: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 20
3.1 Data analysis of the survey questionnaire 20
3.1.1 Question 1 20
3.1.2 Question 2 22
3.1.3 Question 3 23
3.1.4 Question 4 25
3.2 Data analysis of the audio tapes 26
3.2.1 Situation 1 26
3.2.2 Situation 2 27
3.2.3 Situation 3 28
3.2.4 Situation 4 29
3.3 Discussions 31
CHAPTER III: CONCLUSION 33
1. Recapitulation 33
2. Major findings 34
2.1 Differences 34
2.2 Similarities 35
3. Limitations of the study 35
4. Suggestions for further study 36
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
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