Luận văn a study on english vietnamese cross cultural communication in table seating arrangements

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOL UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL SFUDIES TRAN THI THANH HUYEN A STUDY ON ENGLISH — VIETNAMESE CROSS- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN TABLE SEATIN

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOL UNTVERSITY OF LANGUAGES ANT INTERNATIONAT SFUDTES:

FACULTY OF POs FRANDUATE STUDIES:

ee

TRAN THI THANH HUYEN

A STUDY ON ENGLISH — VIETNAMESE CROSS- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN TABLE SEATING

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOL UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL SFUDIES

TRAN THI THANH HUYEN

A STUDY ON ENGLISH — VIETNAMESE CROSS- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN TABLE SEATING

ARRANGEMENTS (NGHIEN CUU GIAO TIEP GIAO VAN HOA ANH - VIET TRONG CAC CACH SAP XÉP CHỖ NGÒI)

1 Rationale

2 Aims of the study

3 Scope of the study

Description of the informants

Design of the study

Pazt II: Development

1.3 What table seating arrangement’

CHAPTER 2: SEATING ARRANGEMENT AS NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONI0

3.1.1, Use of table shapes 30

3.1.3 Frequency of using seating arrangements 36

3.2 Major similarities and differences

PARI Lil: CONCLISLION wee

vi

Lists of tables and figures Figure 1 — Nguyen Quang’s điagram oŸ contmrmieatien commponenis (2008)

Figure 2 — Square lable

Figure 3 — Round table

Figure 4 — Positioning at a rectangular table

Figure 5 8sating positions

Table 1-1: Use of lable shapss in the office in Vietnam and English-speaking countries

Table 2-1: Use of seating positions in different settings

‘Table 2-2: Use of seating positions in different situations by Vietnamese informants

Table 2-3: Use of seating positions in different situations by Anglophone informants Table 3-1: Frequency of seating arrangements used in class in Vietnam

Table 3-2: Frequency of seating arrangztnents uscd in class in Englis

Part i: introduction

1 Rationale

Language is the basic form of communication between human beings and in a society Asil is the basic farm, it is also [he most developed We cannol comummicate in any teal sense without language, other than through gestures However, we de commmnicate through some non-verbal forms called non-verbal communication inchiding gestures, postures, facial expressions, touching behavior, cf Non-verbal commmumication oveupics up lo 90 percent of our message and therefore plays an important role in our life, But if is observed that there are non-verbal differences across cultures that may be the source of confusion for foreigners

Thus, il is essential that the study of non-verbal communication be paid more attention lo

It is clear that where people seat others or where they sit on their own can affect the ontcome af a communication encounter There is a "seating" Iangnage People can create the illusion of power or equality in their relationship-building efforts by where they sit and where they seat others at meetings, conferences and after-hours events, Also, aspects of people’s

attitude towards others can be revealed in the position they take in relation to cach other

Indeed, the environment may have an effect on the position chosen Apparently, seating positions in the public har of a hotel can vary from the seating positions taken in a high-class Tostauran and different, scating behaviors can be obscrved For inslanwe, infimale couples preter to sit side-by-side wherever possible, but ina crowded restaurant where the tables are close together, this is not possible and the couples are forced to sit opposite each other in what is normally a defensive position Honee, everyone should be aware of the

meaning of different positions to act in a proper way

Moreover, the way teachers organize tables and seats in their class also has influence

on the effcetivencss of the lesson, capecially in language classroom It is necessary for native

language teachers as well as Vietnamese ones to be well aware of that so as to take the best advantage of class sealing arrangements

"

For the above reasons, ‘4 Study on English — Vietnamese Cross-Cultural

Communication in Table Seating Arrangements’ is worth considering, With an effort to raise the awareness of people in general and of teachers in particular of ‘something around the table’, this arca of non-verbal communication is choscn as the Lopic of the author's study

2 Aims of the study

‘The research is conducted

» ‘To study different types table shapes:

* ‘To identify the meanings of basic table seating positions,

* To investigate suitable seating arrangements used in classroom,

* ‘Yo compare and contrast the use of different types of seating positions in various situations of the two cultures for the discovery of the similarities and differences in the ways English and Vicinamese people sval ofhers and sil themselves

3 Scope of the study

In this study, three basic types of table shapes which are square, round and rectangular are mentioned, but the survey will be narrowed down to table shapes in the office setting only,

Kour kinds of seating positions including comer, cooperative, competitive-defansive and independent arc identified in this study As the findings will be luuited if attention is paid only to academic and office settings, public setting is thus included in this part

Seating arrangements vary greatly in the classroom That is the reason why the author only focuses on the statisties of how teachers scat their students and tables in Icaming

environment

As age and gender of the informants do nel contribuls

analysis, the author decides to ignore them and focuses only on the informants’ nationality and

rificanlly in the dala

occupation

4 Methodology

In order to achieve the aims set above, the major method to be employed is

quantitative In addition contrastive analysis 1s also used Ail the considerations, comments

and conclusions in the thesis are largely based on the following methods

Reference to publications

= Survey questionmaires

® Statistics, descriptions and analysis of data

¢ Consultations with supervisor

» Personal observations

* Discussions with Vietnamese and foreign colleagues

5 Description of the questionnaire

The survey questionnaire consists of 4 questions in which the informants are requested

fo tick (4 to the table shapes, seating positions and seating arrangements they think

appropriate The 4 questions cover three aspects of the study: question | - table shapes, questions 2 and 3 - seating positions and question 4 - seating arrangements, The questionnaire has two versions, one in English for the English native informants and the other in Vietnamese

for the Vishnamesc informants

In the first question, the informants are asked to tick (1) to the type(s) of table that isfare the most commonly used in the office

Among the four most common scating positions including comer, cooperative,

competitive — defensive and independent positions, the unformants are asked to tick (^Ö to the most widely used in different sellings (academic setting, office

Situation [: When you interview Lee

Situation 2; When you persuade Lee

Situation 3: When you discuss with Lee

Situation 4; When you shout at Lec

Situation 5: When Lee is your boss and you are presenting fo him

Situation 6: When you confide in Lee

Situation 7; When you do not know Lee

Situation 8: When you do nol wish Lo contact with Loe

Situation 9: When Lee is angry with you and you want to make it up with him

Situation [0; When you want lo gel, acquainted with Lee

(Supposing that Lee is the person you are talking with and he is taking a permanent seat)

Tn the last question, the informants are asked about the Gequency of seating arrangements used in class in their countries Types of seating arrangements consist of desk- row, clusters, circle/ semi-circle, table-row, pairs and activity zones,

Because of ils limitations, the thasis should ony lie regarded as ø preliminary shuly and the result is believed to be tentative and suggestive

% Description of the informants

In this study, the survey questionnaires are administered to two groups of informants

‘The first group is the Vietnamese who are living in Hanoi, Vietnam 60 questionnaires are

delivered to them and 50 of the completed questiommaires are chosen for analysis, The second

group is English native speakers who are living and working in Vietnam as well as some English-speaking countries such as the US, Australia, England and Canada 50 questionnaizes are delivered to them directly ot via e-mails, and then 50 completed ones are received

Only leachers, students and staff officers are chosen as informants because the shudy mostly confines itself to academic and office settings

7 Design of the study

This study consists of three main parts:

PART [INTRODUCTION

All the academic routines required for an M.A thesis are presented

PART [: DEVELOPMENT

This is the focus of the study and is composed of three chapters

Chapter 1: Theoretical background

Chaplor 2: Sonting arrangement as non-verbal corummicalion

Chapter 3: Findings and discussion

PART [If: CONCLUSION

Part II: Bevelopment

CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKROUND

1.1 What commmnicatior

There have boon & grcai mưmber oŸ studies on communication in which scholars hold different points of view They have given various conceptualisations of this term The

definitions therefore have different emphases and factors

With emphasis on both the speaker and the hearer, Alder & Rodman (1998) believe

that ‘communication refers to the process of man being responding to the face-to-face

symbolic behavior of other persons’

In Levine and Andelman’s words (1982), communication is considered as ‘the process

of sharing meaning through verbal and non-verbal beheeviar’

According to Saville-Troike (1986), ‘communication is also considered the process of sharing or exchanging information between people both verbally and non-verbally’ In this definition, the author much more focuses on the message conveyed

Rudolph, F Verderber (1993) holds similar view when defining comnmmication as ‘se

transactional process of creating meaning’ and he explains that ‘a #ansactianal process is one in which those persons commumicating are mutually responsible for what occurs’

However, Hybels and Weaver (1992) have a different identification of communication

"They believe that ‘commuatication is any process in which people share information, ideas and feelings that involve not only the spoken and written words but also body language, personal manneriams and style, the surrounding and things that add meaning to a message’ This definition is perhaps the nwsl comprehensive as it includes nol only co-interactants involved, but also intoxmation, ideas, feelings conveyed, and channels, codes used

Nguyen Quang (2008) suggests the following components of verbal and non-verbal

VERBAL COMMUNICATION, NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

|- Vocal characteristics

| Rules of grammar + Volume

- Rules of phonetics + Rate

|- Rules of language use Types of vocal quality

land interaction skills - Vocal interferences

|- Eye contact |- Jewellery \Proxemics

- Gestures -Make-np eres eae

- Postures - Artifieial scents eae

= Touch/ Hapties/ Tactile - Flowers es

Figure 1~ Nguyen Quang 's diagram of comnunication components (2008)

1.2 What non-verbal communication?

Researchers are more and more concemed with the social message sent by communication that is to various degrees, independent of and different from the verbal message; (mal is (he non-verbal message Verbal communicalion is organized by tnguage,

non-verbal communication is not

Communication is the transfer of information from one person to another Most of us

spend about 75 percent of cur waking hows communicating our knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to others However, most of ns fail to realize that a great deal of our communication is of

a non-verbal form as opposed to the orat and wrillen forms Norverbal communication inchades facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and positioning within gronps It may also include the way we wear our clothes or the silence we

as non-verbal communication Likewise, written texts have non-verbal elements such as handwriting slyte, spatial arrangernsul of words, or the use of emoticons

1.3 What table seating arrangement?

Arrangement is defined as the act or process of arranging Table seating arrangement can be understood as the act or process of arranging seats around the table In the very first part, the author has given out the term ‘seating danguage’ ‘there is no doubt that the seat a

person chooses to take and how he arranges other penple also reveal his attide and

implication

‘As considered a kind of environmental language which is setting, table seating

arrangement cant commumicale TLincludes the types of table we choose, the way we sil and the

way we arrange others’ seats.

CHAPTER 2: SEATING ARRANGEMENT AS NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION 2.1 Table shapes

‘Types of table shape are various Square, round and rectangular ones are widely used

in everyday life In addition, there are some special shapes such as triangle, oval, semicircle or

Figure 2— Square table

(http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of body language/chap17.html)

‘The most cooperation usually comes from the person seated beside you and the one on

the right tends to be more cooperative than the one on the left The most resistance usually comes from the person seated directly opposite For example, in figure 2, there are four people

A,B, Cand D sitting at the table For A, B is the most cooperative and C is the most resistant

Here are some more square tables in real life

(http://www hotelvietnamtravel.com) http://www furnitrade.net,

12

(http://www.hotelvietnamtravel.com)

2.1.2 Round tables

In the past, King Arthur used

the round table as an attempt to give

each of his knights an equal amount

of authority and status A round table

creates an atmosphere of relaxed

informality Therefore, it is ideal for

promoting discussion among people

who are of equal status as each

person can claim the same amount of

table territory Removing the table

and sitting in a circle also promotes

the same result (Figure 3)

(http://www.travelpod.com)

http://www hotelvietnamtravel.com)

13

C] LD

Figure 3—Round table

//www.roundtable klein ors

The round table, often a coffee table with wrap-around seating, is used to create an informal relaxed atmosphere or to persuade Fun, friendship and trying something new and

exciting, that is what round table is all about From sports to arts and nights out at restaurants

to family social events, round table prides itself on giving its members the chance to embrace

life to the full

(iittp://www.specialevent.on.ca) (Cihttp://www.furnitureinfashion net)

14

http://www.specialevent.on.ca’

Many of today’s business executives use both square and round tables Indeed, there

are many benefits to becoming a round table Taking part in debate and organizing functions and events will build leadership skills and give you public speaking abilities Being a member

of round table can help you enhance your personal strengths

the people who sit at the two sides of the table Therefore, rectangular tables are often used for people of unequal status

Figure 4— Positioning at a rectangular table

(http://westsidetoastmasters.con/resources/book_of body language/chap17.html)

Ona rectangular table, position A has always commanded the most influence In figewe

4, assuming that A does not have his back to the door, he will have the most influence If A’s

back were facing to the door, the person seated at B would be the most influential and would

be strong competition for A Assuming that A is in the best power position, person B has the next most authority, then C, then D

(http://www northatvietnani net

This information makes it possible to

structure power plays at meetings by placing name

badges on the seats where you want each person to

sit so that you may have the maximum influence

over them

16

Apart from three most common table types which are discussed above, some other

kinds of table shapes can be observed:

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2.2 Table seating positions

Strategic positioning in relation to other people is an effective way to obtain co- operation fiom them Aspects of their attitude toward you can be revealed in the

position they take in relation to you

Mark Knapp, in his book Non-Verbal Communication in Human Interaction, noted that, although there is a general formula for interpretation of seating positions, the

environment may have an effect on the position chosen.

17

It is widely accepted that seating arrangement is also a kind of non-verbal

communication in human interaction A person's seating positions in relation to other people

can reveal his or her attitudes towards them Because of a wide range of circumstances, the

following examples primarily relate to seating arrangements in an office environment with a standard rectangular desk

Supposing that person A takes a permanent seat, then person B can take four basic seating positions in relation to person A (Figure 5)

Four seating positions of person B carry different messages that B wants to send to A

Followings are the names of these positions

BI: The comer position

B2: The cooperative position

B3: The competitive-defensive position B4: The independent position

18

‘The first reason is that this position allows unlimited eye contact and the opportunity to

‘use numerous gestures and to observe the gestures of the other person Moreover, the corner of

the desk provides a partial barrier should one person begin to feel threatened, and this position

avoids a territorial division on the top of the table This position, therefore, is normally used

by people who are engaged in friendly, casual conversations What is more, the most

successfull strategic position from which a salesperson can deliver a presentation to a new customer is by position BI assuming A is the buyer By simply moving the chair to position

BỊ he can relieve a tense atmosphere and increase the chances of a favorable negotiation

this position usually occurs It is one of the most strategic positions for presenting a case and

having it accepted The trick is, however, for B to be able to take this position without A

19

feeling as though his territory has been invaded This is also a highly successful position to

take when a third party is introduced into the negotiation by B, the salesperson Say, for

example, when a salesperson was having a second interview with a client and the salesperson

introduced a technical expert The following strategy would be most suitable

(http://www thefxcode.comyseduction/blanguage! 5_htm)

‘The technical expert is seated at position C opposite customer A The salesperson can sit either at position B2 (cooperative) or B1 (comer) This allows the salesperson to be “on the client's side” and to question the technician on behalf of the client This position is often

known as “siding with the opposition.”

2.2.3 Competitive — Defensive position

As its name reveals, the Competitive-Defensive Position (B3) or sitting across the table

from a person can create a defensive, competitive atmosphere and can lead to each party taking a firm stand on his point of view because the table becomes a solid barrier between

both parties,

A

(http://www thefxcode.com/seduction/blanguage | 5.htm)

Moreover, direct eye contact makes them difficult to hide

their feelings This position is taken by people who are either

competing with each other or if one is reprimanding the other It

can also establish that a superior/subordinate role exists when it

is used in A's office

http://www englishquarter.com)

Whenever people sit directly opposite each

other across a table, they unconsciously divide it

into two equal territories Each claims half as his

own territory and will reject the other's encroaching

upon it If B is seeking to persuade A, the

competitive-defensive position reduces the chance

ofa successful negotiation Chttp:/Avww-englishquarter.com)

Whatever line of business one is in, if it

involves dealing with people, he is in the influencing

business and his objective should always be to see

the other person’s point of view, to put her at ease

and make her feel right about dealing with him, the

competitive position does not lead towards this end

This competitive seating position, therefore, ( hftp://svwaw:machsong.on

should be avoided in any negotiations or discussions, especially in a doctor’s office as it may cause the patient’s unpleasant feelings Another position such as comer position is recommended

2.2.4 Independent position

‘The final basic seating position that B can take is the Independent Position (B4)

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This is the position taken by people when they do not wish to interact with each other,

it occurs in such places as a library, park bench or restaurant It signifies lack of interest sends

“let me alone” message This position should be avoided where open discussion between A

and B is required (BY

Seating positions should not be accidental; placing certain people in specific positions

can affect the outcome of a meeting The next time you go to a meeting with anyone, ask

yourself: who is the person you want to influence most and where is the best position to sit to

achieve this? Who is likely to want to argue or oppose? If there is no appointed leader, who

has claimed a seating position to give themselves the most power? If you want to control,

where should you sit? The answers to these questions will not only give you a powerfull edge,

they will prevent others from trying to dominate or control the meeting

Seating arrangements are a main part in a teacher's plan for classroom management

Not only do the teachers need to consider the physical arrangement of the room but also the

nature of the students involved The considerations in arranging the physical environment of

the room is so that teaching and learning can occur as efficiently as possible The teacher needs to be able to walk around the room without the students having to move their desks

Teachers needs to take into account that students seated in the center or front of the classroom

tend to interact more frequently with the teacher and the number of behavioral problems tend

to increase as the students sit farther from the teacher Also, students in the back and comers

of the room are more likely to be off task than those close to the front or to the teacher's desk

The physical arrangement of your classroom is an important aspect to consider This is

one way to get control of your classroom Seating arrangements promote some activities and

communication and hinder others There are many ways to set up your classroom The six that

the author will look closely at are: desk-row, cluster, circle or semi-circle, table-row, pairs

and activity zones With the author's first-hand experience, she will discuss the pros and cons

of each of the seating arrangements in regard to teaching goals, educational philosophies, and

the ease and difficulty for different types of learning activity and classroom management,

These are important aspects to look at because all of these things are incorporated in

determining the proper seating arrangement for a classroom The key is to be observant and

perceptive, so as to enhance the learning potential of each student The best arrangement

depends on the situation of the class and teacher

23.1, Desk-row mm

ñ

Desk-row is a traditional classroom seating arrangement gy gy a

The teacher stands in the front of the room and all the students’ gy gy gy

desks face the teacher Since all the students are facing forward gy go

and the teacher is in the front of the classroom, he or she is the EM EM M

primary source of knowledge

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23

This is a perfect situation for testing because each student has their own space Desk-

row minimizes the amount of non-productive talking amongst the students as well as assisting

the students in focusing on the major concepts of the particular lesson since the desks are

spread apart as much as possible Whole group instruction, lectures, and independent seatwork are ideal when the desks are in rows because there is less opportunity for the students to be out

of line The objective of these activities is to have the students focus and concentrate on the key information of the lesson, with a minimal amount of distraction The use of a variety of

media, for example, maps, computer projection, board-work, overhead projection are also

most conducive to the desk row arrangement, Desk rows exhibit good teacher-controlled

classroom management Community-based classroom management is difficult to promote because the desks are in rows Because the desks are in rows and the students are separated,

the opportunity for inappropriate behavior is minimized It is easy for the teacher to monitor

all the students

The problem with this arrangement is some students are going to have to sit in the corners and in the back of the room In these locations in the classroom, students participate

and interact less, This arrangement is also not good for group work or projects

On the other hand, desk rows is not ideal

for group work or group discussions Group work

and group discussions are an important part of

the curriculum It is difficult to do this when the

desks are in rows Since the desks are in rows,

some students will be closer to the blackboard

and the teacher than others This is a major

disadvantage for the students who are seated

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in the back rows It is very controlled and

organized by only the teacher Desk rows promote a one-sided classroom environment