Luận văn an american vietnamese cross cultural study of interrupting and asking for clarification in business meetings

American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings ‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use of politeness strategies

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNTVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONALSTUDIES

FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES

BULTHI MAL

AN AMERICAN -VIETNAMESE CROSS -CULTURAL STUDY

OF INTERRUPTING AND ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION IN

BUSINESS MEETINGS

(Nghiên cứu giao văn hóa Việt-Mỹ về cách thức ngắt lời và yêu cầu

làm rõ ý trong các cuộc họp kinh doanh}

M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS

Field: English Linguistics Cade: 60220201

HANOI— 2056

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONALSTUDLES

FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES

BÙI THỊ MAI

AN AMERICAN —VIETNAMESE CROSS -CULTURAL §TUDY

OF INTERRUPTING AND ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION IN

BUSINESS MEETINGS

(Nghiên cứu giao văn hóa Việt-Mỹ vẻ cách thúc ngắt lời và yêu cầu

làm rõ ý trong các cuộc họp kinh doanh)

M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS

Field: English Linguistics

Code: 60220201 Supervisor: Prof NGUYEN QUANG, Ph.D

DECLARATION

T certify thal the work presented in Uhis research report has beun performed and interpreted solely by myself 1 confirm that this paper is submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the M.A Degree and has not been submitted elsewhere in any other form for the fulfillment of any other degree or qualification

Hanoi, 2016

Bùi Thị Mai

Table IE American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings

‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use

of politeness strategies in semiformal meetings

Table TIT 7 Victnamese businesspeople versus their American counlerparts in the use

of politeness strategies in informal meetings

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

Table IE American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings

‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use

of politeness strategies in semiformal meetings

Table TIT 7 Victnamese businesspeople versus their American counlerparts in the use

of politeness strategies in informal meetings

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

1 Rafionale + 01 t0 2211 E0 10H00 HH1 01mg re "

3 Ains and objectives of the gtudV HH ri 3

3.1 Aims of the study

3.2 Objectives of the study ¬

A Scope of the study

5 Research questions

6 Research method

7 Structure of the study

CHAPTER Il: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

ABSTRACT

This paper is carried out al endeaver of exploring the linguistic politeness strategies utilized by the Vietnamese and the American businesspeople in making

interruption aud asking for clanfication in business meetings From thal, major

similarities and differences between the two languages in this regard are revealed

On the basis of quantitative method, discourse completion task (DCT) is

omployed to collect data from participants including thirty Vietnamese native speakers and American ones who are curently working in business sector ‘he result reveals that the positive politeness strategy namely “minimizing imposition” is the most common strategy used by American businesspeople while their Vietnamese counterparts prefer “apologizing and minimizing imposition” in semiformal and

informal business meetings Moreover, the speakers ages, genders and positions have

great influence on the choice of politeness strategy for Vietnamese businesspeople

while those factors make no significant influence on the American ones

iii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

PPS: Positive poliler

S: Speaker

trategy

Table IE American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings

‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use

of politeness strategies in semiformal meetings

Table TIT 7 Victnamese businesspeople versus their American counlerparts in the use

of politeness strategies in informal meetings

vill

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the imvaluable

help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show

my sincerest gratitude and appreciation

To begin with, I would like to oxpress my greatest and decpest thankfulness to Prof, Nguyen Quang, my supervisor, for his enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughaut the duration of my thesis Without his instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillnent

Additionally, I wish to send my special thanks to Mr Iloang Van Nam, a sales representative at Danko Logistic Company, for his wholchearted facilitation Without his support, 1 cannot obtain emails for contacting American and Vietnamese

businesspeople to ask for their participation in my study Thus, my honest thanks also

come to Ihe American and Vietnamese businesspeople who passionately provide their

responses to my DCT and MCQ

Last but nol least, T owe a greal debt of gratitude to my family and

relatives particularly my father, mother and brother who have always supported

me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the imvaluable

help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show

my sincerest gratitude and appreciation

To begin with, I would like to oxpress my greatest and decpest thankfulness to Prof, Nguyen Quang, my supervisor, for his enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughaut the duration of my thesis Without his instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillnent

Additionally, I wish to send my special thanks to Mr Iloang Van Nam, a sales representative at Danko Logistic Company, for his wholchearted facilitation Without his support, 1 cannot obtain emails for contacting American and Vietnamese

businesspeople to ask for their participation in my study Thus, my honest thanks also

come to Ihe American and Vietnamese businesspeople who passionately provide their

responses to my DCT and MCQ

Last but nol least, T owe a greal debt of gratitude to my family and

relatives particularly my father, mother and brother who have always supported

me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis

3.3 Trfernrpling as a speech act - - 11

4, Politeness strategies in interrupting ond asking for clarification

4.1 Politeness and politeness strategies - - 12

4.2 Politeness strategies in interrupting and asking Lor clarification 17

4.3 Previous studics on interrupting and asking, for clarification

CHAPTER LE: METHODOLOGY ¬

1 Mata collection instruments - - - 21

1.1, Multiple choice questionnaire "— -

2 Participants

3 Data collection procedure

4 Data analysis method

CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

3.3 Trfernrpling as a speech act - - 11

4, Politeness strategies in interrupting ond asking for clarification

4.1 Politeness and politeness strategies - - 12

4.2 Politeness strategies in interrupting and asking Lor clarification 17

4.3 Previous studics on interrupting and asking, for clarification

CHAPTER LE: METHODOLOGY ¬

1 Mata collection instruments - - - 21

1.1, Multiple choice questionnaire "— -

2 Participants

3 Data collection procedure

4 Data analysis method

CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the imvaluable

help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show

my sincerest gratitude and appreciation

To begin with, I would like to oxpress my greatest and decpest thankfulness to Prof, Nguyen Quang, my supervisor, for his enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughaut the duration of my thesis Without his instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillnent

Additionally, I wish to send my special thanks to Mr Iloang Van Nam, a sales representative at Danko Logistic Company, for his wholchearted facilitation Without his support, 1 cannot obtain emails for contacting American and Vietnamese

businesspeople to ask for their participation in my study Thus, my honest thanks also

come to Ihe American and Vietnamese businesspeople who passionately provide their

responses to my DCT and MCQ

Last but nol least, T owe a greal debt of gratitude to my family and

relatives particularly my father, mother and brother who have always supported

me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis

3.3 Trfernrpling as a speech act - - 11

4, Politeness strategies in interrupting ond asking for clarification

4.1 Politeness and politeness strategies - - 12

4.2 Politeness strategies in interrupting and asking Lor clarification 17

4.3 Previous studics on interrupting and asking, for clarification

CHAPTER LE: METHODOLOGY ¬

1 Mata collection instruments - - - 21

1.1, Multiple choice questionnaire "— -

2 Participants

3 Data collection procedure

4 Data analysis method

CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

1 Rafionale + 01 t0 2211 E0 10H00 HH1 01mg re "

3 Ains and objectives of the gtudV HH ri 3

3.1 Aims of the study

3.2 Objectives of the study ¬

A Scope of the study

5 Research questions

6 Research method

7 Structure of the study

CHAPTER Il: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the imvaluable

help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show

my sincerest gratitude and appreciation

To begin with, I would like to oxpress my greatest and decpest thankfulness to Prof, Nguyen Quang, my supervisor, for his enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughaut the duration of my thesis Without his instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillnent

Additionally, I wish to send my special thanks to Mr Iloang Van Nam, a sales representative at Danko Logistic Company, for his wholchearted facilitation Without his support, 1 cannot obtain emails for contacting American and Vietnamese

businesspeople to ask for their participation in my study Thus, my honest thanks also

come to Ihe American and Vietnamese businesspeople who passionately provide their

responses to my DCT and MCQ

Last but nol least, T owe a greal debt of gratitude to my family and

relatives particularly my father, mother and brother who have always supported

me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis

ABSTRACT

This paper is carried out al endeaver of exploring the linguistic politeness strategies utilized by the Vietnamese and the American businesspeople in making

interruption aud asking for clanfication in business meetings From thal, major

similarities and differences between the two languages in this regard are revealed

On the basis of quantitative method, discourse completion task (DCT) is

omployed to collect data from participants including thirty Vietnamese native speakers and American ones who are curently working in business sector ‘he result reveals that the positive politeness strategy namely “minimizing imposition” is the most common strategy used by American businesspeople while their Vietnamese counterparts prefer “apologizing and minimizing imposition” in semiformal and

informal business meetings Moreover, the speakers ages, genders and positions have

great influence on the choice of politeness strategy for Vietnamese businesspeople

while those factors make no significant influence on the American ones

1 Rafionale + 01 t0 2211 E0 10H00 HH1 01mg re "

3 Ains and objectives of the gtudV HH ri 3

3.1 Aims of the study

3.2 Objectives of the study ¬

A Scope of the study

5 Research questions

6 Research method

7 Structure of the study

CHAPTER Il: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.3 Cross- culture and cross-cultural communication

2 Overview of cross-cultural pragmatics

3 Tnterrupling as a speech act

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

PPS: Positive poliler

S: Speaker

trategy

1 Rafionale + 01 t0 2211 E0 10H00 HH1 01mg re "

3 Ains and objectives of the gtudV HH ri 3

3.1 Aims of the study

3.2 Objectives of the study ¬

A Scope of the study

5 Research questions

6 Research method

7 Structure of the study

CHAPTER Il: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.3 Cross- culture and cross-cultural communication

2 Overview of cross-cultural pragmatics

3 Tnterrupling as a speech act

Table IE American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings

‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use

of politeness strategies in semiformal meetings

Table TIT 7 Victnamese businesspeople versus their American counlerparts in the use

of politeness strategies in informal meetings

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

PPS: Positive poliler

S: Speaker

trategy

3 The similarities and diỂẨerennces cu eeHieerrrrrerieerroe 37)

3.2.1 Differences in serni-formal meetings coi

ABSTRACT

This paper is carried out al endeaver of exploring the linguistic politeness strategies utilized by the Vietnamese and the American businesspeople in making

interruption aud asking for clanfication in business meetings From thal, major

similarities and differences between the two languages in this regard are revealed

On the basis of quantitative method, discourse completion task (DCT) is

omployed to collect data from participants including thirty Vietnamese native speakers and American ones who are curently working in business sector ‘he result reveals that the positive politeness strategy namely “minimizing imposition” is the most common strategy used by American businesspeople while their Vietnamese counterparts prefer “apologizing and minimizing imposition” in semiformal and

informal business meetings Moreover, the speakers ages, genders and positions have

great influence on the choice of politeness strategy for Vietnamese businesspeople

while those factors make no significant influence on the American ones

3.3 Trfernrpling as a speech act - - 11

4, Politeness strategies in interrupting ond asking for clarification

4.3 Previous studics on interrupting and asking, for clarification

CHAPTER LE: METHODOLOGY ¬

1 Mata collection instruments - - - 21

1.1, Multiple choice questionnaire "— -

2 Participants

3 Data collection procedure

4 Data analysis method

CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

DCT: Discourse completion task

TTA: Face threatening act

H: Hearer

MCQ: Multiple choice questionnaire

NPS: Negative politeness strategy

PPS: Positive poliler

S: Speaker

trategy

ABSTRACT

This paper is carried out al endeaver of exploring the linguistic politeness strategies utilized by the Vietnamese and the American businesspeople in making

interruption aud asking for clanfication in business meetings From thal, major

similarities and differences between the two languages in this regard are revealed

On the basis of quantitative method, discourse completion task (DCT) is

omployed to collect data from participants including thirty Vietnamese native speakers and American ones who are curently working in business sector ‘he result reveals that the positive politeness strategy namely “minimizing imposition” is the most common strategy used by American businesspeople while their Vietnamese counterparts prefer “apologizing and minimizing imposition” in semiformal and

informal business meetings Moreover, the speakers ages, genders and positions have

great influence on the choice of politeness strategy for Vietnamese businesspeople

while those factors make no significant influence on the American ones

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the imvaluable

help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show

my sincerest gratitude and appreciation

To begin with, I would like to oxpress my greatest and decpest thankfulness to Prof, Nguyen Quang, my supervisor, for his enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughaut the duration of my thesis Without his instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillnent

Additionally, I wish to send my special thanks to Mr Iloang Van Nam, a sales representative at Danko Logistic Company, for his wholchearted facilitation Without his support, 1 cannot obtain emails for contacting American and Vietnamese

businesspeople to ask for their participation in my study Thus, my honest thanks also

come to Ihe American and Vietnamese businesspeople who passionately provide their

responses to my DCT and MCQ

Last but nol least, T owe a greal debt of gratitude to my family and

relatives particularly my father, mother and brother who have always supported

me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis

Table IE American businesspcople’s usc of politeness strategies in informal meetings

‘Table LIL 6 Vietnamese businesspeople versus their American counterparts in the use

of politeness strategies in semiformal meetings

Table TIT 7 Victnamese businesspeople versus their American counlerparts in the use

of politeness strategies in informal meetings

vill