1: Delaying 4: Showing Respect
2: Regret and Apology 5: Giving an Alternative 3: Excuse/reason/ explanation 6: Mixing different ways
Figure 3: Hedging strategy provided by the English and Vietnamese participants in situation 5 and situation 6
As we see in figure 3 that none of the participants choose Delaying strategy to decline in situation 5 and 6. Perhaps, they think that using this strategy is not polite if they are in lower power setting than the inviters.
Regret and Apology is still favorite strategy choosing by the English participants. There is 33% of the English participants employ it in situation 5,
and 36.3% in situation 6. The tactic is 16.5% and 26.4% respectively made by the Vietnamese ones. Some of the typical answers are as follows:
- Gosh. I’m sorry. I can’t come. (S5)
- I’m afraid I have to say sorry, boss. I can’t attend it (S5) - Tiếc quá sếp ơi, hôm đấy em lại về quê vợ. Em xin lỗi sếp (S5)
(What a pity, Boss! I’ll take my wife to her homeland on that day. I’m sorry)
- What a pity, I’ve got an appointment today (S6) - Tiếc quá, cháu phải về nhà ngay ạ (S6)
(What a shame! I have to back home now)
Like hedging strategy providing in equal power settings, the Vietnamese one again choose Excuse/reason/ explanation most when declining in this 2 cases.
The tactic is same for both situations (33%). The number of English employ it is much lower, but there is no difference between 2 situations (16.5% and 17.4% respectively). Some of the typical answers are as follows:
- Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t cancel my appointment to come (S5) - I’m sorry. I can’t come back until next Tuesday (S5)
- I’m sorry but I have plans already (S6) - Cháu xin lỗi bác ạ, mẹ cháu đang chờ (S6)
(I’m sorry, my mother is waiting)
Both of two groups use Showing Respect more times when declining familiar inviter than unfamiliar ones. However, the English participants tend to employ it more than the Vietnamese ones. There are 26.4% of the English participants choosing this strategy in situation 5, and 17.5% in situation 6.
Meanwhile, the tactic made by Vietnamese ones is 17.5% and 10.8%
respectively. Some of the typical answers are as follows:
- How nice are the couple! But I’m afraid I can’t make it that day (S5) - How nice are the couple! Congratulations! I wish I could come but I
have a very important work on Saturday (S5)
- Ôi, chúc mừng cậu nhé! Nhưng chắc tớ không đi công tác về kịp rồi (S5)
(Congratulations! But I’ll not back from business trip that day) - Oh, really? What’s a nice surprise! But I’m afraid I can’t attend it (S5) - That sounds really nice… I am really sorry… I don’t think I can stay (S6) - Ôi, cháu thấy mùi thơm quá. Nhưng mẹ cháu dặn phải về sớm rồi ạ (S6) (Woo, It’s smelled beautifully. But my mother recommend me to come back early)
Giving an Alternative, in situation 5, is used more frequency by the Vietnamese participants than the English ones (26.4% and 17.4%
respectively). Nevertheless, two groups provide same extent when decline unfamiliar inviter in situation 6 (10%). There is also a similarity in using Mixing different ways strategy of both groups in situation 5 (6.6%). To unfamiliar inviter, the English tend to employ this tactic more than Vietnamese ones (28.9% and 10.9% respectively). Some of the typical answers are as follows:
Giving an Alternative:
- Tối thứ 6 vợ chồng em đến chúc mừng hạnh phúc sếp trước nhé! Thứ 7 thì chúng em lại có kế hoạch không hoãn được rồi ạ (S5)
(Will my wife and I come to congratulate you on Friday evening? We have some work that can’t be postponed on Saturday)
- Chúc mừng anh chị ạ! Nhưng chắc em phải đến ăn kẹo hôm trước vậy, thứ 7 em phải đưa bọn nhóc về quê. (S5)
(Congratulations! But I’ll come the day before, because I have to take the kids to my homeland on Saturday)
- Maybe next time. I’ve to go soon (S6)
- Cháu hứa lần sau sẽ ở lại ăn tối ạ. Hôm nay nhà cháu có khách (S6) (I promise to have dinner with you next time. My family entertain some guests today)
Mixing different ways:
- Wow, congratulations, boss! Unfortunately I have got something planned before. I don’t think I can come
- Ôi, em chúc mừng anh! Mọi người khen chị nhà xinh lắm. Em rất muốn tới chúc mừng hạnh phúc anh chị nhưng hôm đấy em trai em cũng cưới.Vợ chồng em phải về quê (S5)
( Oh, congratulations! People said that she was very beautiful. I’d love to come but my brother will also get married on that day, we have to come back my homeland)
- Well, you know, I can smell your food. It’s really beautiful. I wish I could stay. But my parents are waiting for me. (S5)
- Hoa kể với cháu là bác nấu ăn ngon lắm. Cháu luôn mong được 1 lần thưởng thức tài nghệ của bác. Tiếc là hôm nay cháu phải về. (S6)
(Hoa told me that you cooked very well. I hope to enjoy your dishes.
What a pity! I have to leave now)