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Download Luận văn To find out safe and unsafe topics for the first encounter in Vietnamese and Anglophone cultures
I like Yoga so much and I am a member of a Yoga class. Thanks God I know that you are doing Yoga. Would you like to join me some day and we will share this marvelous sports, ok? And could you give me then some more experience please? (Seek agreement + Offer, promise +be conventionally indirect).
With the discussion above, the author can conclude that there is a gender influence when the English informants talk/ask the others about sports even sports is one of the considered safe topics. The difference may come from the fact that appearance issues which can be better, positively changed with sports always attract woman; this can be a universal value. However, it is regretted that this study cannot collect enough conditions to investigate the gender influence between male and female and vice verse when they talk about sports at the first encounter.
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Paralinguistic factors: pitch, intensity, rate, other vocal qualities, etc.
Non-verbal factors: facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, etc.
Setting of communication: place, distance, lighting system, heat, etc.
Mood factors: happy, unhappy, bore, excited, etc.
II.3. Subjects of the study:
The survey is conducted with two groups: one is NSEs and the other is NSVs. The Vietnamese informants are working in Hanoi, Vietnam, and the English informants who work for British Council, Language Link, Hilton Hotel or come to Vietnam as tourists.
Questionnaires were delivered to 100 NSEs and 100 NSVs. However, 50 questionnaires of NSEs and 50 questionnaires of NSVs are selected for.
Among 50 questionnaires of NSEs, 23 are from NSEs who are working in British Council, 18 are from Language-Link Center, 5 from Hilton Hotel, and the rest are from tourists in Vietnam. About 50 questionnaires of NSVs, 15 are from NSVs who are working in University of Civil Engineering, 10 are from the author’s neighbors, 5 are from third-year students and the rest are from the author’s friends who are working in different companies, factories.
Besides, as it is believed that the informants’ profiles are important for the research, they are requested to provide information about:
Their nationality
Their age
Their sex
Their marital status
Their occupation
Their residence
Their acquisition of foreign language
The informants are assured not to be identified in any discussion of the data for the authenticity of the survey questionnaire.
CHAPTER III: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
III.1. Safe and unsafe topics at the first encounter
Normally, when starting a conversation at the first meeting, after introducing and being introduced, people have to think of what to say to keep it going. Topics at the first encounter are so important for good impression and hence, leading to a further relationship. As we come from different cultures with different characteristics, and cultural hiddens vary from society to society, what are said can satisfy someone in one culture but hurt others in another culture, especially at the first encounter. That is why topics to talk about in the small talk of the first meeting appear important.
III.1.1. Data analysis.
Collected data from question number 1 are used as the linguistic input. 20 topics are mentioned in this part. Fifty Vietnamese and fifty English are requested to tick (v) in one of five columns for each topic they think advisable or unadvisable at the first meeting. The aim of this part is to focus on whether they think they should mention the suggested topics or not for a smooth - flowing conversation.
III.1.1.1 English findings
Column 1 means: highly advisable (HAD)
Column 2 means: advisable (AD)
Column 3 means: all right (AR)
Column 4 means: unadvisable (UAD)
Column 5 means: strongly unadvisable (SUAD)
Ord
Topics
1
2
3
4
5
1
Age
9%
78%
13%
2
Politics
85%
15%
3
Weight
89%
11%
4
Salary
94%
6%
5
Work
93%
7%
6
Weather
96%
4%
7
Material life
8%
92%
8
Religion
88%
12%
9
Sex life
100%
10
News
73%
27%
11
Studying
91%
9%
12
Music
10%
88%
2%
13
Health
90%
6%
4%
14
Pets
87%
13%
15
Family
92%
8%
16
The cost of particular items
90%
10%
17
Other people’s affairs
94%
6%
18
Sports
5%
91%
4%
19
Marital status
6%
80%
14%
20
Place of current residence
20%
65%
15%
Table 1: Percentages of suggested topics in the first encounter of English informants
As we can see from the table 1, NSEs are so open to talk about such topics as weather (96% AD), work (93% AD), news (73% AD), studying (91% AD), music (88% AD), health (90% AD), pets (87% AD), family (92% AD), sports (91% AD) and place of current residence (65% AR) meanwhile some topics seem to be avoided to be discussed such as age (78% UAD), politics (85% UAD), weight (89% UAD), salary (94% UAD), material life (92% UAD), religion (88% UAD), sex (100%SUAD), the cost of particular items (90% UAD), other people’s affairs (94% UAD) and marital status (80% UAD). These topics carry the personal and private information for an initial meeting.
III.1.1.2. Vietnamese findings
Column 1 means: highly advisable (HAD)
Column 2 means: advisable (AD)
Column 3 means: all right (AR)
Column 4 means: unadvisable (UAD)
Column 5 means: strongly unadvisable (SUAD)
Ord
Topics
1
2
3
4
5
1
Age
22%
72%
6%
2
Politics
6%
84%
10%
3
Weight
35%
65%
4
Salary
15%
70%
15%
5
Work
75%
22%
3%
6
Weather
40%
60%
7
Material life
8%
90%
2%
8
Religion
8%
80%
12%
9
Sex life
100%
10
News
60%
40%
11
Studying
27%
68%
5%
12
Music
20%
75%
5%
13
Health
30%
70%
14
Pets
16%
84%
15
Family
80%
20%
16
The cost of particular items
19%
81%
17
Other people’s affairs
11%
7%
82%
18
Sports
80%
20%
19
Marital status
32%
60%
8%
20
Place of current residence
27%
70%
3%
Table 2: Percentages of suggested topics in the first encounter of Vietnamese informants
It can be seen from the table that, in the first meeting, NSVs tend to talk about topics such as age (72% AD), work (75% AR), weather (60% AR), news (60% AD), studying (68% AR), music (75% AD), health (70% AR), pets (84% AR), family (80% AD), cost of particular items (81% AR), sports (80% AD), marital status (60% AR), place of current residence (70% AR). However, some topics are avoided such as politics (84% UAD), weight (65% UAD), salary (70% UAD), material life (90% UAD), religion (80% UAD), sex life (100% SUAD) and other people’s affairs (82% SUAD) for their sensitiveness to the first meeting.
III.1.2 Cross-cultural similarities and differences
From the results shown in table 1 and 2, it is observed that some of these twenty suggested topics are preferred in the first meeting by NSVs while avoided by NSEs. Those are age, marital status, the cost of particular items. It might be the case that the Vietnamese regard such private and personal topics as good opportunities for them to show their concern, friendliness, consideration to their communicating partners even in their first meeting. This seems to prove the positive-politeness orientation of the Vietnamese culture.
According to the survey, both English and Vietnamese informants are willing to talk about weather, music, health, pets, work, studying, news, sports, family and place of residence in the first meeting. They also share one common thing: avoiding sensitive topics such as salary, politics, sex life, material life and religion. This can be shown in the following table:
Ord
Topics
English
Vietnamese
1
Weather
96%
60%
2
News
73%
60%
3
Music
88%
75%
4
Work
93%
75%
5
Pets
87%
84%
6
Studying
91%
68%
7
Sports
91%
80%
8
Family
92%
80%
9
Health
90%
70%
10
Place of residence
65%
70%
Table 3: Percentages of topics both English and Vietnamese informants like to mention in small talks in the first encounter.
The table shows that these topics are more preferred by NSEs than NSVs. Weather is the most different topic in percentage (NSEs 96% “AD” and NSVs 60% “AR”), followed by Work (NSEs 93% “AD” and NSVs 75% “AR”), Studying (NSEs 91% “AD” and NSVs 68% “AR”) and Health (NSEs 90% “AD” and NSVs 70% “AR”). Then comes the topics Sports and Family which have quite similar level of difference. The topics which have smallest difference are Pets and Place of residence, accounting for 87% “AD”, 65% “AR” and 84% “AR”, 70% “AR” for NSEs and NSVs respectively, and then comes News and Music.
For the public image of interlocutors in the first meeting, both NSEs and NSVs have some sensitive and affecting topics to avoid. This can be shown in the below table.
Ord
Topics
English
Vietnamese
1
Salary
94%
70%
2
Material life
92%
90%
3
Politics
85%
84%
4
Sex life
100%
100%
5
Religion
88%
80%
6
Other people’s affairs
94%
82%
Table 4: Percentages of topics both English and Vietnamese informants do not like to mention in small talks in the first encounter.
The table does not show much difference in the percentage of avoided topics. It is obvious that “Sex life” topic is the most sensitive one and both NSEs and NSVs do not talk about it, accounting for 100% “SUAD” for both. Then comes the topics of Material life (92% “UAD” for NSEs and 90% “UAD” for NSVs), Politics (85% “UAD” for NSEs and 84% “UAD” for NSVs), followed by Religion, Other people’s affairs and the biggest difference is Salary which accounts for 94% (UAD) for NSEs and 70% (UAD) for NSVs.
To summarize, at the first encounter, the topics which are considered safe for both the English and Vietnamese informants are Weather, News, Music, Work, Pets, Studying, Sports, Family, Health and P...
Download miễn phí Luận văn To find out safe and unsafe topics for the first encounter in Vietnamese and Anglophone cultures
I like Yoga so much and I am a member of a Yoga class. Thanks God I know that you are doing Yoga. Would you like to join me some day and we will share this marvelous sports, ok? And could you give me then some more experience please? (Seek agreement + Offer, promise +be conventionally indirect).
With the discussion above, the author can conclude that there is a gender influence when the English informants talk/ask the others about sports even sports is one of the considered safe topics. The difference may come from the fact that appearance issues which can be better, positively changed with sports always attract woman; this can be a universal value. However, it is regretted that this study cannot collect enough conditions to investigate the gender influence between male and female and vice verse when they talk about sports at the first encounter.
Để tải bản DOC Đầy Đủ xin Trả lời bài viết này, Mods sẽ gửi Link download cho bạn sớm nhất qua hòm tin nhắn.
Ai cần download tài liệu gì mà không tìm thấy ở đây, thì đăng yêu cầu down tại đây nhé:
Nhận download tài liệu miễn phí
Tóm tắt nội dung:
itations of the study, some aspects are not covered:Paralinguistic factors: pitch, intensity, rate, other vocal qualities, etc.
Non-verbal factors: facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, etc.
Setting of communication: place, distance, lighting system, heat, etc.
Mood factors: happy, unhappy, bore, excited, etc.
II.3. Subjects of the study:
The survey is conducted with two groups: one is NSEs and the other is NSVs. The Vietnamese informants are working in Hanoi, Vietnam, and the English informants who work for British Council, Language Link, Hilton Hotel or come to Vietnam as tourists.
Questionnaires were delivered to 100 NSEs and 100 NSVs. However, 50 questionnaires of NSEs and 50 questionnaires of NSVs are selected for.
Among 50 questionnaires of NSEs, 23 are from NSEs who are working in British Council, 18 are from Language-Link Center, 5 from Hilton Hotel, and the rest are from tourists in Vietnam. About 50 questionnaires of NSVs, 15 are from NSVs who are working in University of Civil Engineering, 10 are from the author’s neighbors, 5 are from third-year students and the rest are from the author’s friends who are working in different companies, factories.
Besides, as it is believed that the informants’ profiles are important for the research, they are requested to provide information about:
Their nationality
Their age
Their sex
Their marital status
Their occupation
Their residence
Their acquisition of foreign language
The informants are assured not to be identified in any discussion of the data for the authenticity of the survey questionnaire.
CHAPTER III: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
III.1. Safe and unsafe topics at the first encounter
Normally, when starting a conversation at the first meeting, after introducing and being introduced, people have to think of what to say to keep it going. Topics at the first encounter are so important for good impression and hence, leading to a further relationship. As we come from different cultures with different characteristics, and cultural hiddens vary from society to society, what are said can satisfy someone in one culture but hurt others in another culture, especially at the first encounter. That is why topics to talk about in the small talk of the first meeting appear important.
III.1.1. Data analysis.
Collected data from question number 1 are used as the linguistic input. 20 topics are mentioned in this part. Fifty Vietnamese and fifty English are requested to tick (v) in one of five columns for each topic they think advisable or unadvisable at the first meeting. The aim of this part is to focus on whether they think they should mention the suggested topics or not for a smooth - flowing conversation.
III.1.1.1 English findings
Column 1 means: highly advisable (HAD)
Column 2 means: advisable (AD)
Column 3 means: all right (AR)
Column 4 means: unadvisable (UAD)
Column 5 means: strongly unadvisable (SUAD)
Ord
Topics
1
2
3
4
5
1
Age
9%
78%
13%
2
Politics
85%
15%
3
Weight
89%
11%
4
Salary
94%
6%
5
Work
93%
7%
6
Weather
96%
4%
7
Material life
8%
92%
8
Religion
88%
12%
9
Sex life
100%
10
News
73%
27%
11
Studying
91%
9%
12
Music
10%
88%
2%
13
Health
90%
6%
4%
14
Pets
87%
13%
15
Family
92%
8%
16
The cost of particular items
90%
10%
17
Other people’s affairs
94%
6%
18
Sports
5%
91%
4%
19
Marital status
6%
80%
14%
20
Place of current residence
20%
65%
15%
Table 1: Percentages of suggested topics in the first encounter of English informants
As we can see from the table 1, NSEs are so open to talk about such topics as weather (96% AD), work (93% AD), news (73% AD), studying (91% AD), music (88% AD), health (90% AD), pets (87% AD), family (92% AD), sports (91% AD) and place of current residence (65% AR) meanwhile some topics seem to be avoided to be discussed such as age (78% UAD), politics (85% UAD), weight (89% UAD), salary (94% UAD), material life (92% UAD), religion (88% UAD), sex (100%SUAD), the cost of particular items (90% UAD), other people’s affairs (94% UAD) and marital status (80% UAD). These topics carry the personal and private information for an initial meeting.
III.1.1.2. Vietnamese findings
Column 1 means: highly advisable (HAD)
Column 2 means: advisable (AD)
Column 3 means: all right (AR)
Column 4 means: unadvisable (UAD)
Column 5 means: strongly unadvisable (SUAD)
Ord
Topics
1
2
3
4
5
1
Age
22%
72%
6%
2
Politics
6%
84%
10%
3
Weight
35%
65%
4
Salary
15%
70%
15%
5
Work
75%
22%
3%
6
Weather
40%
60%
7
Material life
8%
90%
2%
8
Religion
8%
80%
12%
9
Sex life
100%
10
News
60%
40%
11
Studying
27%
68%
5%
12
Music
20%
75%
5%
13
Health
30%
70%
14
Pets
16%
84%
15
Family
80%
20%
16
The cost of particular items
19%
81%
17
Other people’s affairs
11%
7%
82%
18
Sports
80%
20%
19
Marital status
32%
60%
8%
20
Place of current residence
27%
70%
3%
Table 2: Percentages of suggested topics in the first encounter of Vietnamese informants
It can be seen from the table that, in the first meeting, NSVs tend to talk about topics such as age (72% AD), work (75% AR), weather (60% AR), news (60% AD), studying (68% AR), music (75% AD), health (70% AR), pets (84% AR), family (80% AD), cost of particular items (81% AR), sports (80% AD), marital status (60% AR), place of current residence (70% AR). However, some topics are avoided such as politics (84% UAD), weight (65% UAD), salary (70% UAD), material life (90% UAD), religion (80% UAD), sex life (100% SUAD) and other people’s affairs (82% SUAD) for their sensitiveness to the first meeting.
III.1.2 Cross-cultural similarities and differences
From the results shown in table 1 and 2, it is observed that some of these twenty suggested topics are preferred in the first meeting by NSVs while avoided by NSEs. Those are age, marital status, the cost of particular items. It might be the case that the Vietnamese regard such private and personal topics as good opportunities for them to show their concern, friendliness, consideration to their communicating partners even in their first meeting. This seems to prove the positive-politeness orientation of the Vietnamese culture.
According to the survey, both English and Vietnamese informants are willing to talk about weather, music, health, pets, work, studying, news, sports, family and place of residence in the first meeting. They also share one common thing: avoiding sensitive topics such as salary, politics, sex life, material life and religion. This can be shown in the following table:
Ord
Topics
English
Vietnamese
1
Weather
96%
60%
2
News
73%
60%
3
Music
88%
75%
4
Work
93%
75%
5
Pets
87%
84%
6
Studying
91%
68%
7
Sports
91%
80%
8
Family
92%
80%
9
Health
90%
70%
10
Place of residence
65%
70%
Table 3: Percentages of topics both English and Vietnamese informants like to mention in small talks in the first encounter.
The table shows that these topics are more preferred by NSEs than NSVs. Weather is the most different topic in percentage (NSEs 96% “AD” and NSVs 60% “AR”), followed by Work (NSEs 93% “AD” and NSVs 75% “AR”), Studying (NSEs 91% “AD” and NSVs 68% “AR”) and Health (NSEs 90% “AD” and NSVs 70% “AR”). Then comes the topics Sports and Family which have quite similar level of difference. The topics which have smallest difference are Pets and Place of residence, accounting for 87% “AD”, 65% “AR” and 84% “AR”, 70% “AR” for NSEs and NSVs respectively, and then comes News and Music.
For the public image of interlocutors in the first meeting, both NSEs and NSVs have some sensitive and affecting topics to avoid. This can be shown in the below table.
Ord
Topics
English
Vietnamese
1
Salary
94%
70%
2
Material life
92%
90%
3
Politics
85%
84%
4
Sex life
100%
100%
5
Religion
88%
80%
6
Other people’s affairs
94%
82%
Table 4: Percentages of topics both English and Vietnamese informants do not like to mention in small talks in the first encounter.
The table does not show much difference in the percentage of avoided topics. It is obvious that “Sex life” topic is the most sensitive one and both NSEs and NSVs do not talk about it, accounting for 100% “SUAD” for both. Then comes the topics of Material life (92% “UAD” for NSEs and 90% “UAD” for NSVs), Politics (85% “UAD” for NSEs and 84% “UAD” for NSVs), followed by Religion, Other people’s affairs and the biggest difference is Salary which accounts for 94% (UAD) for NSEs and 70% (UAD) for NSVs.
To summarize, at the first encounter, the topics which are considered safe for both the English and Vietnamese informants are Weather, News, Music, Work, Pets, Studying, Sports, Family, Health and P...