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 References. 1. Aristotle. 350BC. Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by W. D. Ross 2. Banks, J.A. 1988. Multi-ethnic education. U.S.: Allyn & Bacon. 3. David, G., Cheshire, J. and Swan, J. 1994. Describing Language (2 nd edition) Buckingham: Open University Press. 4. Emmitt M. and Pollock J. 1997. Language and learning: An Introduction for Teaching (2 nd edition). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 5. Emmitt, M. and Pollock, J. 1990. Language and Learning (1 st edition). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.OUP 6. Fisiak, J. et al. 1984. Contrastive Linguistics and the Language Teachers. Pergamon Press. Oxford. 7. Garfinkel, H. 1964. Studies in the routine grounds of everyday activities. Social Problems, 11, 225-50. 8. Garfinkel, H. 1967. Studies in Ethnomethodology. Cambridge: Polity. 9. Geertz, C. 1973. 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California State University Press. 26. Tran, X. D. 2009. A series of reports on the findings of “US and Vietnamese cultures in contrast through everyday conversation”. Journal Science of Hanoi National University of Education. 27. Tylor, E. B. 1871. Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art, and Custom. John Murray, London. 28. Wardhaugh, R. 1992. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics – Basil Blackwell. Levinson, S. C. (1983). Principles of Pragmatics. London: Longman . 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. 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,