TTLA: Comparing the relationship between interpersonal meaning expression in the English-Vietnamese Drug Instructions (according to systems functional linguistics theory).

Author's name: Nguyen Thi Kim Luyen

Thesis title:A comparative analysis of interpersonal meaning expression in the English-Vietnamese Drug Instructions (according to systems functional linguistics theory).

Dissertation field: Linguistics

Major: Comparative Linguistics Code: 62 22 01 10

Name of the postgraduate training unit: University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

1. Purpose and scope of the thesis

1.1. Research Objectives

The purpose of this research is to clarify the methods of expressing interpersonal meaning in English-language drug instruction manuals through characteristic grammatical and lexical means, including:awakeandmodalityand compare it with Vietnamese within the same text genre to find similarities and differences between the two languages.

1. 2. Research Subjects

The subject of this thesis is linguistic means.awakeandmodalityExpressing interpersonal meaning through compatible and incompatible methods in drug instruction manuals in English and Vietnamese.

2. Research methods used

This dissertation adopts a systematic functional linguistic approach to analyze interpersonal meaning expression in English and Vietnamese drug instruction manuals through these two linguistic mediums.awakeandmodality.The thesis employs the following main research methods and techniques: Text analysis method, Linguistic description method.

Internal explanatory methods, external explanatory methods (quantitative and qualitative statistics, quantitative comparative analysis),MethodComparison and contrast. These methods and techniques are used in combination and support each other in the research process to ensure the most scientific and effective approach.

3. Main results and conclusions

3.1. Main results

- Two methods of expressing interpersonal meaning in English and Vietnamese drug instruction manuals are compatible and incompatible methods. Of these, the method of expressing interpersonal meaning is more prevalent than the compatible method in this type of text.

+ From the planeawakeBoth groups of text materials in the drug instruction manuals do not fully utilize all linguistic means to realize compatible and incompatible speech functions. This indicates that interpersonal meaning in the drug instruction manual text genre in both languages ​​is not fully expressed across all linguistic means, partly preventing this text genre from truly achieving a level of interaction and closeness with the reader.

+ From a modal perspective: We have also observed how modality is realized in both compatible and incompatible ways in the English and Vietnamese drug instruction manual discourse through the use of modal means in this type of text.

- The English-language drug instruction manuals utilize a wide variety of media.awakeandmodalityIn terms of quantity, type, and method of realization in establishing interpersonal relationships with the reader, compared to the Vietnamese linguistic group, this demonstrates the difference between the two languages ​​in terms of persuasive ability, the connection between the text and the reader, and the interaction between the two participants in this text genre.

3.2. Conclusion

A comparative study examining the interpersonal meaning expression in English and Vietnamese drug instruction manuals has allowed us to visualize the interpersonal landscape of medical language for the community in both languages.

We systematically investigated the modes of expressing interpersonal meaning in drug instruction manuals with the aim of testing medical language for a new theoretical direction, namely the theory of systemic functional linguistics. Two modes of expressing interpersonal meaning in drug instruction manuals were identified. The following are some noteworthy research results on the two means and modality of realizing interpersonal meaning in English and Vietnamese drug instruction manuals.

Compatible expression methods

- From a formal perspective, English uses three modes: declarative, imperative, and interrogative. In contrast, Vietnamese only features two modes: declarative and imperative. The declarative mode is the most dominant, followed by the imperative mode in both linguistic data groups. A very small percentage of the interrogative mode is used in the English text. Interrogative mode is not used in Vietnamese drug instruction manuals.

The method of expressing interpersonal semantic compatibility in English drug instruction manuals is observed from: (i) the statement pattern with typical formSubject + definite agentRealizing functional compatibilityassessment(ii) the imperative mode of functional compatibility realizationrequestThe two imperative forms found in the English corpus are component-only.predetermined death, and onlyverbs to do Predicate; and (iii) questionable type with typical form+Wh-^+determined agent^+Subject(question mark with question word) and+Determined Death^+Subject(Polarized interrogative sentence) in realizing the questioning function.

In comparison with Vietnamese in the same text genre, only two types of declarative and imperative forms are found. Therefore, the method of expressing interpersonal meaning through the means of form can only be observed from these two types, including: (i) the declarative sentence type with the typical pattern.Subject + Predicatetypical realization of the function of judgment; and (ii) the imperative mode with typical form.ButSubject + PredicateImplement functional compatibility requirements.

- From a modal perspective, the method of expressing interpersonal meaning in English-language drug instruction manuals is observed through the following modal means: (i) modal agents expressing subjective implicit meaning that realizes modal meaning, and (ii) modal adjuncts expressing objective implicit meaning that realizes modal meaning. For (i), we found 13 modal agents classified as high, medium, and low value, including: High-value modal agents:must, need, have to, mustn't, can'tThe modal agent has an average value:is to, should, will, shouldn't; Modal agents have low value:may, might, can, could.These modal agents all belong to the probabilistic modalization, duty modalization, and directional modalization types. With (ii), we found 11 modal modifiers classified as high, medium, and low value as follows found in the English corpus: High-value modal modifiers:always, never, sure, required, determinedModal adverbs have an average value:usually, probably;Modal adverbs have low value:possible, hardly, sometimes, rarely.These modifiers all belong to the probabilistic modification, routine modification, duty modification, and a very small number belong to the directional modification.

In comparison with Vietnamese, the method of expressing interpersonal meaning in Vietnamese drug instruction manuals is also observed from two modal means: (i) modal agents expressing subjective implicit meaning that materializes modal meaning, and (ii) modal adjuncts expressing objective implicit meaning that materializes modal meaning. With (i), we found six modal agents with three values: High-value modal agents:Yes, necessary, not allowed.; Average value of the modal effect:should, shouldn't; andLow modal value agent:maybe.These modal agents all belong to the probabilistic modalization, duty modalization, and tendency modalization types. With (ii), we found 4 modal modifiers with three values ​​appearing in Vietnamese drug instruction manuals, including: High-value modal modifiers:Always, never; low-value modal adverbial:Occasionally, rarely.No modal adjuncts of average value were found in the Vietnamese drug instruction manual. These modal adjuncts are of the probabilistic and routine modal types. We did not find any modal adjuncts of the modal type in the corpus.

Incompatible representation methods

- From a formal perspective, the incompatible modes of expression in interpersonal meaning in English-language drug instruction manuals are observed through the use of linguistic means, which are types of formalities that realize atypical speech functions, including: the declarative form realizing the request function, the declarative and imperative forms realizing the invitation function, and the declarative form realizing the function of...askIn comparison with Vietnamese, the method of expressing incompatible interpersonal meanings in Vietnamese drug instruction manuals, from a cognitive perspective, is observed through the functional incompatibility of the declared realization.requestThe declarative and imperative forms of realization are functionally incompatible.invite.

- From a modal perspective, the method of expressing incompatibility of interpersonal meaning can only be found in English-language drug instruction manuals. No modal means of realizing modal incompatibility are found in the Vietnamese corpus. This method is implemented through a projective sentence type that expresses objective, explicit meaning and realizes modal incompatibility. 170 high-value, medium-value, and low-value projective sentences appear in the English corpus as follows: High-value projective sentenceIt's certain that…; Average value projectionIt's important that…, It's recommended that…,Your doctor may recommend you that..., The truth is that..., There is a risk thatand low-value projectionIt's possible that...These projections all fall under the categories of probabilistic modalization, routine modalization, duty-based modalization, and predispositional modalization.

Overall, the statistical data of the thesis shows that the interaction of the drug instruction text genre in the two languages ​​is revealed through both compatible and incompatible modes of expression. However, in the two modes of expressing interpersonal meaning in the drug instruction text genre in English and Vietnamese through the means of 'form' and 'modality', the compatible mode of expressing interpersonal meaning is more dominant than the incompatible mode of expression in both groups of linguistic data. This is demonstrated through the general trend of choosing to use the compatible mode of realizing interpersonal meaning through the means.awakeandmodalityThis is significantly higher than the incompatible realization patterns in both the English and Vietnamese corpuses.

Personal semantic compatibility in a text demonstrates a close and intimate relationship between the writer and the reader (Haliday and Matthiesen, 2013), and that the writer has created a feeling for the reader as if the text were written specifically for them, as if they were very close and there was an equal relationship between them (Eggins, 2004). Writers of drug instruction manuals need to shorten the social distance with the reader to create a sense of closeness and intimacy, making the reader more receptive to what is mentioned in the text, thus enhancing the text's effectiveness. However, their position and authority as healthcare professionals must still be maintained through the use of non-personal semantic compatibility. The explanation for the use of interpersonal semantic compatibility in this text genre, with its superior frequency and proportion, is likely due to the genre's characteristics: it serves to communicate knowledge related to medicine, providing essential information about drugs and their use, persuading and influencing readers' decisions, guiding and encouraging readers to accept and take action accordingly.

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

The author's name: Nguyen Thi Kim Luyen

Thesis title:A contrast of modes expressing interpersonal meaning in English-Vietnamese patient information leaflets (applying the theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics)

Scientific branch of the thesis: Linguistics

Major: Comparative-contrastive Linguistics Code: 62 22 01 10

The name of postgraduate training institution: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU-USSH)

1. Thesis purpose and objectives

1.1. Thesis purpose

The purpose of the research is to clarify the modes expressing the interpersonal meaning in English patient information leaflets through means of typical lexico-grammar including mood and modality and contrast with Vietnamese in the same language genre to find the similarities and differences between the two languages.

1.2. Thesis objectives:The object of the thesis is the linguistic means of mood and modality expressing interpersonal meanings in congruent (typical) and incongruent (untypical) modes in English – Vietnamese patient information leaflets.

2. Research methods

The study is designed as a Mixed Method Research Design. The quantitative data reveals different frequencies of mood and modality choice used in PILs while the closer qualitative analysis of discourse data shows how the mood and modality choices are used by English and Vietnamese writers to achieve the goals.

3. Major results and conclusions

3.1.The major results

- Two modes of expression of interpersonal meaning in English and Vietnamese PILs are congruence (typical) and incongruence (untypical) modes. In particular, the congruence mode of expressing interpersonal meaning in this text genre prevails rather than the mode of incongruence.

+ In terms of mood choices: Neither of the two groups of PILs uses all of the congruence and incongruence language realization tools of speech functions. This indicates that the interpersonal meaning in this text genre in the two languages ​​​​is not fully expressed in all language means, partly making this genre of text not really reach the level of close, friendly and interactive to its readers.

+ In terms of modality choices: We have also observed the congruence and incongruence ways to realize the interpersonal meaning English and Vietnamese PILs through the use of modality in this text genre.

Data in the group of English PILs use quite a variety of modality and mood types in terms of the quantity, types and modes of realization in creating interpersonal relationships with readers compared to Vietnamese PILs group. This represents the differences between the two languages ​​​​in terms of persuasion, the coherence between text and readers and the interaction between the two objects in this text genre.

3.2.Revisions

A linking contrast of the expression modes of interpersonal meaning in English and Vietnamese PILs allows us to partly visualize the medical language picture for the community from the interpersonal view in the two languages.

We have scientifically investigated the expression modes of interpersonal meaning in PILs with the desire to test medical language under a new theoretical direction, which is the theory of systemic functional linguistics. Two expression modes of interpersonal meaning in PILs have been identified. The followings are some remarkable research results on two language means of mood and modality realizing the interpersonal meaning in English and Vietnamese PILs.

Congruent expression mode

- From the perspective of mood types, in English, there are 3 mood types chosen including declarative mood, imperative mood and interrogative mood, whereas relating to Vietnamese, only two types of declarative and imperative mood appear. In particular, the declarative mood type is the most dominant type, followed by the frequency of the imperative mood type in both language groups. A very small percentages of interrogative mood type are used in the English language group while this type of mood cannot be found in Vietnamese PILs.

The congruent expression mode of interpersonal meaning in English PILs is observed from: (i) the type of declarative mood with a typical form+Subject +Finitethat realizes congruently the speech function ofstatement; (ii) the type of imperative mood realizing congruently the speech function ofcommand. The two forms of imperative mood that are found in the English language group only include the element of finite, or verb being predicates; and (iii) the type of interrogative mood with the typical form:+Wh-^ + Finite^+Subject(the questions with question words) and+Finite^+Subject(Yes/No questions) in realizing the speech function ofquestion.

Relating to Vietnamese in the same text genre, only two types of declarative and interrogative mood types are found, so the congruent mode of expression of interpersonal meaning through language means of mood is only observed from these two mood types including: (i) the type of declarative mood with a typical form+Subject + Predicatesrealizes the typical speech function ofstatement; and (ii) the type of imperative mood with the typical form of-Subject + Predicatewhich realizes congruently the speech function ofcommand.

- From the perspective of modality types, the congruent expression mode of interpersonal meaning in English PILs is observed from the following means: (i)Modal Finitesexpresses implicit subjective congruently realizing the modality meaning, and (ii)Modality Adjunctsexpressing the implicit objective congruently realizing the modality meaning. With (i) we found 13 modal finites that are classified as high, medium and low, including: High-value modal finites:must, need, have to, mustn't, can'tMedium-value modal finites:is to, should, will, shouldn't; and low-value modal finites:may, might, can, could. With (ii) we find the following 11 high-value, medium and low-value modal Adjuncts that are found in the English language group: High-value modal Adjuncts:always, never, sure, required, determined; Medium-value modal Adjuncts:usually, probablyLow-value modal adjuncts:possible, hardly, sometimes, rare.

Contrasting with Vietnamese, the congruent mode expresses interpersonal meaning in Vietnamese PILs groups is also observed from two means of modality:Modal Finitesexpresses implicit subjective congruently realizing the modality meaning, and (ii)Modality Adjunctsexpressing the implicit objective congruently realizing the modality meaning. With (i) we found 6 modal Finites with three values ​​​​of High, Medium and Low. High-value modal Finites:Yes, necessary, not allowed.Medium-value modal finites:Should, shouldn'tand Low-value Modal Finites:maybe. With (ii) we find 4 modality Adjuncts with three values ​​​​of High, Medium and Low. High-value modality Adjuncts:Always, never; low-value modality Adjuncts:occasionally, rarely. There are no medium value modality Adjuncts found in Vietnamese PILs group.

Incongruent expression mode

- From the perspective of mood types, the incongruent expression mode of interpersonal meaning in English PILs is observed from the use of mood types realizing untypical speech functions including: the type of declarative mood realizing the speech function ofcommand, the type declarative and imperative mood realizing the speech function ofoffer, and the declarative mood type realizing the speech function ofquestion. Contrasting with Vietnamese in the same genre of text, the incongruent expression mode of interpersonal meaning in Vietnamese PILs is observed from the use of the declarative mood type realizing incongruently the speech function ofcommand, the type declarative and imperative mood realizing the speech function ofoffer.

- From the perspective of modality, the incongruent expressive mode of interpersonal meaning can only be found in English PILs group. No modality has been found to realize incongruently in the Vietnamese language group. This expression mode is done through a projection clause explicit objective realizing modality meaning. 170 high, medium and low value projections appear in the English language group as follows: High-value projection clauseIt's certain that...; The Medium-value projection clauseIt's important that..., It's recommended that...,Your doctor may recommend you..., The truth is that..., There is a risk that;and the projection of low valueIt's possible that...

In general, the statistics of the thesis show that the interaction of the PILs genre in the two languages ​​is revealed through both congruent and incongruent expression modes. However, in the two expression modes of interpersonal meaning in the English and Vietnamese PILs through means of 'mood' and 'modality', the congruent expression mode of interpersonal meaning in the genre is more dominant than the other in both language groups. This is reflected in the general tendency of choosing to use the way of congruent realization of interpersonal meaning through mood and modality much higher than the other in both groups of English and Vietnamese PILs.

The congruent realization of interpersonal meaning in texts shows close intimate relationships between text writers and readers (Haliday and Matthiesen, 2013), and that the writer has created a feeling for the reader as if the text were written for readers themselves, as if they were very close and there were an equal relationship between them (Eggins, 2004). PILs writers need to shorten the social gap with the reader so that they can give readers a sense of closeness and intimacy so that they are ready to receive what is mentioned in the text, which helps improve the effectiveness of the text. But their position and authority in the text as health professionals must be maintained through the use of incongruent realization of interpersonal meaning. Explanation for this is probably due to the characteristics of the text genre which is equipped with relevant knowledge relating to medicine, providing essential information about the drug and how to use it, to persuade, influence the decision of the reader, orient and call the reader to accept and make decisions to act upon.