TTLA: The phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication (the case of language students at some universities in Hanoi)

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Nguyen Thi Huyen                       

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: May 21, 1986

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 2999/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013 by the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic name:The phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication (the case of language students at some universities in Hanoi)

8. Major: Vietnamese Language Code: 62.22.01.02

9. Scientific instructor:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Cam Lan

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

Firstly, applying the Matrix Language Framework model, the thesis shows that in the code-switched languages, Vietnamese is the matrix language, English is the embedded language. The analysis results show that: Of the 964 utterances in 115 conversations, 321 utterances are created only in Vietnamese, 163 utterances are created only in English and 480 are mixed utterances. Classification163 sentences/utterances according to structure and speaking purpose, the thesis shows that, in terms of structure, English utterances are mainly composed of simple sentences and special sentences. According to speaking purpose, English utterances with reporting and interrogative purposes account for a large proportion, in particular, interrogative words (what, why, how...) are used with high frequency in interrogative utterances, exclamatory and imperative utterances account for a much more modest proportion. Mixed utterances (matrix language + embedded language) are the focus of the survey. Based on the theory of matrix language, we divide utterances composed only of mixed utterances into 3 components: (1) matrix language islands; (2) mixed islands; and (3) embedded language islands, in which the thesis examines the (2nd) and (3rd) components. In terms of structure, the results show that embedded language elements are words, which are overwhelmingly dominant, followed by phrases and finally sentences. In terms of phonetics, the impact of matrix language in changing the pronunciation of embedded language elements is also clearly shown through the fact that matrix language tones some English syllables, causing some changes in the consonant and vowel systems of English words when those words are "embedded" in Vietnamese utterances (shown through the smallest pronunciation units, syllables). In terms of word class, embedded language elements are real words, which are mainly nouns, followed by verbs and adjectives.

Second, for language motivation and attitudes, the natural language corpus shows that language students are quite “interested” in code-switching, in which code-switching is marked as a more common behavior to fulfill certain communicative motivations. Data from natural conversations and in-depth interview data both support this result. The results of the language attitude study surprised the researchers because they were mostly inconsistent with the initial predictions. For language students, the results showed that the duration, interest, or frequency of contact with native speakers had little effect on their code-switching frequency; meanwhile, the above factors had a positive effect on their code-switching behavior.

11. Practical application:

The research results also show that some theoretical models that are only suitable for use in Western language communities can also be applied positively to Vietnamese corpus. In terms of theory, these results have helped to demonstrate the mobility and effectiveness of the approach and theoretical models that the thesis has applied.

12. Further studies:

This is just an initial research topic on the phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication with the target audience being language students (non-complete bilingual people in the Vietnamese community). With the current speed of globalization, along with the urgent need for universal English learning in society, certainly in the future the scope and subjects of research will be expanded and explored, for example, it is possible to survey the phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication of language students at high schools or with the target audience and office workers working for large companies and corporations with investment capital from foreign partners... certainly will obtain meaningful research results, thereby making the theoretical basis as well as the research direction on the phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication that we conduct in this thesis even more meaningful.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

1. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2016), "The phenomenon of English code-switching in Vietnamese communication seen from the Matrix language theory", Language & Life Magazine (9), pp. 45–53.

2. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2016), "English code-switching in Vietnamese communication - A perspective from the pragmatics perspective", Journal of Foreign Language Science (48), pp. 29-41.

3. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2017), "Research on English code-switching motivation in Vietnamese communication (The case of code-switching of language students in Hanoi)", Journal of Lexicography & Encyclopedia (2), pp. 77-84.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Huyen 2. Sex: female

3. Date of birth: May 21, 1986 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 2999/QD-XHNV-SDH, Dated December 30, 2013, by VNU President

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: English Code-switching in Vietnamese Casual Conversations (a case of Vietnamese students of English in universities in Hanoi)

8. Major: Vietnamese Linguistics Code: 62 .22.01.02

9. Supervisor: Associate Prof. Dr. Trinh Cam Lan

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

Firstly, with the respect to the matrix language frame (MLF), the analysis indicates that Vietnamese is the matrix language (ML) in code-switching utterances in a number of ways and English refers to the embedded language (EL) with a lesser role. Among 964 utterances which collected in 115 conversations we have three model: (1) 321 well-formed constituents entirely in the ML, (2) 163 well-formed constituents entirely in the EL and (3) 480 mixed utterances (ML + EL constituents). 163 well-formed constituents entirely in the EL were classified by structure including Simple sentences (10.4%) and Subjectless sentences (89.6%) and when classified by illocutionary force we have Affirmative (what, why, how…), Negative utterances (10.4%), Directive utterances (6.8%), Interrogative utterances (15.3%), Exclamative utterances (8%). 480 mixed utterance is the central analysis including the matrix language island (ML island), the ML + EL island and the embedded language island (EL island). Due to the purpose of chapter 2, we only analyze (2) and (3). Structurally, most of EL constituents are words, phrases stand number two and sentences are the last. Phonetically, the ML sets the frame of sentences showing code-switching and change the way how to pronounce the EL constituents such as English initials are tonal which taken to the changes in consonants and vowels English system. Major part of speech characteristics of EL (English) includes: Noun (70.5%); Verb (20.1%), Adjective (8.5%) and the remaining (0.9%).

Secondly, for the motive of code-switching and linguistic behavior, Vietnamese students of English quite "interested in code-switching" which marked code-switching is chosen to convey certain messages of intentionality. Linguistic behavior of Vietnamese students of English is the most unpredictable result. English learning result, time spent learning, English learning hobby or frequency of learning English have dismissible effect on their code-switching frequency, meanwhile, all these factors have positive effect on their linguistic behaviors.

11. Practical applicability:

The findings help to clarify some hypothesis models which carried out foreign language communities can be applied satisfactorily to Vietnamese discourse which has English code-switching in casual conversations between Vietnamese students of English in universities in Hanoi.

12. Further research directions:

Code-switching between Vietnamese students of English in high school as well as Vietnamese officers who work for foreign companies or foreign invested corporations are likely to be our further research directions.

13. Theses related publications:

1. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2016), “Evidence from the matrix language hypothesis: Vietnamese-English code-switching in casual conversations”, Language and Life (9), pp45-53.

2. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2016), “English code-switching in Vietnamese conversations – From the pragmatics view”, Journal of Foreign Language Studies (48), pp29-41.

3. Nguyen Thi Huyen (2017), “A study of code-switching motivation of English in Vietnamese communication (a case of code-switching by English major students in universities in Hanoi)”, Lexicography & Encyclopedia (2), pp77-84.