TTLA: A Study of the Linguistics of Vietnamese Contract Texts from a Discourse Analysis Perspective

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Tran Thi Thuy Linh            

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 28, 1982

4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh City

5. Decision on the admission of doctoral students No. 2213/2011/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated November 21, 2011, by the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision to adjust the dissertation title No. 253/QD-SDH, dated March 23, 2015, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

7. Thesis title:Studying the linguistics of Vietnamese contract texts from a discourse analysis perspective.

8. Major: Vietnamese LinguisticsCode: 62.22.01.15

9. Instructor:Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Giap

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- This dissertation focuses on presenting the characteristics of the Field of Practical Language. Accordingly, the dissertation surveys and analyzes practical language from the perspective of reflecting experience. The dissertation finds that the grammatical system through which the perspective of reflecting experience is expressed is a system of transformation. Also related to the characteristics of the Field of Practical Language, the dissertation presents what Halliday and other systemic functional linguists call grammatical metaphor and relates mainly to the phenomenon that traditional grammar calls nominalization and noun phrase expansion. In addition, the dissertation also devotes a section to examining the contextual aspect in the system of transformation.

- This dissertation presents the characteristics of the meaning of modal verbs expressed through the use of language to convey interpersonal relationships. The dissertation surveys and analyzes the distinctive features of functional modal patterns. This type of modality is realized in modal verbs and modal word combinations.

The characteristics of intent in spoken and written language are also expressed through speech acts of commitment. According to survey data, both forms of speech acts of commitment exist in spoken and written language: explicit speech acts of commitment and primary speech acts of commitment.

This dissertation surveys and analyzes the text structure of Vietnamese texts. At the macro level, the dissertation identifies mandatory and optional components; discusses the meaning and structure of conditional sentences; and examines the paragraph structure in Vietnamese texts.

At the micro level, the thesis analyzes and discusses the structure of the thesis-predicate, the phenomenon of thesisification, two characteristic types of thesis (thesis framework and subject matter), and the linking devices writers use in their literary works.

11. Practical applications:

This dissertation can be used as research material and for teaching the subject of Discourse Analysis, Vietnamese Stylistics, and related subjects.

12. Future research directions:

Compare the linguistic characteristics of Vietnamese contract texts with those of foreign contract texts.

13. Published works related to the dissertation:

1. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2013), “Common errors in Vietnamese contract documents”,Language & Life(5), pp. 12-16.

2. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “Commitment speech acts in Vietnamese contract documents”,Lexicography and Encyclopedia(2), pp. 15-20.

3. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “The role of linking in creating accuracy and transparency for contract documents”,Lexicography and Encyclopedia(4), pp. 107-113.

4. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “Teaching how to create economic contract documents for international students at the National Economics University”,Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference: Foreign Language Strategies in the Era of Integration.Hanoi University, pp. 461-466.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Thi Thuy Linh2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 28^th, 19824. Place of birth: Nam Dinh city

5. Admission of decision number: 2213/2011/QD-XHNV-SDH, date November 21^th, 2011, issued by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: Decision on adjusting the thesis title, decision number 253/QD-SDH, date March 23^th, 2015, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi

7. Official thesis title: The study of Vietnamese contract language on the aspect of discourse analysis

8.Major: Linguistics Code: 62.22.01.15

9. Supervisors: Prof. Dr Nguyen Thien Giap

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- The thesis focuses on features of field of contract discourses. evolved, the thesis carried out a survey, analyzed contract discourses from the field reflecting experience. The thesis found grammatical system through which the field reflects experience is considered as transfer system. Also related to the features of field of contract discourses, the thesis presents the content, according to Halliday and other system function grammarians, called grammatical metaphor and studies the phenomenon, according to Traditional grammar, called nominalization and expansion of noun phrase. In addition, the thesis also studies circumstances in transfer system.

- The thesis presents features of tenor of contract discourses through the use of language expressed interpersonal relations. Derived from nature and basic functions of contract discourses, the thesis carried a survey, analyzed special features of deontic type of modality including obligation, permission and prohibition. This type of modality is expressed with modal verbs and modal particles.

The features of tenor of contract discourses are also expressed through commisive speech acts. Through the survey materials in contract discourses exist both two types of performative structure of commission: explicit and primitive.

- The thesis conducted a survey and analyzed the field of structural texture of contract discourses. At the macro level, the thesis identifies the required components and optional components that appear in the contract, discussed the meaning and structure of the conditional sentences, structure of paragraphs in the contract discourses.

At the micro level, the thesis analyzed and discussed theme - rheme structure, topicalization, two types of topic (frame and theme/ topic) and the cohesive devices the writer used in contract discourses.

11. Practical applicability:

The thesis may be used as materials for research and teaching the Discourse Analysis, the Vietnamese's stylistics as well as related subjects.

12. Further research directions:

The comparison of features of a Vietnamese contract discourse and a foreign contract discourse.

13. Thesis-related publications:

1. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2013), “Common linguistic mistake in contract documents in Vietnamese”,Language and life(5), pp. 12-16.

2. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “Committing in contract texts”,Lexicography & Encyclopedia(2), pp. 15-20.

3. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “The role of cohesion in creating correctness and transparence for a text of contract”,Lexicography & Encyclopedia(4), pp. 107-113.

4. Tran Thi Thuy Linh (2014), “Teach how to create a discourse of economic contract for international students at the University of National Economy”,Proceedings international conference:Foreign languages ​​in the trend of international integration,Hanoi University, pp. 461-466.