TTLV: A Comparative Study of Polite Expressions in Vietnamese and Chinese Imperative Sentences

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: ZHUANG WAN QIN 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 31, 1999 4. Place of birth: China

5. Decision on student admission No. 190/QD-XHNV dated January 5, 2024, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis Title: A Comparative Study of Polite Expressions in Vietnamese and Chinese Imperative Sentences

8. Major: Vietnamese Studies; Code: 8310630

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Pham Thuy ChiDepartment of Linguistics, Vietnamese Language and Vietnamese StudiesFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis systematically compares and analyzes polite expression methods in Vietnamese and Chinese imperative sentences, focusing on two main linguistic devices: modal verbs and modal particles at the end of sentences. The research results show that in both languages, the use of these devices not only helps to lessen the imperative tone but also contributes to maintaining harmony in communication, demonstrating respect and consideration between speaker and listener. Modal verbs such as...maybe,should,wantand可以,应该/应当,要They all serve to soften imperative sentences, shifting from direct commands to persuasive and polite advice and suggestions. Meanwhile, particles such assir/ma'am,Okay,Goand吧,啊,嘛This helps regulate emotions, creating an intimate, natural tone that aligns with the cultural norms of each nation. Through these analyses, the thesis has shown that: although Vietnamese and Chinese share similarities in their politeness mechanisms – both aiming to protect "face" and maintain harmonious relationships – they still possess unique characteristics linked to the culture of each country. These differences reflect the social concepts, behaviors, and specific human values ​​of the two nations, contributing to clarifying the relationship between language and culture in contemporary Vietnamese-Chinese communication.

11. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: ZHUANG WAN QIN 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 31, 1999 4. Place of birth: China

5. Admission decision number: 190/QD-XHNV Dated January 5, 2024

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title:A comparative study of politeness expressions in Vietnamese and Chinese imperative sentences

8. Major: Vietnamese Studies Code: 8310630

9. Supervisors: Dr. Pham Thuy Chi, Faculty of Department of Linguistics, Vietnamese Language and Vietnamese Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis conducts a systematic comparative analysis of the means of expressing politeness in imperative sentences in Vietnamese and Chinese, focusing on two main linguistic devices: modal verbs and sentence-final particles. The research results show that in both languages, the use of these devices not only helps to soften the imperative tone but also contributes to maintaining harmony in communication, expressing respect and consideration between the speaker and the listener. Modal verbs such asmaybe,should,wantin Vietnamese and可以,应该/应当,要in Chinese play the role of softening imperative sentences, shifting them from direct commands to persuasive and polite suggestions or advice. Meanwhile, sentence-final particles such assir/ma'am,Okay,Goin Vietnamese and吧,啊,嘛in Chinese help regulate emotion, creating a tone that is intimate, natural, and consistent with the cultural norms of each nation.Through these analyses, the thesis points out that although Vietnamese and Chinese share certain similarities in their politeness mechanisms—both aim to protect “face” and maintain interpersonal harmony, they also possess distinctive cultural features. These differences reflect each nation's social concepts, behavioral patterns, and humanistic values, thereby shedding light on the close relationship between language and culture in contemporary Vietnamese–Chinese communication.

11. Thesis-related publications: None