TTLV: A comparative study of politeness expressions in Vietnamese and Chinese imperative sentences

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

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

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

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 190/QD-XHNV dated January 5, 2024 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic: Comparative study of politeness expressions in Vietnamese and Chinese imperative sentences

8. Major: Vietnamese Studies; Code: 8310630

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

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis has systematically compared and analyzed the politeness expressions in imperative sentences in Vietnamese and Chinese, focusing on two main linguistic means: modal verbs and final modal particles. The research results show that, in both languages, the use of these means not only helps to reduce the nuance of command but also contributes to maintaining harmony in communication, showing respect and care between the speaker and the listener. Modal verbs such asmaybe,should,wantand可以,应该/应当,要all play the role of softening imperative sentences, shifting from direct commands to persuasive and polite advice and suggestions. Meanwhile, particles likeyes,okay,Goand吧,啊,嘛helps regulate emotions, creating intimate, natural nuances and suitable to the cultural standards of each nation. Through these analyses, the thesis has shown that: although Vietnamese and Chinese have similarities in politeness mechanisms - both aiming at protecting "face" and maintaining harmonious relationships, they still have their own characteristics associated with the culture of each country. These differences reflect the social concepts, behaviors and unique human values ​​of the two nations, contributing to clarifying the relationship between language and culture in current 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 asyes,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, thus shedding light on the close relationship between language and culture in contemporary Vietnamese–Chinese communication.

11. Thesis-related publications: None