INTRODUCTION
Rationale
The rising concern over plastic straws has sparked significant discussion, as this everyday item contributes to the alarming statistic that approximately 91% of plastic is not recycled, leading to its accumulation in landfills and oceans With an average person using 1.6 straws daily, around 8.5 billion plastic straws are discarded each year, exacerbating the 150 million tons of plastic already present in marine environments In response, various municipalities and corporations are taking steps to reduce plastic straw usage, while numerous media outlets are raising public awareness through reports, documentaries, and discussions The effectiveness of these news reports hinges on their ability to convey the importance of the issue and engage viewers, ultimately driving the movement towards a more sustainable future.
Appraisal Theory, developed by linguists James Martin and Peter White in the 1980s and 1990s, posits that our emotional responses are derived from our evaluations of events This theory suggests that an individual's appraisal of a situation triggers an emotional reaction, which is influenced by that assessment According to Martin and White (2005), Appraisal Theory provides a framework for analyzing how language is utilized to express evaluations, adopt stances, create textual personas, and manage interpersonal relationships Consequently, it serves as a valuable tool for examining attitude expressions and interpersonal meanings across various discourse types, including literature, advertisements, speeches, news articles, and academic texts.
There have been some studies carried out, employing the Appraisal Theory as a theoretical framework In respect of English literary works, Liu
In recent years, several studies have explored the application of Appraisal Theory in various contexts A 2013 case study examined the use of evaluative language in high-rated versus low-rated English argumentative essays by EFL students at two Chinese universities Hadidi and Mohammadbagheri-Parvin (2015) conducted an attitudinal analysis of F Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." Xiaolin Liu (2010) implemented Appraisal Theory in the teaching process to enhance English learning outcomes Vo Duy Duc (2011) investigated journalistic voices in English-Vietnamese hard news reports through the lens of Appraisal Theory Furthermore, Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (2016) researched social attitudes reflected in news reports regarding President Obama's visit, highlighting the relevance of Appraisal Theory in understanding societal perspectives in media.
Appraisal Theory has been widely applied across various genres, highlighting its importance in understanding evaluative language However, a gap exists in the contrastive study of attitudinal resources in English and Vietnamese news reports regarding plastic straws This lack of research motivates me to explore the attitudinal aspects of news reports on plastic straws, forming the basis of my thesis.
“A Contrastive Study of Attitudinal resources in English and Vietnamese News
Aim and objectives
This study investigates the attitudinal resources utilized in English and Vietnamese news reports regarding plastic straws, aiming to identify the similarities and differences in how authors from both languages express their perspectives on this issue.
For the aforementioned aim to be fulfilled, the research concentrated on the following objectives:
- To identify the Attitudinal resources in English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws and their occurrence to reveal the choice of language of evaluation in the reports;
- To discuss the similarities and discrepancies regarding the Attitudinal resource in English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws.
Research questions
The study addresses itself to answering the two following questions:
1 Which Attitudinal resources are used and how often are they used in English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws?
2 What are the similarities and differences of the Attitudinal resources in English news reports and those in Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws?
Scope of the study
Though the Appraisal Theory is composed of three domains, precisely
This study explores the Attitudinal resources of Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, highlighting their importance in understanding attitudes related to engagement and graduation The research utilizes a dataset comprising 10 news reports authored by English writers and another 10 by Vietnamese authors, all focused on plastic straws and sourced from reputable websites.
Significance of the study
This study aims to enhance the understanding of attitudinal values through both theoretical and practical lenses, emphasizing the importance of Appraisal Theory as a framework for analyzing evaluative language By exploring the characteristics of attitudinal values in English and Vietnamese news reports, the research provides valuable insights for readers interested in evaluative language Furthermore, it offers practical implications for Vietnamese teachers and English learners, helping them improve their speaking skills in both classroom settings and everyday communication.
Organization of the study
This study consists of five main chapters, as follows:
Chapter 1, Introduction, introduces the rationale, the aim and objectives
5 of the study, research questions, the scope of the study, the significance of the study and organization of the study
Chapter 2, the Literature Review, explores Appraisal Theory, highlighting its key sub-systems: Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation, with a particular focus on Attitudinal aspects Additionally, it provides a succinct overview of previous research relevant to the topics being examined.
Chapter 3, Research Methodology, discusses research methods of research, comprising data collection, data analysis, the reliability and validity of the research
Chapter 4, Findings and Discussion, presents a comprehensive analysis of the study's findings regarding attitudinal resources in news reports about plastic straws This section highlights the frequency of these attitudinal resources and explores the similarities and differences among three sub-types of attitude, providing valuable insights into public perception and media representation of plastic straw issues.
English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws are revealed and discussed
Chapter 5 provides a succinct summary of the research findings, highlights implications for English teaching and learning, and addresses the limitations of the study Furthermore, it offers recommendations for future research endeavors.
This chapter outlines the foundational elements of the thesis, beginning with the rationale and detailing the study's aims, objectives, research questions, scope, significance, and organization Essentially, Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the subsequent chapters, establishing a clear research framework for the study.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Appraisal Theory
2.1.1 An overview of Appraisal Theory
Appraisal Theory was put forward by a group of researchers led by Professor James Martin of the Linguistics Department at University of Sydney in the 1900s (Ruo-mei, 2016)
J.R Martin & David Rose (2003) indicate that Appraisal is a system of interpersonal meanings We use the resources of Appraisal for negotiating our social relationships, by telling our listeners or readers how we feel about things and people
Appraisal Theory, as outlined by Martin & White (2005), is a distinct framework for analyzing language that focuses on evaluating attitudes, judgments, and opinions This theory examines how speakers and writers convey their perspectives to engage with audiences, fostering connections with those who share similar experiences while distancing themselves from differing viewpoints.
Appraisal Theory, as highlighted by Martin (2000), examines how speakers and writers convey their attitudes, judgments, and emotional responses in texts, whether explicitly or implicitly This theory analyzes discourse resources to negotiate social relationships, allowing communicators to express their feelings about relevant individuals or subjects effectively.
Appraisal Theory provides a framework for evaluating various entities, including people, events, and processes, through the strategic use of language Its primary purpose is to enable writers and speakers to express positive or negative assessments of the subjects addressed in their texts (Martin & White, 2005).
According to Martin & David Rose (2004), appraisal serves as a framework for interpersonal meaning, allowing individuals to express their attitudes and sentiments about people and things This system is essential for managing social relationships, as it helps keep listeners or readers informed about our perspectives.
Appraisal Theory, as described by Richards & Schmidt (2010, p 30), is an evolving concept in discourse and conversation analysis that focuses on how attitudes are expressed This theory encompasses various aspects, including certainty, emotional responses, social evaluations, and intensity Appraisal can be conveyed through specific lexical items or entire clauses, highlighting the nuanced ways in which individuals communicate their feelings and judgments.
Appraisal Theory can be considered “a framework for investigating the mechanisms language employs in the evaluation and adaptation of stances adopted by discourse producers” (Hadidi & Mohammadbagheri-Parvin, 2015, p 131)
Martin & White (2005, p 34-35) introduce the outline of Appraisal framework which is divided into three groups of evaluation resources, namely
Engagement, Gradation, and Attitude are key components of appraisal systems Attitude focuses on our emotions, behavioral judgments, and evaluations, while Engagement explores the sourcing of attitudes and the dynamics of opinions in discourse Gradation addresses the amplification of feelings and the blurring of categories An overview of these appraisal systems is illustrated in Figure 2.1 below.
Figure 2 1 An overview of Appraisal resources
Engagement, as defined by Martin & White (2005), involves the linguistic tools that speakers or writers use to express their stance regarding the value positions referenced in a text and towards their audience This concept is divided into two sub-types: Monogloss and others, highlighting the different ways in which engagement can be articulated.
Heterogloss While Monogloss relates to factual information (single voice), Hetergloss gets involved in multiple voices which consist of Contract and
In discussions about contracts, speakers often share their personal opinions alongside the perspectives of others Conversely, when expanding on a topic, a speaker introduces a current proposition that represents just one of many possible viewpoints, fostering an inclusive dialogue This approach not only invites diverse opinions but also encourages further participation in the conversation The contracting process encompasses elements such as disclaimers, which involve denying or countering opposing views.
Proclaim (Concur, Pronounce, and Endorse), Expand consists of Entertain
(internal voice of speaker) and Attribute (external sources)
Graduation is defined as the one that “attends to grading phenomena whereby feelings are amplified and categories blurred” (Martin & White,
2005, p 35) It is divided into two categories, namely Force and Focus
According to Martin & White (2005), Force encompasses evaluations of both intensity and quantity, manifesting as Intensification and Quantification Intensification specifically measures the degree of intensity by scaling qualities or processes, achieved through methods such as Isolating (up-scaling or down-scaling), Infusing, and Repetition.
In linguistic analysis, force values are typically gradable, but this is not the case with Focus Focus pertains to class membership, indicating the strength or weakness of that membership The two key components of Focus are Sharpening, which up-scales the membership, and Softening, which down-scales it.
It is irrefutable that a thorough analysis may be obtained by utilizing
While Engagement and Graduation are useful for identifying evaluation sources and their intensity, they do not significantly contribute to the objectives of this study and are therefore not analyzed further.
Among the three types of Appraisal system, Attitude is considered to be analyzed due to its significance to the study As a result, subtypes of Attitude
10 work as a framework to uncover evaluative language in English and Vietnamese news reports towards plastic straws Therefore, a detailed description of Attitudinal resources is presented in the following section
Attitude is one of the three sub-systems of the Appraisal Theory
Attitude, as defined by Martin & White (2005, p 35), encompasses our emotional responses, behavioral judgments, and evaluations of various subjects Essentially, it serves as a tool for speakers and writers to convey their perspectives, express both positive and negative feelings towards individuals, and assess different entities.
The Appraisal sub-system of Attitude encompasses three key semantic areas: emotion, ethics, and aesthetics These areas are expressed through various grammatical structures, primarily utilizing adjectives to convey meaning effectively.
According to White (2015a, p 2), attitude is a sub-system of evaluative meaning that influences how individuals perceive and respond to experiential phenomena or related propositions, guiding them toward a positive or negative viewpoint.
Attitude is itself classified into three territories of feeling, namely
Affect , Judgment and Appreciation, as presented in the following Figure 2.2
(Liu, 2013, p 42, based on Martin & White, 2005)
Figure 2 2 Sub-systems of Attitude
(Liu, 2013, p 42, based on Martin & White, 2005)
Application of Appraisal Theory in discourse analysis
In the light of Appraisal Theory, a productive theoretical framework, a lot of scientific investigations have been conducted in different discourses like English literary works, news discourse, academic and narrative discourse
By drawing Appraisal Theory as an analytical framework, Painter
In 2003, a study investigated the evolution of children's resources for expressing emotional and moral evaluations, focusing on the interaction between implicit and explicit attitudinal expressions in mother-child conversations The research highlighted the significance of Attitude in overall language development, concluding that expressions of Affect are gradable, even in their early, pre-lexical stages, and that Affect can be differentiated into more formalized, institutionalized forms.
Judgment and Appreciation may involve semiotic moves that encourage reflective awareness of the meaning system itself
In 2010, Xiaolin Liu explored the application of Appraisal Theory to enhance the analysis and teaching of college English reading, aiming to address existing challenges in English reading instruction in China The findings revealed that integrating Appraisal Theory significantly improves students' reading comprehension, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of reading materials through Appraisal analysis.
Appraisal Theory serves as a valuable strategy for enhancing critical thinking skills among students By incorporating Appraisal Theory, Chinese English teachers can gain a fresh perspective on teaching reading in English, ultimately improving their instructional methods.
A study by Xinghua Liu and Thompson (2009) examined the attitude choices of a Chinese undergraduate when writing essays in English and Chinese The findings revealed that the Chinese essay contained fewer affect and judgment items, indicating a tendency to avoid direct ethical or moral evaluations and the expression of personal emotions This approach, aimed at face-saving and self-protection, reflects a Chinese linguistic and rhetorical practice that prioritizes social harmony.
Xinghua Liu (2013) advanced Appraisal Theory through a case study examining evaluative language in high- and low-rated English argumentative essays by two Chinese university EFL students The findings revealed that the high-rated essay effectively utilized appraisal values to enhance the author's voice and engage readers This study emphasizes the importance of focusing on interpersonal aspects in the teaching of EFL/ESL writing.
21 proposes the necessity of explaining EFL/ESL students‟ use of evaluative language from both linguistic and socio-cultural perspectives
Hadidi & Mohammadbagheri-Parvin (2015) conducted an attitudinal analysis of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," utilizing a discursive, linguistic, and stylistic approach through the lens of the Appraisal framework, specifically focusing on Attitude Their findings revealed a systematic distribution of attitudinal resources, categorized in the order of Appreciation, Judgment, and Affect Additionally, the study highlighted how Attitude is stylistically reflective of character and context within the narrative, enhancing the overall understanding of the novel's themes and dynamics.
Pascual & Unger (2010) conducted research on Appraisal in research genres, revealing that most proposals exhibit high levels of Heteroglossia The study found that Engagement resources are predominantly used, indicating that authors prefer to invite rather than challenge their colleagues' perspectives This approach suggests an intention to engage with a diverse audience.
In her 2016 study, Li utilized the Appraisal Theory to examine various English song discourses, focusing on the characteristics of Attitudinal resources within the language The analysis aimed to uncover the emotional expressions of the authors and highlight the importance of attitude in fostering interpersonal connections between the authors and their readers.
Vo Duy Duc (2011) analyzed the stylistic, structural, and ideological differences between English and Vietnamese business news reporting This comparison utilized a specific framework to highlight the unique characteristics of each language's approach to business communication.
Appraisal Theory developed by Martin and White (2005) as an analytical tool
The study dealt with investigating whether the business hard news reporting
A study comparing English and Vietnamese business texts revealed that both languages share a similar structural framework and utilize a comparable reporter voice However, significant differences were observed in how key social groups are represented, highlighting the distinct ideologies inherent in each language.
Additionally, Appraisal Theory was also applied to examine the social attitudes in news reports towards an important event Nguyen Thi Thu Hien
(2016) carried out a research to uncover the social attitudes in news reports towards President Obama‟s visit to Vietnam The research claimed that
Appraisal Theory serves as an effective tool for analyzing Vietnamese language discourse, uncovering various facets of sentiment, including appraisers, appraisal objects, and inherent biases The analysis reveals that appraisers exhibit differing attitudes toward five appraisal objects, predominantly reflecting positive emotions and judgments Furthermore, the appraisers focus more on expressing their own feelings regarding entities related to Obama's visit rather than commenting on individual behaviors The findings indicate a tendency among appraisers to adopt a cautious stance, often refraining from voicing their opinions.
Numerous master's theses have explored attitudinal resources through the lens of Appraisal Theory, utilizing a diverse range of discourses These studies include analyses of English advertising slogans (Nguyen Thi Minh Ngan, 2017), judges' comments (Nguyen Thanh Tri, 2018; Le Huu Loc, 2019), product advertisements (Pham Thi Thuy Ngoc, 2017), love song lyrics (Nguyen Thi Ngan, 2018), and film reviews (Vo Thuy Trieu, 2019; Phan Thi Thanh Hoa, 2017).
From the previous studies, it can be seen that there has been a wide
The application of Appraisal Theory in research is extensive, yet its use to analyze Attitudinal resources in English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws remains rare This study aims to utilize news reports to reveal distinct forms of evaluative language related to this topic.
Chapter 2 provides a comprehensive overview of Appraisal Theory, which serves as the foundational theoretical framework for this study It explores three key groups of evaluative resources: Engagement, Attitude, and Gradation.
However, since the research concentrates on appraisers‟ attitude, only Attitude was analyzed in this study A detailed description of the three sub-types:
Affect, Judgment and Appreciation is also provided Moreover, a brief review of the previous studies applying Appraisal Theory is presented to point out the gap for research
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques The qualitative analysis focused on examining and describing attitudinal resources found in news reports in both English and Vietnamese Subsequently, the quantitative approach assessed the frequency of occurrences of Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, along with their sub-types in these reports This quantitative analysis was crucial in revealing the prevalence of attitudinal resources within the news coverage.
The analytical and synthetic techniques were effectively combined for the analysis process The analytical approach helped identify and isolate specific aspects for focus, while the synthetic approach emphasized the interdependence of these fundamental components.
To effectively achieve the study's objectives, a combination of methods was employed, including descriptive, inductive, comparative, and contrast techniques The descriptive method provided a clear analysis of Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, while the inductive approach facilitated the synthesis of findings and conclusions Additionally, comparative and contrast methods highlighted the similarities and differences in Attitudinal resources within English and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws.
Data Collection
Ten English and ten Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws were
A total of 25 reports were gathered from various online national newspapers, including Thanhnien, Tuoitre, Vietnamnet, TuanVietnam, and Vnexpress, as well as international sources such as National Geographic, The Guardian, Global News, and Reuters The length of these reports varied between 799 and 1815 words, providing a rich basis for analyzing evaluative language These reports adhered to specific standards of lexical meaning and grammatical structures, enhancing their overall effectiveness in communication.
English news reports on plastic straws were listed as follows
1 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/banning-plastic-straws-will-not- be enough-fight-clean-oceans
2 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/25/plastic-straw-ban- california-people-with-disabilities
3 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/19/trump-plastic-straws
4 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/style/plastic-straw-alternatives
5 https://www.nps.gov/articles/straw-free
6 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-starbucks-straws/starbucks-to-phase- out-plastic-straws-as-opposition-to-them-grows
7.https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/22/opinions/plastic-straws-ban-opinion
8 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/plastic-straws-clog-ocean-hurt- fish-now-there-s-growing
9 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/plastic-straws-are-little- but-they-are-part-of-a-huge-problem
10 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-canada-plastics/plastic- straws-and-bags-no-more-canada-aims-to-clean-up-its-act
The following websites were about Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws
1 https://vnexpress.net/khong-dung-ly-ong-hut-nhua-y-nghia-hay-chay-theo- phong-trao
2 https://phapluat.tuoitrethudo.com.vn/ong-hut-giay-tot-hon-ong-hut-nhua- nhung-co-thuc-su-vi-moi-truong
3 https://tuoitre.vn/ong-hut-co-tui-giay-co-bao-ve-moi-truong-nhieu-nhu- ban-nghi
4 https://tuoitre.vn/31-quan-ca-phe-o-da-nang-noi-khong-voi-do-nhua
5 http://khampha.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/ong-hut-nhua-co-phai-la-ke-thu- that-su-cua-hanh-tinh-nay
6 https://baodautu.vn/nestle-milo-ra-mat-ong-hut-giay-cho-san-pham-milo- bua-sang-khuyen-khich-thoi-quen-tieu-dung-xanh
7 https://tuoitre.vn/ong-hut-nhua-ke-giet-nguoi-tham-lang
8 https://tuoitre.vn/trao-luu-khong-dung-ong-hut-nhua-cua-gioi-tre-viet
9 https://www.nhandan.com.vn/baothoinay/baothoinay- xahoi/item/42696602-xu-huong-tieu-dung-xanh
10 https://baobihuuco.com/tai-sao-ong-hut-nhua-dang-dan-bi-cam-tren-the-gioi
Data Analysis
The study employed the Attitude system from Appraisal Theory as its theoretical framework for data analysis, manually encoding data from E1 to E321 for English news reports and V1 to V317 for Vietnamese news reports The analysis focused on Attitudinal resources, including Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, alongside their sub-categories, across twenty news reports Quantitative methods were applied to determine the frequency of these resources and to analyze the evaluative language used, ultimately revealing the similarities and differences in Attitudinal resources between English and Vietnamese news reports.
Research procedures
There were specific steps followed by the author, presented as follows:
This article involves the collection of ten English and ten Vietnamese news reports focused on plastic straws from various national and international online newspapers The gathered reports are categorized into two distinct groups: English news reports on plastic straws and Vietnamese news reports on plastic straws, highlighting the global discourse surrounding this environmental issue.
- encoding EPSNRs from E1 to E321 and VPSNRs from V1 to V317;
- analyzing the Attitudinal resources in the corpus of VPSNRs andEPSNRs;
- giving out the frequencies / percentage of occurrence of the resources;
- carrying out a contrastive analysis to uncover the similarities and differences in terms of the language of evaluation in both languages;
- evaluating and discussing the comparison results to indicate research findings;
- putting forwards implications for teaching and learning English;
Reliability and validity in the research
The reliability was secured because Appraisal Theory by Martin and
This study is grounded in the framework established by White (2005) and utilizes data sourced from reputable and verified websites, including Thanhnien, Tuoitre, Vietnamnet, TuanVietnam, Vnexpress, National Geographic, The Guardian, Global News, and Reuters.
The data used in this research demonstrated its validity by meeting essential standard criteria, ensuring its originality as it had not been previously employed in any studies related to Attitudinal resources.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
The overall usage of the Attitude resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs 28 4.2 Affect resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
The investigation into the 20 news reports grouped into the two corpora
Attitudinal resources are utilized in both English and Vietnamese Personal Narrative Reports (EPSNRs and VPSNRs), as indicated by the findings An overview of the distribution of Attitudinal values in these reports is presented in Table 4.1.
Table 4 1 Attitude sub-types in EPSNRs and VPSNRs Sub-categories of
As can be seen in Table 4.1, the findings reveal that there are totally
The study reveals a total of 321 attitudinal values in EPSNRs and 317 in VPSNRs, highlighting the presence of all three subtypes of Attitude: Affect, Judgement, and Appreciation Notably, Appreciation emerges as the most frequently utilized subtype within this genre across both languages.
Both English and Vietnamese writers show a strong preference for Appreciation resources, with rates of 42.7% and 57.7% respectively, indicating a focus on evaluating the use and properties of plastic straws English writers exhibit a greater emphasis on Judgment, reflected in rates of 29% in English Plastic Straw Narrative Resources (EPSNRs) compared to 17.1% in Vietnamese Plastic Straw Narrative Resources (VPSNRs) Additionally, the instances of Affect in EPSNRs are slightly higher than those in VPSNRs.
Affect employed in EPSNRs is 28.3 % while that in VPSNRs is 25.2% The following are examples of the three Attitudinal resources including Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation found in English and Vietnamese
Both English and Vietnamese data reveal a notable similarity in how emotional expressions related to straws are conveyed by individuals and companies, as clearly demonstrated in [V294].
Trong chuyến công tác tại Đà Nẵng, tôi đã ghé thăm một quán cà phê trên đường Ông Ích Khiêm và ấn tượng nhất với việc quán sử dụng ống hút tre.
It can be seen that ấn tượng nhất in [V294] is utilized to express the writer‟s support towards bamboo straws
Both English and Vietnamese writers utilize Judgment to highlight the efforts made in the fight against plastic straws, as illustrated in examples [E297] and [V252].
[E297] More and more restaurants are trying [+Judg-Cap] to stop using plastic straws
Nhiều doanh nghiệp đang tích cực đầu tư vào nghiên cứu để phát triển sản phẩm ống hút thân thiện với môi trường, nhằm tạo ra thương hiệu xanh và thúc đẩy sự phát triển bền vững.
It can be seen that the word trying is applied to indicate the attempts of the restaurants to give up plastic straws Besides, via the phrase nỗ lực, the
30 made to introduce environmentally friendly straws to meet the social demand
The analysis of EPSNRs and VPSNRs reveals significant similarities that highlight the challenges faced by both consumers and entrepreneurs in addressing the issues related to plastic straws, as evidenced in sources [E200], [E205], and [V295].
[E200] Even for those consumers who recycle plastic items, a straw is so small [-App-Val]
[E205] So it’s really challenging [-App-Comp] in our existing sortation system to be able to sort it out
[V295] Mấy trăm triệu cái ống hút này được sản xuất bằng nhựa hỗn tạp, kích thước nhỏ [-App-Val]
In the examples [E200] and [V295], the size of the straws is identified as a significant issue, highlighted by the terms "small" and "nhỏ." Additionally, the challenges mentioned in [E205] emphasize the obstacles that straws create for the sortation system.
To sum up, English and Vietnamese writers are most likely to apply
The analysis reveals that both groups of writers assess various phenomena in their reports, but notable differences arise in their use of Affect and Judgment Specifically, Judgment appears nearly twice as often in EPSNRs compared to VPSNRs, while Vietnamese writers show a preference for using Affect over Judgment The subsequent sections will provide a more detailed examination of the frequency of these sub-types in EPSNRs and VPSNRs.
4.2 Affect resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
4.2.1 Sub-types of Affect resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Martin & White (2005, pp 48-51) states that Affect is classified into four sub-types including Un/Happiness, Dis/Inclination, In/Security, and
The In/Security variable reflects our emotional states of peace and anxiety concerning our relationships with others Meanwhile, Dis/Satisfaction addresses our feelings of achievement and frustration related to our involvement in various activities, encompassing our roles as both participants and spectators.
Dis/Inclination is concerned with how the speaker is inclined or disinclined to something Figure 4.1 below serves to present the distribution of the Affect values in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Figure 4 1 Sub-types of Affect resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
From Figure 4.1, there is a similarity in employing four sub-types of
Affect between English and Vietnamese writers It is clear that Dis/Inclination is the most widely used Affect resources which is favored by English and
Vietnamese writers dominate the statistics, comprising 68.1% in EPSNRs and 52.5% in VPSNRs In second place, In/Security accounts for 16.5% in EPSNRs with 15 instances and 31.3% in VPSNRs with 25 cases Dis/Satisfaction ranks third in both categories, representing 12.1% in EPSNRs and 11.2% in VPSNRs, with a similar number of occurrences.
Un/Happiness is the least common among the four sub-categories of Affect, with only 3 out of 91 instances in EPSNRs and 4 out of 80 instances in
Dis/Inclination Un/Happiness In/Security Dis/Satisfaction
VPSNRs reflect a significant focus among both English and Vietnamese writers on public attitudes towards the social issue of plastic straws These writers tend to steer clear of expressing emotions such as happiness or sadness in their articles Examples of affective resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs illustrate this trend.
[E31] The biggest force to get companies to shift their offerings, many advocates agree [+Aff-Sat], could come from individuals who cut their use of disposable plastics
Tôi không đồng tình với phong trào chống ống hút nhựa, vì đây là một xu hướng học đòi từ phương Tây Thay vào đó, chúng ta nên tiếp tục sử dụng túi nilon và cốc nhựa dùng một lần.
Data from English and Vietnamese sources reveal a similarity in the use of Affect resources regarding individual feelings towards plastic straws For instance, the term "agree" in [E31] reflects the support from advocates who believe societal change can lead companies to cease providing plastic straws Conversely, the phrase "phản đối" in [V9] denotes opposition to the anti-plastic straw movement Although these viewpoints are contradictory, both "agree" and "phản đối" are verbs, indicating that writers in both English and Vietnamese contexts tend to utilize verbs to convey Affect values.
The following instances can be considered the situations in which English writers use verbs to reflect Affect values, thereby expressing the emotions of the society towards plastic straws
[E140] as you start committing [+Aff-Sec] to reducing your use of single plastics
[E237] Activists believe [+Aff-Inc] the anti-straw push can advance more rapidly
[E118] with some customers complaining [-Aff-Sat] about paper straws [E151] What consumers can do is screaming [-Aff-Hap] about plastic straws
Judgement resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Judgment, as described by Martin & White (2005), pertains to our attitudes towards behaviors we either admire or criticize It involves evaluating actions based on normative principles, allowing us to assess human behavior in both positive and negative terms This evaluative process is essential for understanding individuals' acts and dispositions.
Judgment is divided into two broad categories, namely Social Esteem and Social Sanction
4.3.1 Social Esteem and Social Sanction
Social Esteem evaluates individuals' behavior based on social ethics and standards of appropriateness, serving as a semantic system that reflects emotional responses and reactions It plays a crucial role in how people perceive and judge conduct within a societal context.
In oral cultures, social norms are enforced through various forms of communication such as chat, gossip, jokes, and stories, with humor playing a critical role (Eggins & Slade, 1997) In contrast, Social Sanction, as defined by Martin & White (2005), is often formalized in written documents like edicts, decrees, and laws, which outline expected behaviors and impose penalties for non-compliance This system evaluates individuals' conduct based on established legal or religious standards.
The use of Judgment in EPSNRs and VPSNRs is presented in Figure 4.3
Figure 4 3 Social Esteem and Social Sanction in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
As indicated in Figure 4.3, both Social Esteem and Social Sanction resources can be found in the two corpora It is apparent that the proportion of
Social Esteem is much higher than Social Sanction in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
In EPSNRs, Social Esteem appears 68 times, representing 73.1% of the total, while Social Sanction is noted 25 times out of the 68 instances of Judgment resources This indicates that Social Esteem is twice as prevalent as Social Sanction.
Sanction with 36 instances and 18 instances respectively Social Esteem
EPSNRs and VPSNRs can be demonstrated more clearly in the following
[E295] you can try reusable straws made of bamboo, metal and glass
It can be seen that can in [E295] is applied to show the consumers‟ capability to replace detrimental straws with better alternatives such as bamboo, metal and glass straws
Both EPSNRs and VPSNRs also see the occurrence of Social Sanction, which can be made clearer in [E297]
[E297] To be honest as a dad, it’s tough to try to explain plastic straws problem to my kids
To be honest in [E297] expresses the honesty of the speaker who feels it is hard to reveal the real information about plastic straws to his children
The evaluation of judgment resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs focuses on five specific sub-types: Normality, Capacity, Tenacity, Veracity, and Propriety.
The specific distribution of the Social Esteem and Social Sanction is indicated in Table 4.3
Table 4 3 Sub-types of Judgment resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Table 4.3 reveals a noticeable variation in the distribution of five specific sub-types of Judgment values, with Capacity leading the way, accounting for 39 instances.
43 accounting for 41.9% It is followed by Tenacity (23.7%) and Propriety
The analysis reveals that Tenacity leads with 24.2% (13 instances), followed closely by Capacity at 22.2% (12 instances) Both Normality and Propriety each represent 20.3% with 11 instances, while Veracity accounts for the lowest proportion at 5.4% with 7 instances Normality and Veracity share the remaining percentages of 7.5% and 5.4%, respectively, indicating a notable similarity among some sub-types in VPSNRs.
Both English and Vietnamese writers exhibit a shared perspective on the concept of normality, particularly regarding the prevalence of plastic straw usage among consumers and businesses, as illustrated in sources [E85] and [V169].
[E85] Trump was oddly reasonable [-Judg-Nor] about plastic straws
[V169] Ai cũng muốn mình dẫn đầu xu thế, hoặc ít nhất là không bị lỗi thời
[+Judg-Nor] khi mọi người xung quanh ai cũng hưởng ứng phong trào
The use of the word "oddly" in [E85] highlights a paradox where the current President of the United States expresses interest in plastic straws, seemingly taking pleasure in something harmful Conversely, the phrase "không bị lỗi thời" in [V169] reflects the public's desire to align with the growing social trend against plastic straws.
Capacity is also found in both English and Vietnamese data to show what can be done in the struggle against plastic straws Take the following instances as examples
[E174] we can [+Judg-Cap] reduce our consumption in half or more
[V163] Người người nhà nhà cùng nhau [+Judg-Cap] tham gia phong trào tẩy chay để trả lại môi trường trong sạch cho hành tinh
The term "can" in [E174] highlights the individual efforts each person can make to reduce plastic straw usage Furthermore, "cùng nhau" in [V163] underscores the strength of collective action, encouraging all members of society to unite in the fight against plastic straws.
In terms of Tenacity, both English and Vietnamese writers tend to apply the Judgment resource in their writing, which can be illustrated in [E317] and [V270]
[E317] Also, federal and provincial authorities will [+Judg-Ten] work together
Chúng tôi tại V270 sẽ không ngừng nghiên cứu và phát triển những sáng kiến mới trong lĩnh vực MILO và sữa, theo chia sẻ của ông Ali Abbas, Giám đốc ngành hàng này tại Công ty Nestlé Việt Nam.
Both English and Vietnamese writers frequently utilize modulations of inclination, such as "will" and "sẽ," to express the determination of authorities and the public in the effort to eliminate plastic straws and seek more environmentally friendly products.
Veracity can be found in English and Vietnamese data, which is exemplified in [E135] and [V307]
Tôi cố gắng không sử dụng quá một ống hút mỗi ngày để giảm thiểu ô nhiễm môi trường Lối sống này, dù có phần cổ điển, thật sự rất văn minh và thể hiện ý thức bảo vệ môi trường.
Both Vietnamese and English writers employ elements of veracity in their work For instance, the term "honestly" in [E135] assesses an individual's honesty while highlighting consumers' genuine efforts to avoid plastic straws In contrast, the Vietnamese phrase "quả thật" suggests that traditional lifestyles can be perceived as modern, as they have not harmed the environment.
Propriety is evident in both EPSNRs and VPSNRs through the modulation of obligations, as illustrated by the example: "We should take steps to reduce our consumption of plastic straws." This highlights the importance of responsible behavior in addressing environmental concerns.
Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Appreciation, as defined by Martin and White (2005, p 36), is the final attitudinal resource that evaluates the value of various entities, including natural phenomena and semiosis, whether as products or processes It involves assessing artifacts, events, and states of affairs based on aesthetics and other social valuation systems.
4.4.1 Sub-types of Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Martin & White (2005) affirms Appreciation is composed of three sub-
50 types: Reaction (emotional impact of something on the reader or listener),
Composition (the texture of something) and Valuation (social value of something) Figure 4.5 gives the distribution of Appreciation types in
Figure 4 5 Sub-types of Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
The analysis presented in Figure 4.5 reveals that three types of Appreciation are utilized in both EPSNRs and VPSNRs Valuation is the most prevalent, accounting for 64.2% in EPSNRs and a significant 90.1% in VPSNRs Following Valuation, Reaction holds the second position with 19.7% in EPSNRs and 6.6% in VPSNRs Lastly, Composition is the least represented Appreciation value, comprising 16.1% in EPSNRs and only 3.3% in VPSNRs.
Reaction Appreciation is found in both English and Vietnamese data, which can be seen in [V41] and [E2]
[V41] Ước tính có khoảng 5 triệu chiếc ống hút nhựa bị vứt bỏ mỗi ngày tại
Mỹ Con số trở nên khủng khiếp [-App-Reac] hơn khi nhân với số quốc gia sử dụng ống hút nhựa trên toàn cầu
[E2] Straw bans alone - which have been criticized [-App-Reac] for not truly reducing waste - will barely dent the flood of plastic spewing into the
The reactions to the plastic straws issue vary significantly between the two languages In one language, the term "khủng khiếp" conveys a strong negative sentiment from the public regarding the use of plastic straws, highlighting their concerns about the detrimental effects of these products in everyday life Conversely, the use of the word "criticized" reflects skepticism towards straw bans, suggesting that such measures are insufficient as a standalone solution for waste reduction, merely serving to manage the quantity of plastic straws entering the environment.
In addition, Composition appears in both EPSNRs and VPSNRs to show the difficulty consumers as well as companies encounter in making efforts to give up using plastic straws
Replacing traditional materials poses significant challenges for businesses While bamboo straws are lightweight, compact, convenient, and cost-effective, they present cleaning difficulties due to the potential presence of harmful pathogens from the ground where they are sourced.
The adjective "difficult" highlights the challenges businesses encounter when attempting to replace plastic straws with alternatives While some substitutes for plastic straws exist, they come with potential risks, as indicated by the term "khó khăn." Notably, bamboo straws, despite their benefits, present drawbacks, particularly concerning the cleaning process.
Valuation considered the most common Appreciation value is used to show characteristics of plastic straws as well as their alternatives
In English, there are some cases in which English writers apply adjectives to express properties of both plastic and straw alternatives
[E162] Plastic straws are bad [-App-Val]
[E202] It’s really small [-App-Val]
[E116] But straw alternatives are not perfect [-App-Val]
The adjectives "bad" and "small" highlight the drawbacks of plastic straws, while the term "perfect" is employed negatively to illustrate the shortcomings of alternative straw options.
It is clear that Valuation Appreciation is also deployed in Vietnamese data, which can be shown in the following examples
[V180] tiếp đó, ống hút nhựa là sản phẩm tiện dụng[+App-Val] được dùng hàng triệu lần mỗi ngày
[V205] những chiếc ống hút nhựa được tạo ra với chi phí siêu thấp [+App-Val]
It is apparent that tiện dụng in [V180] and siêu thấp in [V205] are applied to express advantages of plastic straws which help them become more and more popular
4.4.2 Positive and Negative Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Appreciation can manifest as either positive or negative evaluations, allowing writers in different languages to assess objects accordingly The distribution of Positive and Negative Appreciation is illustrated in Figure 4.6 for EPSNRs and VPSNRs.
Figure 4 6 Positive and Negative Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Both Vietnamese and English writers exhibit similar linguistic characteristics, as shown in Figure 4.6 They tend to utilize Positive Appreciation more frequently than Negative Appreciation in their reports Specifically, the percentage of Positive values in Vietnamese Professional Scientific Narrative Reports (VPSNRs) is greater than that in English Professional Scientific Narrative Reports (EPSNRs), with figures of 57.4%.
54% respectively However, EPSNRs possess a larger number of Negative Appreciation resources with 46% than EPSNRs making up 43%
The following examples show the use of Negative and Positive Appreciation in English data
While plastic straws are often criticized for their environmental impact, it's important to consider that larger plastic items, such as plates and wrappers, contribute significantly to pollution as well.
[E120] Replacing them was difficult [-App+Comp] from a business standpoint
The adjective "interesting" in [E87] reflects a positive perspective on plastic straws, highlighting an optimistic viewpoint endorsed by the current president of the United States Conversely, the term "difficult" in [E120] underscores the challenges businesses face when transitioning away from plastic straws.
In Vietnamese data, Negative and Positive Appreciation resources are also deployed, which can be seen in [V153] [V306] and [V307]
Nhiều cửa hàng mong muốn chuyển đổi sang việc không sử dụng đồ nhựa dùng một lần, nhưng gặp phải nhiều khó khăn trong quá trình thực hiện.
[V306] [V307] Lối sống không dùng ống hút nhựa tuy xưa [-App+Val] nhưng quả thật rất văn minh [+App+Val]
It is obvious that khó khăn in [V153] is employed to express the hardship some food stalls face in the process of replacing plastic straws with
The terms "xưa" and "văn minh" are positively employed to describe a lifestyle that, while appearing traditional, embodies a civilized approach to modern living This is evident as individuals consciously choose to forgo plastic straws in their daily routines, prioritizing both environmental sustainability and personal health.
4.4.3 Explicit and Implicit Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs
Evaluating inanimate objects, much like assessing human behavior, can be done either explicitly or implicitly In the context of Appreciation, both explicit and implicit values are present in EPSNRs and VPSNRs The accompanying table illustrates the distribution of these explicit and implicit Appreciations across both languages.
Table 4 5 Explicit and Implicit Appreciation resources in EPSNRs and VPSNRs Types of Appreciation
As presented in Table 4.5, both English and Vietnamese writers are prone to apply more Explicit Appreciation than Implicit ones in their reports
In EPSNRs, explicit resources dominate with 120 instances, representing 87.6%, while implicit values are significantly lower at just 17 instances, or 12.4% Similarly, in VPSNRs, explicit evaluations are prevalent, with 167 instances making up 91.3%, compared to only 16 instances of implicit appreciation values, which account for 8.7%.
The following examples of Explicit Appreciation serve to illustrate the findings
Bans on plastic straws may appear straightforward, yet they highlight the widespread use of these convenient products, which are utilized millions of times daily.
It is noticeable that both Vietnamese writers and English writers apply