INTRODUCTION
Rationale for the study
English has emerged as the global language of cooperation and development, facilitating communication and fostering connections among nations Its significance is particularly evident in areas such as commerce, trade, education, technology, and economics, playing a crucial role in Vietnam's integration into the global community Consequently, mastering English usage is essential for effective communication A solid understanding of English grammar is vital, as it enables individuals to convey their ideas, emotions, and feelings through coherent and meaningful sentences This emphasis on grammar underscores the importance of this topic for research and study.
The writer emphasizes the importance of studying conjunctions, as they are often overlooked in discussions about grammar, where focus typically lies on tenses, aspects, voices, and clause order Conjunctions serve as essential connectors and transition signals, linking sentences, paragraphs, and clauses together They are crucial for constructing a variety of grammatical sentence types, including compound and complex sentences.
The researcher’s strong interest in English commerce, particularly in newsletters, has motivated her to explore this topic Newsletters serve as a vital tool for companies to effectively promote their products.
Newsletters, often referred to as consultant letters, play a crucial role in fostering strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders, ultimately contributing to a business's success To effectively attract customers, these newsletters must exhibit logical coherence and persuasive elements, with conjunctions serving as vital tools for linking ideas Understanding the similarities and differences in conjunction usage between English and Vietnamese newsletters will significantly aid in teaching economic students at Hoa.
Lu University where the author is working.
Aims of the study
This research focuses on analyzing conjunctions in English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, highlighting their syntactic and semantic similarities and differences The study will conclude with practical implications for teaching, learning, and translation, serving as valuable resources To accomplish these objectives, the research will address specific questions related to the use of conjunctions in both languages.
1 How frequent are conjunctions in English and Vietnamese Newsletters?
2 What are the similarities and differences in conjunction usages in English and Vietnamese Newsletters?
Scope of the study
This article explores the various types of conjunctions and newsletters across different fields, focusing specifically on a minor M.A thesis The research narrows its scope to conduct a descriptive and contrastive analysis of conjunction usage in English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, emphasizing their syntactic and semantic characteristics.
Methods of the study
The study has been carried out based on a combination of different methods, among which the main method is contrastive analysis In fact, according to Carl
Contrastive Analysis (CA), as defined by James (1980), is a linguistic approach focused on comparing two languages, specifically using English as the target language and Vietnamese as the source language The study involves analyzing 40 marketing newsletters, comprising 20 in English and 20 in Vietnamese, to explore the syntactic and semantic features of conjunctions in both languages This method includes a two-step process: first, describing the conjunctions' characteristics, and second, identifying the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese Additionally, a quantitative method is employed to analyze the data on conjunction usage, complemented by techniques such as referencing publications, consulting with supervisors, discussing with colleagues, and making personal observations.
Design of the study
The study consists of three main parts organized as follows:
Part 1 entitles “INTRODUCTION” outlining the background of the study in which a brief account of relevant information such as rationale, aims, scope, methods, and designs of the study will be presented
Part 2, the “DEVELOPMENT” is subdivided into two chapters Chapter 1
Theoretical background explores key concepts regarding conjunctions in English and Vietnamese, alongside an overview of newsletters The writer references notable studies on conjunctions to support the thesis Chapter 2 delves into a contrastive analysis of conjunctions used in English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, examining their syntactic and semantic features to identify similarities and differences between the two languages.
In the conclusion of this study, we summarize the key findings while highlighting areas that require further exploration We also present suggestions for future research, emphasizing the implications for language teaching, learning, and translation This section aims to offer fresh insights into the significant role of linking devices in both English and Vietnamese.
DEVELOPMENT
In his 1996 book "Newsletters Design," Edward A Hamilton describes a newsletter as a versatile term referring to a concise periodical designed for sharing specialized editorial content.
"Condensed" refers to content that is more concise than typical newspaper or magazine articles while delivering a wealth of information in a limited space "Periodical" indicates that the publication is released on a regular schedule "Specialized" denotes a focus on a narrow topic within a broader field, such as real estate finance rather than general finance, or a specific organization instead of organizations as a whole.
In his article "Advantages and Disadvantages of Newsletters," published on September 18, 2008, Nadeem Hussain defines newsletters as a periodic advertising medium that serves as an effective marketing tool They deliver relevant and up-to-date information about an organization's products or services to existing clients and customers.
According to Chuck Green (2002), newsletters are an effective tool for maintaining visibility among clients, associates, and potential market targets Utilizing newsletters as a marketing strategy can offer numerous advantages for businesses.
In his book “Design it Yourself Newsletters” written by Chuck Green (2002), he describes three basic types of Newsletters or models of newsletters including
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
An overview of Newsletters
In his 1996 book "Newsletters Design," Edward A Hamilton describes a newsletter as a multifaceted term, defining it as a concise periodical that serves to convey specialized editorial information.
The term "condensed" refers to content that is more concise than typical newspaper or magazine articles, delivering a wealth of information in a limited space "Periodical" indicates that the publication is released on a regular schedule Additionally, "specialized" signifies a focus on a narrow subject area, such as real estate finance, rather than a broader topic like finance as a whole or general organizations.
In his article “Advantages and Disadvantages of Newsletters,” published on September 18, 2008, Nadeem Hussain defines newsletters as a periodic form of advertising He highlights that newsletters serve as an effective marketing tool, delivering relevant and updated information about an organization’s products or services to existing clients and customers.
According to Chuck Green (2002), newsletters are an effective tool for maintaining visibility among clients, associates, and potential market targets Utilizing newsletters as a marketing strategy can offer numerous advantages for businesses, enhancing their outreach and engagement with customers.
In his book “Design it Yourself Newsletters” written by Chuck Green (2002), he describes three basic types of Newsletters or models of newsletters including
Marketing Newsletters, Relationship Newsletters, and Expert Newsletters The author also shows that each type of newsletter has its own characteristics
Marketing newsletters, often referred to as company newsletters, are a popular tool used by businesses to promote their products or services These newsletters aim to convert potential customers into loyal patrons.
Relationship newsletters, such as club, employee, church, and school newsletters, are designed to strengthen connections by focusing on the shared interests of their target audience.
Expert newsletters are specialized publications that often require a subscription fee and cater to a niche audience These newsletters deliver in-depth information on specific topics, targeting individuals who have actively sought out this content and are willing to invest in high-quality insights.
In her article "Newsletters are Smart Marketing," published on August 12, 2010, Janice Byer highlights various formats for producing newsletters, including plain text emails, HTML emails, HTML web pages, PDFs, and print versions She emphasizes that for businesses, the most cost-effective and widely accepted formats are those mentioned Byer also points out that each newsletter format comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which are detailed in the accompanying table.
Easy to format Limited to text only
Easy for readers to open Cannot include graphics or fancy formatting Costs only your time
Visually appealing Restricted in size Costs only your time Can only be fully viewed while readers are online Allows for creativeness
Endless possibilities for design Takes time to design Room for lots of content & graphics Readers have to be online to view
Do not need to send as email attachment
Endless possibilities for design The larger the format, the longer to produce Room for lots of content & graphics Need to have the full version of
Adobe to produce or a PDF printer driver
Can send only a text email with a link to the page
Readers can save to their computer and read at their leisure
Print Costs only your time
Endless possibilities for design Costly to print and mail Room for lots of content & graphics
Choosing the right newsletter format depends on the user's goals, as highlighted by Janice Byer and Ladan Lashkari in their article "Newsletter Formats – How to easily choose the perfect format for your newsletters." They identify three primary formats: HTML, plain text, and PDF HTML is favored for its professional appearance and ease of creation, allowing for the effective use of graphics and text links to engage customers In contrast, plain text is the simplest format to produce but lacks professionalism due to its minimalistic nature PDF, while less commonly used, presents challenges in production as it requires initial creation in Microsoft Word followed by conversion with specialized software.
In comparison with English newsletters formats, the writer realizes that HTML and PDF are the widely used formats in Vietnamese newsletters
1.1.4 English and Vietnamese Marketing Newsletters
In today's competitive landscape, businesses face the significant challenge of attracting and retaining potential customers To address this, many companies, including those in English and Vietnamese markets, leverage marketing newsletters as a powerful tool to effectively promote their products and services.
A marketing newsletter, as described by Nadeem Hussain (2008), is a periodic advertising tool that informs and engages target audiences and customers It serves to notify, remind, advise, and communicate essential information about a business, effectively promoting its offerings.
In addition, it is also a good way to build an effective connection with clients Companies can motivate customers to buy their products through informative marketing newsletters
Many companies are utilizing both English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters to enhance their business promotion efforts Notably, English marketing newsletters tend to have longer content compared to their Vietnamese counterparts.
English and Vietnamese Conjunctions
Conjunctions, derived from the Latin words "oniunctio" or "coniunctions," meaning "to join together," play a crucial role in English grammar These words are primarily used to connect sentences and link elements within a sentence, facilitating coherent communication.
1999) According to him, we can always add one structure to another by joining two or more elements with a conjunction
Rodney Huddleston (1944) defines a conjunction as an uninflected word that connects clauses or sentences and coordinates words within the same clause Similarly, Ann Cole Brown (1987) describes a conjunction as a word that links individual words or groups of words Essentially, a conjunction signifies the act of joining or combining elements in language.
According to Richard Mallery (1967), a conjunction is defined as a word or pair of words that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences, illustrating the relationship between them While various grammarians offer different definitions, they consistently highlight the primary function of conjunctions in combining elements within sentences.
According to Chalker (1967), the word-class conjunction is a traditional one which can be divided into coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions connect grammatically equal elements, while subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to a main clause Conjunctions can be categorized into single words (such as because, however, and so), compound conjunctions (like as long as, so that, surprising that, and provided that), and correlative conjunctions (for example, both…and).
According to grammarians like Carol Ann Bergman, Ann Cole Brown, and Quirk and Greenbaum, English conjunctions can be categorized into three main types: coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and correlative conjunctions.
In "Grammar, Rhetoric, and Composition" (Mallery, 1967), conjunctions are categorized into three main types: coordinating, correlative, and subordinating While the definitions of correlative and subordinating conjunctions are presented alongside their respective lists of words, the focus is primarily on common correlatives such as "both and," "either or," "neither nor," and "not only but also."
… but also) the writer recommends others: though … yet, whether … or, so … as, if
According to Chalker (1967), conjunctions are categorized into coordinating and subordinating types Coordinating conjunctions, such as "and," "or," "but," "so," "yet," "for," "neither nor," "either or," "both and," and "not only but also," connect equal parts of a sentence In contrast, subordinating conjunctions link a modifying clause to a main clause, establishing a relationship between the two.
In summary, various perspectives exist regarding the types of conjunctions This article focuses on three key types: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions.
Definitions and functions of coordinators
According to Quirk (1973), coordinating conjunctions serve as explicit indicators of coordination, which is the process of joining units of equal status This involves linking units that are constituents of the same level Essentially, the conjoining of these equal status units requires a coordinator, a word that connects grammatically equal elements (Chalker, 1967).
In "A Reference English Grammar," R.A Close (1975) emphasizes the importance of coordinating conjunctions in linking separate parts of clauses He explains that subjects, objects, and other elements can be coordinated, allowing for the addition of multiple components However, this coordination can occasionally lead to ambiguous meanings Furthermore, coordinating conjunctions can connect more than two clauses, resulting in the formation of compound sentences.
In terms of function, Michael Swan (1995) states that the basic function of coordinators to join pairs of clauses that are grammatically independent from each other
According to Ann Cole Brown, coordinators serve three key functions in language Firstly, they connect various sentence elements such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases, each illustrating a unique relationship between the connected words Secondly, they link independent clauses, which are complete sentences that can stand alone Lastly, coordinating conjunctions help eliminate redundancy by combining separate items into a single sentence.
Quirk and GreenBaum in “A University Grammar of English” (1973) introduced six syntactic features of coordinators as follows:
Syntactic Features Characteristics Examples a Restricted to initial position
“and”, “or” and “but” are restricted to initial position in the clause:
John plays the guitar, and his sister plays the piano
*John plays the guitar; his sister and plays the piano b Coordinated clauses sequentially fixed
Clause beginning with a coordinator cannot be moved in front of the preceding clause without producing unacceptable sentences or at least changing the relationship of clauses
They are living in England or they spending a vacation here
*Or they are spending a vacation there, they are living in England c.Conjunctions preceding
The conjunctions "for" and "so that" should not have another conjunction placed before them Additionally, coordinators permit the omission of the subject in the clause they introduce, provided that the subject is co-referential with the subject of the preceding linked clause.
I may see you tomorrow or (I) may phone later in the day e Linking of subordinate clauses
“and” and “or” can link subordinate clauses
I wonder whether you should go and see her or whether it is better to write to her f Linking more than two clauses
“and” and “or” can link more than two clauses
John might take them by car, Mary might go with them by bus, or I might order a taxi for them
(Source: Quirk and GreenBaum in “A University Grammar of English” (1973))
Coordinators can be classified in various ways, with Collin Cobuild (1990) identifying the most common ones: and, nor, but, or, then, and for Oshima Alice and Hogue Ann refer to these coordinators, along with yet and so, as FANBOYS to aid learners in memorizing them more easily.
Grammarians have struggled to establish a consistent classification of coordinating conjunctions, leading to various interpretations To clarify this concept, Quirk's classification from 1973 is particularly useful, identifying the coordinating conjunctions: and, or, but, for, yet, and so, each serving distinct functions in sentence structure.
Coordinators Functions Examples and joins alike sentences The bride’s guests sit on the left, and the groom’s guests sit on the right but joins opposite or contrast sentences
Despite her parents' short stature, she stands tall This highlights the idea of choices, such as whether one prefers tea or coffee Additionally, it illustrates the use of conjunctions to connect clauses, where the second clause reflects the outcome of the first.
I had no car, so I hired one for the journey yet is quite similar to “but” for introduces a reason or a cause
The days were short, for it was now
Definitions and functions of subordinators
Mallery (1967) gives a clear definition about subordinating conjunctions that
“subordinators are words being used to indicate that one element is subordinated to another in a sentence.”
According to Quirk and Greenbaum in “A University Grammar of English”
Related studies
Various researchers have expressed differing opinions on conjunctions and newsletters, particularly in English and Vietnamese contexts This thesis is closely connected to several studies, including a graduation paper titled “A Contrastive Analysis of English Coordinators ‘and/or/but’.”
Vietnamese equivalents” Le Thi Bich (2000) merely contrasted the typical coordinating conjunctions “and/ or/ but” in English and Vietnamese equivalents
The study concludes that there are both similarities and differences in the use of conjunctions "and," "or," and "but" between English and their Vietnamese equivalents from semantic and syntactic perspectives In her 2002 graduation paper, Nguyen Thanh Huong provided a comprehensive overview of various English conjunctions and highlighted the challenges Vietnamese learners encounter in understanding and using them The paper also offers effective solutions to these difficulties, serving as a valuable resource for learners.
Summary
This chapter reviews the theoretical background of the study by elaborating on key terms, focusing on the relationship between English and Vietnamese conjunctions and marketing newsletters Marketing newsletters serve as an effective advertising tool to promote products and services, necessitating logic and coherence to attract customers Consequently, the strategic use of conjunctions in newsletters is essential to achieving their promotional goals.
CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF
Similarities
In both English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, conjunctions serve as essential linking devices that connect ideas and enhance coherence For instance, the Vietnamese brand Hapaco has established itself as a strong presence, becoming familiar not only in the domestic market but also internationally.
(Hapaco was one of the strong brands which have become familiar not only with the domestic market but also foreign markets.) (Hapaco Group’s Newsletter)
The company PAPCEL is a general supplier of machinery and engineering, including commissioning and guarantees tests (Technical Newsletter)
Conjunctions play a crucial role in creating logical and cohesive sentences, making them essential for engaging readers Without conjunctions like "both and," "and," or "not only but also," sentences may lack clarity and flow, leading to a diminished interest from clients and readers Therefore, the effective use of conjunctions is vital for enhancing the readability and appeal of written content.
In both English and Vietnamese, conjunctions serve as crucial transition signals that enhance the coherence of ideas and sentences within a paragraph For instance, the current IT product market is thriving, with a growing demand for affordable technology devices Consequently, there is a pressing need for a centralized hub that offers quality products at competitive prices to meet customer needs This necessity has led to the establishment of the "Wholesale IT Product Market."
The IT products market is currently thriving, driven by a growing demand for affordable information technology equipment To cater to this demand, it is essential to establish a centralized hub for distributing products at competitive prices This need has led to the creation of the "IT Product Market Hub."
(Lan Anh Computer Company’s Newsletter)
The conjunction "therefore" serves as a crucial transition signal in the paragraph, guiding readers through the writer's thoughts and reinforcing previously mentioned ideas By incorporating "therefore," the paragraph achieves greater logical flow and coherence, effectively capturing the attention of potential customers.
Both English and Vietnamese conjunctions can be classified into two main categories: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions, highlighting their similarities in structure and function.
Và, hoặc (hay), vì vậy, ngoài ra, hơn nữa, bên cạnh, tuy nhiên
And, or, but, so/hence, however/nevertheless, in other words, besides, moreover/ furthermore, then
Nếu (giá), hễ, dù/ mặc dù, tuy
… nhưng, bởi vì, không những
Although, though, even though, even if, so … that, such … that, so that, because, since, not only… but also, both … and
The use of conjunctions in English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters shows remarkable similarities, as they exhibit high flexibility in their positioning These conjunctions can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of sentences For instance, in Vietnamese: "Ngoài ra, Hồng Ngọc luôn sẵn sàng tư vấn, cung cấp thông tin về thiết kế, in ấn, giá cả các sản phẩm, dịch vụ một cách nhanh nhất để quý công ty dễ tham khảo, dễ chọn cho mình dịch vụ hoàn hảo nhất," which highlights the seamless integration of conjunctions in conveying comprehensive information efficiently.
Hong Ngoc is committed to offering prompt advice and information on design, printing, and pricing, ensuring that companies can easily select the ideal services tailored to their needs.
Sản phẩm in ấn đóng vai trò quan trọng trong việc quảng bá hình ảnh của doanh nghiệp trên thị trường Do đó, các ấn phẩm cần được thiết kế và in ấn một cách chuyên nghiệp, ấn tượng, từ khâu thiết kế cho đến hoàn thiện sản phẩm.
Printed materials serve as a vital representation of a business's image in the market, making it essential for publications to be professional and impressive throughout the entire process, from design to printing and final product.
(Thai Son Tien Phong Company Newsletter)
In addition, the operational cost of maintaining these servers was increasing due to power consumption
Increasing collaboration with suppliers and customers while enhancing profitability
(“The New Blue” Newsletter) However, conjunctions rarely appeared in the final position in both languages
All conjunctions in English and Vietnamese share the same literal meanings, making them equivalent in both languages For instance, English conjunctions such as "and," "or," and "but" correspond directly to "và," "hoặc," and "nhưng" in Vietnamese Similarly, phrases like "both … and" and "not only … but also" retain their meanings when translated into Vietnamese, demonstrating the semantic consistency between the two languages.
Conjunctions in both languages serve to convey various meanings, including alternatives, contrasts, reasons, concessions, purposes, and conditions For instance, conjunctions that indicate alternatives can be illustrated by the example: "For more information, please visit www.rmit.com.vn or www.facebook.com/RMIT."
(For more information, please visit our website at: www.rmit.com.vn or www.facebook.com/RMIT) (RMIT Newsletter)
If you have any questions or comments pertaining to the newsletter’s content, please call or email me directly at drooney@rooneylandscape.com or 847-577-0246
We appreciate your feedback and suggestions regarding the Excellerator Newsletter One notable aspect of Vietnamese cuisine is its elegant and sophisticated presentation, yet it remains accessible and simple, embodying a unique blend of luxury and homeliness.
(Things that you easily feel at Vietnamese Food are luxurious, polite, but very popular, simple.) (Vinalands Company’s Newsletter)
While piñatas are often seen as a children's entertainment activity, their history is rich and fascinating Similarly, companies like Toyota design impactful advertising programs to effectively connect their products and services with clients.
Thương hiệu Vina - Giầy đã trở thành một cái tên quen thuộc đối với người tiêu dùng Việt Nam, nhờ vào chất lượng sản phẩm vượt trội và mẫu mã đa dạng, tạo dựng được sự tin tưởng tuyệt đối từ đông đảo khách hàng.
Differences
While English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters share similar syntactic and semantic characteristics in their use of conjunctions, notable differences exist between the two languages.
One significant difference between English and Vietnamese is the use of conjunctions English often employs single conjunctions as linking words within sentences, whereas Vietnamese frequently uses pairs of subordinate conjunctions For instance, in Vietnamese, "nhưng" can combine with "tuy," "mặc dù," or "dù" to create pairs like "tuy … nhưng" or "mặc dù … nhưng." Additionally, "nếu" typically pairs with "thì" to form the double conjunction "nếu … thì." In contrast, English does not allow for such combinations, as seen with the conjunction "although."
Although it has only been present in the Vietnamese market for the past five years, it has quickly gained popularity.
Bourjois đã khẳng định được vị trí, trở thành một trong những thương hiệu mỹ phẩm nổi tiếng được ưa chuộng nhất hiện nay (Bourjois Company’s Newsletter)
Vietnamese speakers often use "tuy" in conjunction with "nhưng," but in English, this can be translated as: "Bourjois is expected to enter the Vietnamese market in the next five years; however, it has already established itself as one of the most popular cosmetic brands." Alternatively, it can be phrased as: "Though Bourjois is set to enter the Vietnamese market in the next five years, it has already secured its position as one of the leading cosmetic brands."
In Vietnamese, the conjunctions “nếu … thì” and “vì … nên” are commonly used, while their English equivalents “if … so” and “because/since … so” are not grammatically correct For example, in Vietnamese, one might say, “Nếu quý ông/bà có câu hỏi gì thì xin vui lòng liên hệ 0912 425 792 hoặc email thuytran@rmit.com.vn,” which translates to a polite invitation for inquiries.
(If you have questions, please contact us 0912 425 792 or email thuytran@rmit.com.vn) (RMIT Newsletter)
Chúng tôi cam kết mang đến sự hài lòng và chất lượng dịch vụ tốt nhất cho khách hàng bằng cách luôn lắng nghe và chia sẻ kinh nghiệm quý báu.
(Our company would like to bring the satisfaction and excellent quality to our customers, so we always listen and share the experience with them.)
(Anh Son Freight Services Newsletter)
The classifications of conjunctions reveal a key difference between English and Vietnamese In English, conjunctions are categorized into three main types: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative Subordinators are further divided into simple, compound, and correlative forms In contrast, Vietnamese conjunctions primarily consist of two types: coordinating and subordinating, with correlative conjunctions being a subset of subordinators.
In English, certain words serve dual roles as both conjunctions and prepositions, such as "since" and "for." This dual functionality can be illustrated through examples found in publications like the IBM Company’s Newsletter.
(1) We increased our brand value by 8% since 2010
Due to the limitations of the reporting service, which does not provide real-time updates and cannot impose additional burdens on the production database, the information available in the system is typically at least a week outdated.
The word "since" serves as both a preposition and a conjunction in English, a distinction not found in Vietnamese Additionally, while both "since" and "because" convey similar meanings, their sentence placements differ significantly; "because" can appear at the beginning or middle of a sentence, whereas "since" is required to be at the start.
Vietnamese conjunctions exhibit greater semantic flexibility compared to their English counterparts For example, English conjunctions like "moreover" and "furthermore" translate to "hơn nữa" or "vả lại" in Vietnamese, but can also be expressed as "hơn thế nữa" or "với lại." Similarly, English conjunctions such as "so," "hence," and "therefore" translate to "vì vậy" but can also take forms like "chính vì vậy" or "chính vì lẽ đó" in Vietnamese This variability in usage is less common in English, which tends to favor fixed conjunctions due to its emphasis on grammatical structure, whereas Vietnamese prioritizes semantic expression For instance, one might say, "Hơn thế nữa, công ty chúng tôi có quy trình sản xuất khép kín và hiện đại có xuất xứ từ Nhật Bản."
(Moreover, our company has closed manufacturing process and modern originating from Japan.) (Thai Son Tien Phong Company’s Newsletter)
In English, conjunctions play a crucial role in conveying positive or negative meanings, allowing readers to infer their functions and nuances Positive conjunctions like "and," "in addition," and "what's more" enhance the meaning of sentences, while negative conjunctions such as "neither nor" and "nor" indicate a lack of inclusion or contrast.
In English, conjunctions clearly indicate whether sentences convey positive or negative meanings, making it easy for readers to understand In contrast, Vietnamese relies more on the context of the joined clauses, as the conjunctions alone do not provide a clear indication of the semantic relationships between them.
One more different thing worthily noted is that in Vietnamese, coordinators
In English, the conjunctions "and" and "or" carry multiple meanings, unlike their Vietnamese counterparts "và" (and) and "hoặc" (or), which are typically used in a singular context For instance, the word "or" can imply not just an alternative but also a consequence, as illustrated in the phrase, "Hurry up or you will not buy our products," from the Michelin Company Newsletter.
And coordinator “and” in the sentence “The staff in our company can consult with customers hours and hours to build a close relationship.” (Givenchy Company Newsletter) means “increasingly”
Frequency of using some conjunctions in English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters
As shown in Tables 2.3 and 2.4, there are some conjunctions whose frequency is totally different For example, the frequency of “or” (hoặc) in
Vietnamese newsletters utilize conjunctions differently compared to their English counterparts For instance, the conjunction "or" makes up 13.5% of total conjunctions in English newsletters, while it only accounts for 6.4% in Vietnamese newsletters Similarly, the conjunction "but" appears in 4.3% of English newsletters, whereas its Vietnamese equivalent "nhưng" represents 7.9%.
Summary
This chapter compares conjunctions in English and Vietnamese, analyzing their frequency in marketing newsletters The author conducts a contrastive analysis to identify the syntactic and semantic similarities and differences between the two languages These findings provide valuable insights that can inform EFL teaching, learning, and translation practices.
CONCLUSION
Recapitulation
After much exploration and consideration, this thesis has come to these following points
In both English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, the frequency of conjunctions is comparable The conjunction "and" is the most commonly used in English marketing communications.
“or”, “but”, the Vietnamese equivalents most in use are “và, hoặc, nhưng”
This article analyzes the similarities and differences in conjunction usage within English and Vietnamese newsletters By examining the frequency of conjunctions in marketing newsletter samples from both languages, the author provides a concise contrastive analysis that highlights the syntactic and semantic features of conjunctions in English and Vietnamese.
As regards syntactic features, we see the following similarities: (i) both
Conjunctions in English and Vietnamese serve as essential linking devices that connect ideas and sentences, ensuring logical coherence within paragraphs Both languages feature coordinators and subordinators, which function similarly in facilitating transitions Additionally, conjunctions can be positioned flexibly, appearing at the beginning, middle, or end of sentences in both languages.
English newsletter writers tend to use a single conjunction as a linking word in sentences, unlike their Vietnamese counterparts, who often employ two Additionally, English features three types of conjunctions—coordinators, subordinators, and correlatives—while Vietnamese primarily has two Furthermore, some words in English, such as "since" and "for," serve the dual purpose of functioning as both conjunctions and prepositions.
The comparison of semantic features between English and Vietnamese reveals notable similarities: both languages share conjunctions with identical literal meanings, utilize conjunctions to convey various meanings such as reason, concession, and purpose, and feature multiple conjunctions that represent the same semantic relationships, such as "though," "although," and "even though," which express concessive relations Additionally, the structure used to express cause-effect relationships and concessive relations is similar in both languages.
Nevertheless, both languages appear to be different to a larger extent: (i)
Vietnamese conjunction meanings tend to be more flexible than those in English
(ii) In English there exist conjunctions expressing positive or negative meanings while this phenomenon seems to be not clear in Vietnamese (iii) conjunctions
“và”, “ hoặc” in Vietnamese are used with only one meaning whereas conjunctions
“and”, “or” in English possess other different senses
Despite the significant differences between English and Vietnamese, both languages recognize the crucial role of conjunctions in achieving cohesion within sentences and paragraphs This study aims to provide valuable insights for Economics students and English lecturers at Hoa Lu University, serving as an essential resource for effectively teaching and learning conjunctions.
Implications
2.1 Implications for EFL teaching and learning
Learning conjunctions can be challenging for Vietnamese students due to the significant differences between English and Vietnamese Many learners struggle with identifying, understanding, and using conjunctions correctly, often resulting in sentences that contain multiple conjunctions used incorrectly.
Arrogance can lead to isolation, as seen in the saying, "His arrogance results in a lack of friends." Conversely, happiness can thrive even in difficult circumstances, illustrated by, "Despite their poverty, they are very happy." Therefore, it is essential for educators to employ effective strategies when teaching English conjunctions to motivate students and enhance their learning experience.
Teachers must highlight key transitions to help students identify and comprehend the semantic relationships between sentences and paragraphs, which are often indicated by conjunctions Understanding the function of conjunctions is crucial for learners to enhance their reading and writing skills.
To enhance students' understanding of conjunctions, teachers should categorize them into three types: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions Providing clear explanations for each type is essential to avoid confusion Additionally, incorporating relevant examples is crucial, as highlighted by Zamel (1983), who emphasizes that using sentence combining and longer discourse units can effectively demonstrate the linking words and the relationships they convey.
Many grammar books emphasize the intra-sentential use of conjunctions, overlooking their inter-sentential application To enhance students' understanding, teachers should incorporate more exercises focused on inter-sentential conjunctions Additionally, it's essential for educators to create diverse practice activities that help learners achieve proficiency in using English conjunctions effectively.
English learners should explore the use of conjunctions in authentic materials to enhance their understanding and application Recognizing the linguistic functions of conjunctions is essential for effective learning, and consistent practice is key to improvement Our study highlights marketing newsletters as an excellent resource for students majoring in Economics, providing practical examples of conjunction usage.
Translation involves converting text or speech from a source language to a target language while maintaining equivalence To ensure accurate translations, translators must consider the grammatical rules, writing conventions, and conjunctions of both languages A significant challenge lies in understanding the meanings of conjunctions, as while their syntactic features can be learned, mastering their semantic nuances proves more difficult.
Interpreters and learners of English and Vietnamese should focus on the use of the conjunction pairs “Tuy/mặc dù…nhưng…” and “bởi vì…nên….” These conjunctions are commonly found in Vietnamese sentences, but their English equivalents, such as "Although … but/ though … but" and "because … so," do not exist in the same form Understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication between the two languages.
Translators must carefully analyze the connotative meanings of conjunctions and explore alternative translation methods Understanding the cultural nuances between English and Vietnamese can provide valuable insights for translating implied conjunctions For instance, while the coordinator "but" is less commonly used in English, the Vietnamese "nhưng" is prevalent This conjunction often connects two sentences where one carries a denotative meaning and the other a connotative meaning, as seen in the sentence: “Anh Phong thông minh nhưng anh Hoàng đẹp trai.” In this case, translating "nhưng" directly poses challenges due to its nuanced implications.
The conjunction "but" fails to capture the full connotative meaning of the comparison between intelligence and appearance It suggests two implicit comparisons: "Phong is smarter than Hoang" and "Hoang is more handsome than Phong." Nguyễn Lai (2006) argues that merely viewing conjunctions as grammatical tools overlooks their significant role in conveying meaning and facilitating effective communication Understanding conjunctions requires recognizing their contribution to the nuances of expression.
Therefore, in this case, if we translate “nhưng” into “but”, this leaves a tough but interesting task for translators to explore the way of describing the hidden meaning in Vietnamese
Contributions of the study
This study makes three significant contributions to the research on conjunctions in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Firstly, it expands on previous studies, particularly addressing the limited research involving Vietnamese learners Secondly, it offers the first contrastive analysis of the syntactic and semantic features of English and Vietnamese conjunctions, revealing their similarities and differences within Marketing Newsletters, which aids students majoring in Economic Studies in understanding conjunction usage in both languages Lastly, the study presents valuable implications for teaching, learning, and translating conjunctions, providing a general framework that is especially beneficial for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners.
Limitations of the study
This study is limited to a contrastive analysis of syntactic and semantic features of conjunctions in English and Vietnamese, leaving several important aspects unexplored Due to time constraints and the requirements of a minor M.A research project, the researcher was unable to delve into additional features of conjunctions, which would have benefited teachers and learners of English by providing a more comprehensive understanding of their usages.
The study's limitations include a limited selection of English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters, which may not encompass all conjunction types, potentially overlooking additional similarities and differences in conjunction usage between the two languages Furthermore, the research solely examines conjunctions, neglecting other aspects such as newsletter formatting Lastly, the author's limited knowledge and experience may result in some errors and shortcomings in the thesis.
Suggestions for further research
This research presents a comprehensive analysis of conjunctions in both English and Vietnamese, focusing on their syntactic and semantic features to highlight similarities and differences This foundational study aims to inspire further linguistic research on conjunctions, expanding beyond the initial findings discussed.
- Studying on the significance of conjunctions as a cohesive device in teaching writing
- Conducting a corpus-based investigation of conjunctive usages in the Vietnamese students’ writing
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ENGLISH CONJUNCTIONS IN ENGLISH MARKETING NEWSLETTERS
N0 English Newsletters No of words No of conjunctions
Table 2.1: English conjunctions in English marketing newsletters
VIETNAMESE CONJUNCTIONS IN VIETNAMESE MARKETING NEWSLETTERS
N0 Vietnamese Newsletters No of words
1 Thai Son Tien Phong Company’s
12 Trung Thuc Trade and Services
13 Sac Mau Printing and Advertising
17 Anh Son Freight Services Newsletter 588 31 5.2%
18 Khang Nghi Package Printing Limited
19 Trung Chinh Audio Devices Limited
Table 2.2: Vietnamese conjunctions in Vietnamese marketing newsletters
ENGLISH CONJUNCTIONS IN ENGLISH MARKETING NEWSLETTERS
N0 English conjunctions No of conjunctions Percentage (%)
Table 2.3: English conjunctions in English marketing newsletters