TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC THƯƠNG MẠI KHOA TIẾNG ANH ---o0o--- NGHIÊN CỨU KHOA HỌC CẤP TRƯỜNG AN ANALYSIS ON THE INFLUENCE OF VIETNAMESE STYLE ON WRITING ENGLISH BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE SITUATION AND SOLUTIONS (PHÂN TÍCH ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA NGÔN NGỮ TIẾNG VIỆT KHI VIẾT THƯ TÍN THƯƠNG MẠI BẰNG TIẾNG ANH – THỰC TRẠNG VÀ GIẢI PHÁP) Người thực hiện: ThS. Phạm Thị Xuân Hà Đơn vị: BM Thực hành tiếng – Khoa tiếng Anh Hà Nội, tháng 3, 2017 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements. 5 2 LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS. Aims of the study.
The research questions of the study. Scope of the study. Significance of the study. Methods of the study.
Design of the study. 11 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW. The importance of business letters in doing business. Definition of a business letter.
Kinds of business letters. Quotations and offers. Features of a goof business letter .5 The factors influencing translation process .1 Influence of the mother tongue .2 Words and choices of word meanings .5 Characteristic of language .6 Common errors in Vietnamese-English translation .4 Data collect instruments .1 The test papers analysis and statistic. 32 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Some difficulties and common mistakes in using correct grammar. Power of lexis and Terminology. Mistakes and difficulties in set expression and using words. Mistakes and difficulties in using words.
Difficulties in conveying the original writing styles. Causes of business-letter writing problems. Causes of grammar errors related to verb tenses. Causes of errors on word choices.
52 PART C: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Using correct language. Solution to conveying the original writing styles. 64 Acknowledgements 5 The research paper named “An Analysis on the Influence of Vietnamese Style on Writing English Business Correspondence – Situation and Solutions” is the biggest scientific research I have ever carried out since I have been a lecturer teaching business English in English faculty.
In order to finish it, beside my own efforts, I have received a lot of help, guidance and encouragement from my colleagues and my students. First, I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues in Faculty of English for their valuable suggestions and advice and encouragement during the development of my research. Besides, I also would like to thank all of my students in Business English 1. Without their supports, it is impossible for me to finish this research.
LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS 6 Table 1: Difficult items in transferring business correspondence from Vietnamese 32 into English Table 2: Some economic terms and explanations 40 Table 3: Some business versions and equivalent translations 54 Chart 1: Difficulty levels of using grammar in writing business correspondence 33 Chart 2: Levels of difficulty in using Lexis 37 Chart 3: Levels of difficulty in using Terminology 38 Chart 4: Difficulty of using expression set and word use 41 Chart 5: Difficult levels of conveying original styles 46 PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale Due to the greatly political and economic development in the world, the commercial relations among different nations have significantly increased and English is considered as an international language. Especially, in Vietnam, our country has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), many investors intend to invest into our potential 7 country, and thus the transactions are made in the international language. It is very necessary to know a constituent part of business communication because more and more agreements or contracts are made in English.
English is used in the global business for transactions in goods and services, technical specifications, financial reports and other purposes among native-speakers and non- native-speakers throughout the world. The business transactions are developing quickly linking with the growth of the economy of the country in which the international cooperation is very important. Business letters written in English are viewed as a form of business communication and contribute to the success of the company. Although the communication technology has been widely developed in the modern society, business letters are used as a main channel of business correspondence.
Nevertheless, writing a business letter in English well is not easy. Realizing the importance of business letters and the difficulties writers usually meet, I have decided to choose business letters whose title is “An analysis on the influence of Vietnamese style on writing English business correspondence – Situation and Solutions”. When doing my research, I would try my best to recommend suggestions for students in order that they would be able to write an effective business letter at work. Aims of the study The main aims of the study are as follows: - To point out some difficulties in writing business correspondence - To figure out the similarities and differences between Vietnamese style and English style when transferring the commercial correspondence from one language to another - To make the matter of business letters less complicated and upgrade the style of English business letters for the learners.
- To give some implications for learning and teaching business letters. The research questions of the study In order to achieve the aforementioned aims, the study is intended to find out the answer to four following research questions: 1. What are the influences of mother tongue on the writing of business correspondence? 2. What are common errors on word choices and writing styles which English majors often make in the process of transferring Vietnamese texts into English? 3.
Which causes lead to the mistakes? 4. What should be done to avoid the errors in order to make Vietnamese-English business correspondence be smoother and more fluent? 4. Scope of the study There are large numbers of letters written in business, we cannot include all in this study, but only 5 kinds of business letters are mentioned in this research paper: - Letters of sales - Letters of inquiry - Letters of order - Letters of complaints - Letters of adjustment As clearly stated above, the focus of the study works towards the influence of Vietnamese style on writing business correspondence in English. Significance of the study The thesis will help the students recognize the similarities and differences between Vietnamese and English and the notice when writing business correspondence, identify the influence and common errors on transferring Vietnamese texts into English.
The study will be a useful reference with the solutions suggested which help the students be able to self-correct their common mistakes and find out their own effective ways in leaning in order to improve their writing skill. Furthermore, it helps the students not only improve their language learning in general but also have a great advantage for their future ideal job. Methods of the study In the completion of the study, a variety of methods has been adopted, among which the main methods are qualitative and quantitative. The researcher reviews the theoretical publications relating to the area of study, and collect business letters from business- English classes in Thuongmai university.
Then, the collected letters are analyzed and investigated to get statistics to find out how Vietnamese style has specific impact on English language during the time students acquire this language for specific purpose. Design of the study The study comprises of three main parts: Part A – INTRODUCTION specifies the background of the study which covers a wide range of information such as rationale, aims, research questions, scope, methods, and design of the study. Part B – DEVELOPMENT is broken into three chapters Chapter 1: Theoretical background Chapter 2: The research method of the study Chapter 3: The findings and discussion of the study Part C - CONCLUSION summarizes the main issues of the study, accompanied by limitations and suggestions for further study. Additionally, some possible implications for language teaching, learning and translations are explored when the subject “Business Correspondence” is taught in classroom.
10 PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1. The importance of business letters in doing business Mill (1993, p.1) states that business letters are little ambassadors that go through every corner of the present day commercial world. They constitute the biggest source of active liaison that is necessary for producing business. In the very strict commercial world that often called “battle field” businesspeople must use many remedies to win the results while dealing.
The remedies may vary due to the fields, the situations, and even the persons who apply them. They may be difficult or easy, take long or short time, require training process or not, and be expensive or cheap. There is a very effective way used by 11 most companies and firms and can never be replaced, that is writing letter. Realistically, the dollars spent to compose and put a letter in the mail is fewer than any others are, so does the time.
On the contrary, it brings bigger consideration fruits. So what a business letter can do is to sell the goods, create new customers, bring back the lost ones, bring good sales representatives, give an incentive to the dealers, bring back confidence among suppliers, instill confidence of buyers, collect bad debts, settle disputes, bring more finance, open new markets, save time, dates with VIP, build a favorable image for companies, and build the nation. It is right to say that the success of any modern business, largely, depends on the proper use of business letters. Definition of a business letter No one can deny the fact that business letters are becoming more and more important in commercial world.
Therefore, many economists, specialists in trade field have studied hard so that they can provide readers all over the world with the background of business letters as well as the ways to write them best. In The Language of Business Correspondence in English, Nguyen Trong Dan (1997, p.9) said, “The business letter is the principal means used by a business firm to keep in touch with customers; very often it is the only one and customers form their impression of the firm from the tone and quality of the letters it sends out”. Business letters may be addressed to a specific individual, but it is likely that many people within the company and possible outside the company will read the letter. Business letters are written on standard – size paper with a matching envelope, they are typed or printed, and formatted and folded in a convenient way.
Most importantly, the content of a business letter is not about personal matters. It conveys an important, necessary exchange of information between people in business. Kinds of business letters 1. Inquiries If your job is a businessperson, request letters are always necessary because of your need for information or special favors, services or products.
You write an inquiry since you need to get information of prices or technical data; to receive printed matter (such as 12 booklets, catalogues etc.) or sample products; to order merchandise; to make reservations at hotel, restaurants, theaters and so on. Your inquiries should be specific, brief and reasonable and provide complete, accurate information so that your requests can be acted promptly. Quotations and offers a. Quotations After receiving enquiries for prices, you usually send quotations in which there is an expression of thank for the enquiry; details of prices, discounts and terms of payment; a statement of clear indication of what the prices cover (e.); an undertaking as to date of delivery; the period for which the quotation is valid; an expression of hope that the quotation will be accepted.
Offers An offer tells your customer whether you can provide the goods or services he has asked about. It should convey the name of the goods, quality and specification, price, packing and marking, delivery time, items of payment. Orders When you accept a quotation or an order, you need to make orders. The orders must be complete and accurate in information as incomplete orders can lead to delayed deliveries, and inaccurate facts can result in the wrong delivery from the seller.