Congratulatory Responses among Vietnamese and American People: A Contrastive Study

This study compares strategies employed by Vietnamese and American speakers in responding to congratulations, focusing on how power dynamics, social relationships, and cultural norms influence these responses. By examining these cultural differences, the research aims to shed light on how communicative behavior varies in different societal contexts. The research employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses to explore strategy use. We gathered data using a Discourse Completion Task (DCT) given to 78 Vietnamese and 78 American participants. The DCT included three situational scenarios, each designed to reflect varying power dynamics and social contexts. Findings indicate that while both cultures exhibit a preference for acceptance strategies with Appreciation tokens, there are notable differences in the specific tactics employed. Vietnamese speakers, influenced by collectivist values, often use a variety of strategies such as Offering wish, Suggestion, and Promise in their responses. In contrast, American speakers are more likely to express personal feelings and gratitude directly. The study finds that power dynamics, in relation to social distance, significantly shape response patterns, with Vietnamese speakers showing more formal, hierarchical responses and American speakers engaging in more egalitarian exchanges. The data coding followed Herbert’s taxonomy, with modifications made to account for the cultural differences observed. The findings highlight the impact of cultural values in shaping communicative behavior and contribute to the broader field of cross-cultural pragmatics.