A Cross-Cultural Analysis of the Speech Act of Congratulation in Vietnamese and American Contexts

This study investigates the cross-cultural pragmatics of congratulatory speech acts by comparing Vietnamese and American speakers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates both quantitative and qualitative analyses to examine strategy usage and formulation. Data were collected through a Discourse Completion Task (DCT) administered to 78 Vietnamese and 78 American participants. The DCT presented three situational scenarios reflecting varying power dynamics. Findings indicate that while both groups primarily employ Illocutionary Force Indicating Devices, cultural variations shape secondary strategies. Vietnamese speakers favor Offering good wishes and Suggestion to Celebrate, reflecting their collectivist cultural values, while American speakers frequently use Expression of Positive emotions and Expression of Personal happiness, in line with individualistic communication norms. Power dynamics influence strategy selection, with lower-power individuals favoring direct strategies to enhance social rapport. Vietnamese participants uniquely suggest that the congratulated individual host a celebration, while Americans maintain consistent emotional expressiveness across hierarchical contexts. Data coding followed Elwood’s (2004) taxonomy, with adaptations to reflect context-specific findings. This study contributes to the field of intercultural pragmatics by demonstrating how sociocultural factors and power dynamics shape congratulatory expressions. The results have implications for cross-cultural communication, language education, and professional intercultural interactions.