i VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
***
TRẦN THỊ THANH HUYỀN A STUDY ON ENGLISH – VIETNAMESE CROSS-
CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN TABLE SEATING
ARRANGEMENTS
(NGHIÊN CỨU GIAO TIẾP GIAO VĂN HÓA ANH –
VIỆT TRONG CÁC CÁCH SẮP XẾP CHỖ NGỒI)
Minor thesis

Field: English Linguistics
Code: 60 22 15

Code: 60 22 15
Supervisor: Prof. Nguyễn Quang, Ph.D. HANOI - 2010
vii

Table of contents
CERTIFICATE OF the ORIGINALITY OF STUDY PROJECT REPORT iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
Abstract v
Lists of tables and figures vi
Table of contents vii
Part i: introduction 1
1. Rationale 1
2. Aims of the study 2
3. Scope of the study 2
4. Methodology 3
5. Description of the questionnaire 3
6. Description of the informants 4
7. Design of the study 5
Part II: Development 6
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKROUND 6
1.1. What communication? 6
1.2. What non-verbal communication? 8
1.3. What table seating arrangement? 8
CHAPTER 2: SEATING ARRANGEMENT AS NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION10
vi

Lists of tables and figures
Figure 1 – Nguyen Quang’s diagram of communication components (2008) 7
Figure 2 – Square table 11
Figure 3 – Round table 13
Figure 4 – Positioning at a rectangular table 15
Figure 5 – Seating positions 17
Table 1-1: Use of table shapes in the office in Vietnam and English-speaking countries 30
Table 2-1: Use of seating positions in different settings 31
Table 2-2: Use of seating positions in different situations by Vietnamese informants 34
Table 2-3: Use of seating positions in different situations by Anglophone informants 35
Table 3-1: Frequency of seating arrangements used in class in Vietnam 37
Table 3-2: Frequency of seating arrangements used in class in English-speaking countries 38 1

Part i: introduction
1. Rationale
Language is the basic form of communication between human beings and in a society.
As it is the basic form, it is also the most developed. We cannot communicate in any real sense
without language, other than through gestures. However, we do communicate through some
non-verbal forms called non-verbal communication including gestures, postures, facial
expressions, touching behavior, etc. Non-verbal communication occupies up to 90 percent of
our message and therefore plays an important role in our life. But it is observed that there are
non-verbal differences across cultures that may be the source of confusion for foreigners.
Thus, it is essential that the study of non-verbal communication be paid more attention to.

3. Scope of the study
In this study, three basic types of table shapes which are square, round and rectangular
are mentioned, but the survey will be narrowed down to table shapes in the office setting only.
Four kinds of seating positions including corner, cooperative, competitive-defensive
and independent are identified in this study. As the findings will be limited if attention is paid
only to academic and office settings, public setting is thus included in this part.
Seating arrangements vary greatly in the classroom. That is the reason why the author
only focuses on the statistics of how teachers seat their students and tables in learning
environment.
As age and gender of the informants do not contribute significantly in the data
analysis, the author decides to ignore them and focuses only on the informants‟ nationality and
occupation.
3

4. Methodology
In order to achieve the aims set above, the major method to be employed is
quantitative. In addition, contrastive analysis is also used. All the considerations, comments
and conclusions in the thesis are largely based on the following methods:
 Reference to publications
 Survey questionnaires
 Statistics, descriptions and analysis of data
 Consultations with supervisor
 Personal observations
 Discussions with Vietnamese and foreign colleagues
5. Description of the questionnaire
The survey questionnaire consists of 4 questions in which the informants are requested
to tick (√) to the table shapes, seating positions and seating arrangements they think
appropriate. The 4 questions cover three aspects of the study: question 1 - table shapes,
questions 2 and 3 - seating positions and question 4 - seating arrangements. The questionnaire
has two versions, one in English for the English native informants and the other in Vietnamese

5

group is English native speakers who are living and working in Vietnam as well as some
English-speaking countries such as the US, Australia, England and Canada. 50 questionnaires
are delivered to them directly or via e-mails, and then 50 completed ones are received.
Only teachers, students and staff officers are chosen as informants because the study
mostly confines itself to academic and office settings.
7. Design of the study
This study consists of three main parts:
PART I: INTRODUCTION
All the academic routines required for an M.A thesis are presented.
PART II: DEVELOPMENT
This is the focus of the study and is composed of three chapters.
Chapter 1: Theoretical background
Chapter 2: Seating arrangement as non-verbal communication
Chapter 3: Findings and discussion
PART III: CONCLUSION

6

Part II: Development
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKROUND
1.1. What communication?
There have been a great number of studies on communication in which scholars hold
different points of view. They have given various conceptualisations of this term. The
definitions therefore have different emphases and factors.
With emphasis on both the speaker and the hearer, Alder & Rodman (1998) believe
that „communication refers to the process of man being responding to the face-to-face
symbolic behavior of other persons’.
In Levine and Andelman‟s words (1982), communication is considered as „the process

- Vocal interferences
- Silence
-
Body language/ Kinesics Environmental languageObject language
- Eye contact
- Facial expressions
- Gestures
- Postures
- Touch/ Haptics/ Tactile
- Clothing
- Jewellery
- Accessories
- Make-up
- Artificial scents
- Flowers
- Gifts
- Setting
- Conversational distances/
Proxemics
- Time/ Chronemics
- Lighting system
- Color
- Heat
- …

Figure 1 – Nguyen Quang’s diagram of communication components (2008)
8

1.2. What non-verbal communication?
Researchers are more and more concerned with the social message sent by

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CHAPTER 2: SEATING ARRANGEMENT AS NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
2.1. Table shapes
Types of table shape are various. Square, round and rectangular ones are widely used
in everyday life. In addition, there are some special shapes such as triangle, oval, semicircle or
crescent tables.
The main focus of this study is on the three most typical types of table shapes: Square,
Round and Rectangular.

2.1.1. Square tables
Square tables create a competitive or defensive relationship between people of equal
status. Square tables are ideal for short, to-the-point conversation or a superior/subordinate
relationship. People sitting around this kind of table share the same amount of table territory.
Each occupies a quarter of the table. The following figure shows this equal occupation.

Square Table
Round Table
Rectangular Table
11

() ()
2.1.2. Round tables
In the past, King Arthur used
the round table as an attempt to give
each of his knights an equal amount
of authority and status. A round table
creates an atmosphere of relaxed
informality. Therefore, it is ideal for
promoting discussion among people
who are of equal status as each
person can claim the same amount of
table territory. Removing the table
and sitting in a circle also promotes
the same result. (Figure 3)

()

13 Figure 3 – Round table
( )

amount of table territory, as there are different parts of the table that people can own. For
example, the person who sits at the top of the table will own different part in comparison with
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the people who sit at the two sides of the table. Therefore, rectangular tables are often used for
people of unequal status.

Figure 4 – Positioning at a rectangular table
(

On a rectangular table, position A has always commanded the most influence. In figure
4, assuming that A does not have his back to the door, he will have the most influence. If A‟s
back were facing to the door, the person seated at B would be the most influential and would
be strong competition for A. Assuming that A is in the best power position, person B has the
next most authority, then C, then D.
( )
This information makes it possible to
structure power plays at meetings by placing name
badges on the seats where you want each person to
sit so that you may have the maximum influence
over them.


17

It is widely accepted that seating arrangement is also a kind of non-verbal
communication in human interaction. A person's seating positions in relation to other people
can reveal his or her attitudes towards them. Because of a wide range of circumstances, the
following examples primarily relate to seating arrangements in an office environment with a
standard rectangular desk.
Supposing that person A takes a permanent seat, then person B can take four basic
seating positions in relation to person A (Figure 5).

Figure 5 – Seating positions
(
Four seating positions of person B carry different messages that B wants to send to A.
Followings are the names of these positions:
B1: The corner position
B2: The cooperative position
B3: The competitive-defensive position
B4: The independent position
2.2.1. Corner position
The Corner Position (B1) creates a relaxed atmosphere.

(

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The first reason is that this position allows unlimited eye contact and the opportunity to
use numerous gestures and to observe the gestures of the other person. Moreover, the corner of
the desk provides a partial barrier should one person begin to feel threatened, and this position
avoids a territorial division on the top of the table. This position, therefore, is normally used

As its name reveals, the Competitive-Defensive Position (B3) or sitting across the table
from a person can create a defensive, competitive atmosphere and can lead to each party
taking a firm stand on his point of view because the table becomes a solid barrier between
both parties.

(
20

( )

Moreover, direct eye contact makes them difficult to hide
their feelings. This position is taken by people who are either
competing with each other or if one is reprimanding the other. It
can also establish that a superior/subordinate role exists when it
is used in A's office. Whenever people sit directly opposite each
other across a table, they unconsciously divide it
into two equal territories. Each claims half as his
own territory and will reject the other's encroaching
upon it. If B is seeking to persuade A, the
competitive-defensive position reduces the chance
of a successful negotiation.

Whatever line of business one is in, if it
involves dealing with people, he is in the influencing
business and his objective should always be to see
the other person‟s point of view, to put her at ease
and make her feel right about dealing with him, the