VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYỄN THỊ HOÀNG HUẾ CONJUNCTIONS IN SOME ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE
NEWSLETTERS: A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS

(PHÂN TÍCH ĐỐI CHIẾU LIÊN TỪ TRONG MỘT SỐ BỨC THƯ NGỎ
TIẾNG ANH VÀ TIẾNG VIỆT)

M.A. MINOR PROGRAM THESIS

FIELD: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS
CODE: 60.22.15
HA NOI- 2012
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES

NGUYỄN THỊ HOÀNG HUẾ CONJUNCTIONS IN SOME ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE
NEWSLETTERS: A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS

1. Rationale for the study ………………………………………………
1
2. Aims of the study ……………………………………………………
2
3. Scope of the study …………………………………………………
2
4. Methods of the study ………………………………………………
2
5. Design of the study. ………………………………………………
3
PART 2: DEVELOPMENT………………………………
4
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND…………………
4
1.1. An overview of Newsletters…………………………………
4
1.1.1. Definitions of Newsletters………………………………
4
1.1.2. Types of Newsletters……………………………………
4
vi

1.1.3. Formats of Newsletters……………………………
5
1.1.4. English and Vietnamese Marketing Newsletters……….
7
1.2. English and Vietnamese Conjunctions…………………………
7
1.2.1. English conjunctions……………………………………………
7


2.2.2.1. Similarities………………………………………
25
2.2.2.2. Differences………………………………………
31
2.3. Summary…………………………………………………………
34
PART 3: CONCLUSION……………………………………………
35
1. Recapitulation………………………………………………………
35
2. Implications…………………………………………………………
36
2.1. Implications for EFL teaching and learning…………………
36
2.2. Implications for translating…………………………………
38
3. Contributions of the study……………………………………………
39
4. Limitations of the study………………………………………………
39
5. Suggestions for further research……………………………………
40
REFERENCES ……………………………….…………………
41
APPENDICES


customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. It goes without saying that newsletters
contribute towards the overall success of the business. Newsletters are also known
as consultant letters, so they need to have the logic and coherence to attract
customers. Besides, conjunctions are seen as an essential means of linking so as to
2 increase the persuasion in newsletters. Therefore, studying and finding the
similarities and differences in conjunction usages in English and Vietnamese
Newsletters will be of great help to the writer in teaching economic students at Hoa
Lu University where the author is working.
2. Aims of the study
The research firstly aims to study conjunctions used in English and
Vietnamese marketing newsletters and then explore the similarities and differences
based on the syntactic and semantic features between them. At the end of the study,
some implications for teaching, learning and translation will be covered as useful
resources. To fully achieve these aims, the study should answer the following
questions:
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?
3. Scope of the study
Many topics relating to conjunctions as well as lots of types of newsletters in
different fields need to be exploited. For the feasibility of a minor M.A. thesis, the
writer narrowed the scope of the paper. The main focus is on the descriptive and
contrastive analysis of conjunction usages in English and Vietnamese marketing
newsletters with respect to the syntactic and semantic features.
4. 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

similarities and differences in the two languages.
Part 3, the CONCLUSION, is the last part of the study which summarizes
what has been done, what has not been covered, accompanied by suggestions for
further study. Some possible implications for language teaching, learning and
translation are given at the end of this part with a view to providing a new insight
into a very important device of linking in English and Vietnamese.

4 PART 2: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1.1. An overview of Newsletters
1.1.1. Definitions of Newsletters
According to Edward A. Hamilton (1996) in the book “Newsletters Design”,
a newsletter is an ambiguous term. It is defined as a condensed periodical used to
communicate specialized editorial information. He explains briefly that
“condensed” means it is shorter than the average newspaper or magazine and
provides lots of information in limited space; “periodical” means it is published
regularly; “specialized” means it focuses not on a broad subject area such as
finance, but on a subject-within-a-subject such as real estate finance, not on
organizations in general, but a specific organization.
From the point of Nadeem Hussain’s views, in the article “Advantages and
disadvantages of Newsletters” published on September 18
th
, 2008, a newsletter is
defined as a form of advertising that is sent periodically. It is considered as a
popularly effective marketing tool, it provides relevant and updated information of
the products or services of the organization for the existing clients or customers.
In another persuasive definition written by Chuck Green (2002), a

plain text emails, HTML emails, and HTML page on the website, PDF, and print.
The author also shows that each newsletter format has its own advantages and
disadvantages and they are shown on the table below:
Format
Pros
Cons
Plain Text
Email
Easy to format
Limited to text only
Easy for readers to open
Cannot include graphics or fancy
formatting
Costs only your time

HTML
Email
Visually appealing
Restricted in size
Costs only your time
Can only be fully viewed while
readers are online
Allows for creativeness
6 HTML
Web Page
Endless possibilities for design
Takes time to design

Lashkari in the article “Newsletter Formats – How to easily choose the perfect
format for your newsletters”, published on January 19
th
, 2007 also gives three basic
formats of Newsletters. They are HTML, plain text, and PDF. She states that HTML
is a good format because it is more professional than plain text and easier to create
than PDF. It allows extensive use of graphics and text links. Using graphics and
product pictures in newsletters can really attract customers’ attention. Plain text is
the easiest format to create, but it does not sound professional because no technical
knowledge and special software are required as well. PDF is not used as commonly
as the two above newsletters formats. It is quite difficult to produce because the
writer needs to build each issue in Microsoft Word first and then convert it into PDF
with special software.
In comparison with English newsletters formats, the writer realizes that
HTML and PDF are the widely used formats in Vietnamese newsletters.
7 1.1.4. English and Vietnamese Marketing Newsletters
One of the biggest tasks of many business companies today is gaining and
keeping prospective customers. Accordingly, most companies use marketing
newsletters as an effective way to promote their products and services, and English
and Vietnamese companies are no exception.
According to Nadeem Hussain (2008), marketing newsletter is a form of
advertising that is sent periodically. It is a document that notifies, reminds, advises,
communicates and advertises about a business to its target audiences and customers.
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.
Both English and Vietnamese marketing newsletters are being widely used

subordinating conjunctions link a subordinate “dependent” clause to a main clause.
Also, he points out conjunctions consist of single words (because, however, so),
compound conjunctions (as long as, so that, surprising that, provided that) and
correlative ones (both… and).
However, from many grammarians’ points of view such as Carol Ann
Bergman (1989), Ann Cole Brown (1987) and Quirk and Greenbaun (1973),
English conjunctions include coordinating conjunctions (or more simply
coordinators), subordinating conjunctions (or subordinators) and correlative
conjunctions (correlatives).
In “Grammar, rhetoric, and composition” (Mallery, 1967), conjunctions can
be arranged into three principal groups: coordinating, correlative and subordinating
conjunctions. With correlative and subordinator groups, the writer merely states
their definition together with the list of words belonging to both groups. However,
9 apart from common correlatives (both … and, either … or, neither … nor, not only
… but also) the writer recommends others: though … yet, whether … or, so … as, if
… then, as … as.
Another research provided by Chalker (1967), conjunctions are traditionally
divided into coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. According to him and,
or, but, so, yet, for, neither … nor, either … or, both … and, not only … but also
belong to the coordinator group. They are used to join two equal parts of the
sentence whereas the subordinating conjunctions are used to link a modifying clause
to a main clause
To sum up, there are many different ideas about types of conjunctions. The
author would like to take three types of conjunctions including coordinating,
subordinating and correlatives into consideration as follows:
(i) Coordinating conjunctions


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

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))

Kinds of coordinators
As a matter of fact, there have been classifications of coordinators. For
instance, Collin Cobuild (1990) lists the most common coordinators: and, nor, but,
or, then, for. Nevertheless, according to Oshima Alice and Hogue Ann, for, and,
nor, but, or, yet, so are called FANBOYS in order to help learners easier to
remember these coordinators.
In short, not all grammarians have been able to provide readers a consistent
classification of coordinators. Therefore, the occurrence of various classifications is
inevitable. To be more precise and to understand coordinators more clearly, it is
likely that Quirk’s classification of coordinating conjunctions (1973) should be
taken into account: and, or, but, for, yet, so with the functions as follows:
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
Her parents are very short, but she is
tall.
or
expresses choices, alternative

value.
In terms of functions, subordinating conjunctions usually express relations of
time, reason, condition - consequence, concession and purpose. They are presented
in the below table:
Functions
Subordinators
Examples
Time
after, as, as long as, as soon
as, before, until, when
After the sun rises, we will set out on
our journey.
Reason
because, as, since
We are late for the meeting because our
car broke down.
Condition-
consequence
if, unless, in case, even if, if
only
The church bells will ring if the
Vikings land.
Concession
although, though, while,
She was a good actress while he was
13 whereas, rather than
only a mediocre actor.

(that)
Providing (that) the weather is fine, we
shall go on a picnic on Saturday.
Ending
with “as”
as far as, as long as, in so far,
as soon as, so as (to +
infinitive)
You can borrow my car as long as you
promise not to drive too fast.
Ending
with
“than”
sooner than (+ infinitive
clause), rather than (+ non-
finite or verbless clause)
She prefers to wear skirts rather than
wear dresses.
Others
as if, as though, in case
In case I forget, please remind me of my
promise.
c. Correlative subordinators
If … then, (al)though … yet, so … as, whether … or, the … the, more/less …
than, as … as, such …. as, such … that, no sooner … than
14 In addition, borderline subordinators are mentioned and divided into three
borderline categories: habitual combinations of subordinators (just as, if only),
As one of the correlative pairs, “neither … nor” can be separated, that means
neither and nor are used as single correlative conjunctions without being a
correlative pair.
e.g. She doesn’t love him. Neither does he.
“I can’t remember his name” “Nor can I”
Being the English conjunction; thus, correlatives are to do with the
combination of clauses and elements. And we can realize the most prevalent
position of correlatives which often appears right before the combined items. In
other words, they are always placed in front of the first word group. (e.g. Either you
apologize or I will never speak to you again.)
1.2.2. Vietnamese Conjunctions
1.2.2.1. Definitions of Vietnamese conjunctions
Vietnamese conjunction is an interesting topic that many Vietnamese
linguists have concerned about. In the dictionary “Bách khoa Việt Nam, tập 2”
published in 2002, conjunctions serve as connectors which link words, phrases, and
sentences to denote the significance of the relationships such as alternative, contrast,
concession, etc.
According to Hoàng Trung Thông (1998), conjunctions are words expressing
the grammatical relations used to join the components in sentences or in phrases.
Conjunctions do not make sense in terms of vocabulary and grammar, especially
they never keep functions as subject or predicate in a sentence.
Having the same opinions with Hoàng Trung Thông, Nguyễn Hữu Quỳnh in
“Tiếng Việt hiện đại” (1994) also defines that conjunctions are words which refer to
the grammatical relations used to connect parts of sentences or the elements in the
phrase.
16

e.g. Chợ họp giữa phố vãn từ lâu. Người về hết và tiếng ồn ào cũng mất.
(Market in the city centre has disbanded for a long time. Everyone comes back home
and noise is also lost.) (Cited in “Hai đứa trẻ” (1938) - Thạch Lam)
According to grammatical meanings, conjunctions of this type have three
main meanings or functions in sentences.
The first function is conjunctions expressing listing, for instance,
coordinators “và”, “với”, “cùng” simply link clauses to indicate enumeration and
consecutive or simultaneous events.
e.g. Tôi đến nhà An nhiều lần và trở thành người thân của cả gia đình.
(I went to An’s house many times and became the intimate of the whole family).
(Cited in “Ngữ pháp tiếng Việt, tập 1” (1993) - Diệp Quang Ban)
The next function is conjunctions showing alternative “hay”, “hay là”,
“hoặc là”, “hoặc…hoặc…” An example of this type can be seen in:
e.g. Ngoài ra, ông vẫn thường đi xếp hàng mua gạo hoặc nhu yếu phẩm.
(In addition, he often stands in a queue to buy rice or necessities.)
(Cited in “Giấc mơ ông lão vườn chim. (1970) – Anh Đức)
The last function of conjunctions is that they are used to express contrast
such as “nhưng”, “song”, “còn”, for example “Hắn nghiến răng vào mà chửi cái đứa
đã đẻ ra Chí Phèo. Nhưng mà biết đứa nào đã đẻ ra Chí Phèo?
(He gritted his teeth to verbal child that spawned Chi Pheo. But know who has spawned
Chi Pheo?) (Cited in “Chí Phèo” (1946) – Nam Cao)

(ii) Subordinators
The other set of conjunctions is used to link dependent clauses, and there are
usually couple conjunctions to describe these relationships such as “tuy…nhưng…”,
“vì …nên…”, “do…nên…”, “bởi…nên…”, “dù…nhưng…”, “nếu…thì…”
In dependent clauses, there are four smaller types of relationships:
+ Conjunctions expressing reason: “vì…(cho) nên/ mà…”, “tại…(cho) nên/
mà…”, “do….(cho) nên/ mà…”, “nhờ…(cho) nên/ mà…”, “bởi…(cho) nên/

At the end of the study, the author came to a conclusion that there are similarities
and differences of using the conjunctions “and/ or/ but” in English and in
Vietnamese equivalents based on semantic and syntactic perspective. Another
research concerning conjunctions by Nguyen Thanh Huong (2002) in her
19 graduation paper, she provided an overview of all kinds of English conjunctions.
More importantly, in this paper, the author listed some difficulties faced by
Vietnamese learners in understanding and using conjunctions. At the end of the
graduation paper, some suggested solutions to Vietnamese learners’ difficulties in
learning conjunctions were given as an effective source for learners.
1.4. Summary
In this chapter, by elaborating on the key terms, the researcher has briefly
reviewed the theoretical background of the study. More importantly, the writer
provides an interesting insight into English and Vietnamese conjunctions and
newsletters. As a matter of fact, there is a close relationship between marketing
newsletters and conjunctions. Marketing newsletter is regarded as an effective way
to promote their products and services. It is a form of advertising which attracts
customers; therefore, it requires logic and coherence. Consequently, conjunctions
are used mostly in newsletters to gain this aim of newsletters.

2.2.1. Frequency of using conjunctions in English and Vietnamese Marketing
Newsletters
The first thing that the researcher would like to mention in the study is the
frequency of occurrence of conjunctions in English and Vietnamese marketing
newsletters.