v

Appendices
This survey questionnaire is designed for my research entitled “A Vietnamese-English cross-
cultural study of the use of hedging before giving bad news”. Your assistance in
completing the following items is greatly appreciated. You can be confident that you will not
be identified in any discussion of the data.
Thank you very much for your assistance!
Please tick (ν) where appropriate
 Your nationality:
British □ Canadian □
American □ Australian □
New Zealand □ Irish □
 Your age:
Above 20 □ Above 40 □
Above 30 □ Above 50 □
 Your gender:
Male □
Female □
 Your marital status:
Single □ Married □
 Area where you spend most of your time:
Urban □ Rural □
 Your occupation: ………………………………………………………………
 Acquisition of language(s) other than your mother tongue
Foreign language(s) Excellent Good Fair Poor
1. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..
2. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..
 vi

3. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….

…………..
4. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..

1) These are informative sentences:

- Your plan is rather good but I may think that it is not suitable for our work.
- “Well, could you please sit down and be calm? As you know, among 212 passengers,
only two survived. And I regret to inform you that your husband is not among the
lucky two”.
Please tick (ν) where appropriate. More than one answer is possible. The italic phrases above
are used in order to:
a. Lessen the degree of directness
b. Make it less unpleasant and shocking to the hearer
c. Make the statement more polite
d. Other (please specify)
……………………………………………………………

2) Do you think it is advisable to give bad news in the following situations? Please tick (ν)
in one of the following five columns
Column 1 means highly advisable
Column 2 means advisable
Column 3 means yes and no
Column 4 means unadvisable
Column 5 means strongly unadvisable
Situations 1 2 3 4 5
A. Family life
S/he does not love him/ her any more
Her/ his partner has another man/ woman
Her/ his marriage is going to break up
B. Social life
 vii

Her/ his relative just had a terrible accident

S/he is suffering from fatal disease
The cost for her/ his treatment is high
C. Academic life
S/he failed the exam
The book s/he needs cannot be found anywhere
Her/ his assignment gets bad mark

D. Business life
S/he is sacked
Her/ his plan to improve the work is canceled
S/he is forced to resign

3) Situations
In completing the following items, your mother tongue is preferable. If possible and appropriate, please
use address form (e.g. Mr. Smith, Mrs. Brown, Sir, Madam, etc.)
Situation 1: How do you verbally give bad news to the following person when s/he does not
love him or her any more?
1. S/he is your best friend?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. S/he is the one you dislike?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. S/he is your colleague? (same age, same sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. S/he is your colleague? (same age, opposite sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. S/he is your acquaintance? (About 10 years older than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. S/he is your acquaintance? (about 5 years younger than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. S/he is your boss?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. S/he your employee?
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…………………………………………………………………………………………
Situation 2: How do you verbally give bad news to the following person when s/he is
suffering from fatal disease?
1. S/he is your best friend?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. S/he is the one you dislike?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. S/he is your colleague? (same age, same sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. S/he is your colleague? (same age, opposite sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. S/he is your acquaintance? (About 10 years older than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. S/he is your acquaintance? (about 5 years younger than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. S/he is your boss?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. S/he your employee?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Situation 3: How do you verbally give bad news to the following person when s/he failed the
exam?
1. S/he is your best friend?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. S/he is the one you dislike?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. S/he is your colleague? (same age, same sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. S/he is your colleague? (same age, opposite sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
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5. S/he is your acquaintance? (About 10 years older than you)

…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. S/he is your acquaintance? (about 5 years younger than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. S/he is your boss?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. S/he your employee?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Situation 4: How do you verbally give bad news to the following person when s/he is
sacked?
1. S/he is your best friend?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. S/he is the one you dislike?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. S/he is your colleague? (same age, same sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. S/he is your colleague? (same age, opposite sex)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. S/he is your acquaintance? (About 10 years older than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. S/he is your acquaintance? (About 5 years younger than you)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. S/he is your boss?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. S/he your employee?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
 x

Nh÷ng c©u hái sau ®îc thùc hiÖn nh»m phôc vô ®Ò tµi nghiªn cøu “Nghiªn cøu giao v¨n
ho¸ ViÖt-Anh vÒ c¸ch sö dông c¸ch thøc rµo ®ãn tríc khi b¸o tin buån”. Xin quý vÞ bít
chót thêi gian tr¶ lêi gióp chóng t«i nh÷ng c©u hái nµy. Chóng t«i xin ®¶m b¶o r»ng chóng
t«i sÏ kh«ng nªu danh tÝnh cña quý vÞ trong bÊt cø trêng hîp nµo vµ díi bÊt cø h×nh thøc
nµo.
Xin ch©n thµnh c¶m ¬n sù gióp ®ì cña quý vÞ!
Xin quý vÞ ®¸nh dÊu (ν) vµo nh÷ng chç phï hîp
 Quèc tÞch cña quý vÞ:
ViÖt Nam □ Quèc tÞch kh¸c □
 Tuæi cña quý vÞ:
Trªn 20□ Trªn 40□
Trªn 30□ Trªn 50□
 Giíi tÝnh cña quý vÞ:
Nam □
N÷ □
 T×nh tr¹ng h«n nh©n cña quý vÞ:
Cha x©y dùng gia ®×nh □
§· x©y dùng gia ®×nh □
 N¬i quý vÞ sèng l©u nhÊt:
Thµnh thÞ □ N«ng th«n □
 NghÒ nghiÖp cña quý vÞ:
………………………………………………………………
 (Nh÷ng) ngo¹i ng÷ mµ quý vÞ biÕt vµ tr×nh ®é ngo¹i ng÷ cña quý vÞ:
Ngo¹i ng÷ Giái Kh¸ Trung b×nh YÕu
1. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..
2. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..
 xi

3. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….

…………..
4. ……………………….. …………….. ………….. ………….
…………..

1) Díi ®©y lµ c¸c c©u chøa th«ng tin:

- KÕ ho¹ch cña anh t¬ng ®èi tèt nhng t«i nghÜ r»ng nã cã thÓ kh«ng phï hîp víi c«ng
viÖc cña chóng t«i.
- “Oh, bµ cã thÓ ngåi xuèng vµ b×nh tÜnh ®îc kh«ng? Nh bµ biÕt ®Êy, trong sè 212
hµnh kh¸ch trªn m¸y bay chØ cã 2 ngêi may m¾n sèng sãt. Vµ … t«i lÊy lµm tiÕc
ph¶i th«ng b¸o víi bµ, chång bµ kh«ng ph¶i lµ mét trong hai ngêi ®ã”.
Xin quý vÞ h·y ®¸nh dÊu (ν) nh÷ng chç thÝch hîp. Cã thÓ chän h¬n mét ®¸p ¸n.
Nh÷ng côm tõ in nghiªng ë c¸c c©u trªn ®îc sö dông nh»m môc ®Ých:
a. Gi¶m nhÑ møc ®é trùc tiÕp cña lêi th«ng b¸o
b. Gi¶m tÝnh chÊt kh«ng vui vµ g©y sèc cho ngêi nghe
c. Lµm lêi nãi trë nªn lÞch sù h¬n
d. ý kiÕn kh¸c (xin h·y lµm râ)
………………………………………………………

2) Theo quý vÞ cã nªn b¸o tin buån trong c¸c trêng hîp sau ®©y kh«ng? Xin quý vÞ ®¸nh
dÊu (ν) vµo mét trong n¨m cét sau:
Cét 1 RÊt nªn b¸o tin
Cét 2 Nªn b¸o tin
Cét 3 Cã thÓ b¸o tin/ cã thÓ kh«ng
Cét 4 Kh«ng nªn b¸o tin
Cét 5 Kh«ng ®îc b¸o tin
T×nh huèng 1 2 3 4 5
A. ViÖc gia ®×nh
Anh Êy/ c« Êy kh«ng yªu ngêi Êy mét chót nµo
Vî/ chång cña ngêi Êy cã ngêi kh¸c
Cuéc h«n nh©n cña ngêi Êy s¾p ®æ vì
 xii

B. Cuéc sèng x· héi

Ngêi th©n cña ngêi Êy võa bÞ mét tai n¹n khñng khiÕp
Ngêi Êy m¾c bÖnh nan y
Chi phÝ ®iÒu trÞ bÖnh cho ngêi Êy rÊt cao
C. Häc tËp
Ngêi Êy thi trît
Cuèn s¸ch ngêi Êy cÇn kh«ng t×m thÊy ë ®©u
TiÓu luËn cña ngêi Êy nhËn ®iÓm kÐm

D. C«ng viÖc
Ngêi Êy bÞ sa th¶i
KÕ ho¹ch ®Ó c¶i thiÖn c«ng viÖc cña nguêi Êy bÞ ho·n l¹i
Ngêi Êy bÞ buéc ph¶i tõ chøc

3) C¸c trêng hîp cô thÓ

Khi tr¶ lêi c¸c c©u hái díi ®©y, xin quý vÞ sö dông tiÕng ViÖt. NÕu cã thÓ vµ c¶m they phï hîp, xin
c¸c quý vÞ sö dông h×nh thøc vµ quan hÖ xng h« (VÝ dô: «ng §øc, bµ G¸i, Gi¸o s Quang, tao-mµy,
t«i-thñ trëng, em-sÕp….)
T×nh huèng 1: Quý vÞ sÏ b¸o tin buån cho nh÷ng ngêi sau ®©y nh thÕ nµo khi anh Êy/ c«
Êy kh«ng yªu ngêi Êy mét chót nµo
1. Ngêi Êy lµ b¹n th©n nhÊt cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quý vÞ kh«ng thÝch?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, cïng giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, kh¸c giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (NhiÒu h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 10 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (Ýt h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 5 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Ngêi Êy lµ sÕp cña quý vÞ?
 xiii

…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Ngêi Êy lµ nh©n viªn cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
T×nh huèng 2: Quý vÞ sÏ b¸o tin buån cho nh÷ng ngêi sau ®©y nh thÕ nµo khi ngêi Êy
m¾c bÖnh nan y
1. Ngêi Êy lµ b¹n th©n nhÊt cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quý vÞ kh«ng thÝch?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, cïng giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, kh¸c giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (NhiÒu h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 10 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (Ýt h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 5 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Ngêi Êy lµ sÕp cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Ngêi Êy lµ nh©n viªn cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
T×nh huèng 3: Quý vÞ sÏ b¸o tin buån cho nh÷ng ngêi sau ®©y nh thÕ nµo khi ngêi Êy thi
trît
1. Ngêi Êy lµ b¹n th©n nhÊt cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quý vÞ kh«ng thÝch?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, cïng giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
 xiv

4. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, kh¸c giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (NhiÒu h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 10 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (Ýt h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 5 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Ngêi Êy lµ sÕp cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Ngêi Êy lµ nh©n viªn cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
T×nh huèng 4: Quý vÞ sÏ b¸o tin buån cho nh÷ng ngêi sau ®©y nh thÕ nµo khi ngêi Êy bÞ
sa th¶i
1. Ngêi Êy lµ b¹n th©n nhÊt cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quý vÞ kh«ng thÝch?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, cïng giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Ngêi Êy lµ ®ång nghiÖp cña quý vÞ? (Cïng tuæi, kh¸c giíi tÝnh)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (NhiÒu h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 10 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Ngêi Êy lµ ngêi quen cña quý vÞ? (Ýt h¬n quý vÞ kho¶ng 5 tuæi)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Ngêi Êy lµ sÕp cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Ngêi Êy lµ nh©n viªn cña quý vÞ?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
xv