[FONT=Times New Roman]INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale

Language and culture are interdependent and interactional. Culture affects the way language is used and language may reflect many factors of culture in turn. In addition, what is right in one culture may not be accepted in another culture. As people move from one country to another, cultural differences become apparent to them. For instance, American society values simple and direct communication. Being open and direct in expressing desires, preferences, and feelings or in discussing issues is highly appreciated in the United States. Americans are likely to be, to various degrees, honest in delivering negative evaluations. However, in Vietnamese culture, where positive face saving is important, directness may be perceived as being blunt, rude and impolite, especially when complaining and criticizing someone or something (face-damaging acts). Therefore, most Vietnamese are at first shocked at the American direct way of communicating in general and criticizing in particular.

In addition, with the popularity of Internet and online magazines in English language, people have more chances to interact and know more about other countries. As a reporter of a Vietnamese e-newspaper, the thesis author would like to find out the differences in article-writing style among countries and how culture affects it.

For the limitation of time and resources, she only focuses on expressions of criticizing in American and Vietnamese e-newspapers in the light of Directness/Indirectness to see if they cause culture shock. Such is her hope that this paper will have some contributions to the study of cross-cultural communication between America and Vietnam.

1.2 Aims of the study

The aims of this paper are:

+ To study cultural aspects which affect criticism in American and Vietnamese online newspapers

+ To compare the use of directness and indirectness in criticism between American and Vietnamese online newspapers

+ To study ways to express criticism in American and Vietnamese online newspapers

1.3 Scope of the study

This research only analyzes the degree of directness and indirectness in criticism of some selected American and Vietnamese newspapers.

1.4 Methods of the study

The analysis uses inductive and deductive methods with the following techniques:

+ Selecting some online newspapers with great readership and popularity

+ Collecting and analyzing articles with criticism

+ Consulting reference books

+ Discussing with teachers and friends

+ Conducting surveying

1.5 Designs of the study

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Chapter 3: Criticism in American and Vietnamese e-newspapers

Chapter 4: Data analysis

Chapter 5: Conclusion