The method of qualitative content analysis is applied to expose categories of verbal strategies emerging from the data. The results reveal that, compared with English subjects, Vietnamese ones create a much lengthier opening with the use of more number of verbal strategies. Especially, through the process of opening a conversation, English subjects display a formal relationship with work-oriented exchanges whilst Vietnamese ones show a close but respectful relationship with rapport-oriented exchanges. | VERBAL STRATEGIES USED IN OPENING A CONVERSATION IN OFFICE SETTINGS BY ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE STAFF AND MANAGERS Hoang Tra My* Mien Trung University of Civil Engineering, Nguyen Du, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen, Vietnam Received 31 March 2017 Revised 09 November 2017; Accepted 27 November 2017 Abstract: In interaction, an appropriate opening may help participants create good impression on their interlocutors and make the conversation more effective; however, producing a polite and smooth opening may be a remarkably challenging task. The study, therefore, aims at yielding insights into the process of conversational opening with focus on the description of verbal strategies. The collected data are 60 English and 60 Vietnamese opening sections in scripted dialogues between staff and managers. The method of qualitative content analysis is applied to expose categories of verbal strategies emerging from the data. The results reveal that, compared with English subjects, Vietnamese ones create a much lengthier opening with the use of more number of verbal strategies. Especially, through the process of opening a conversation, English subjects display a formal relationship with work-oriented exchanges whilst Vietnamese ones show a close but respectful relationship with rapport-oriented exchanges. Keywords: conversational opening, verbal strategies, content analysis, opening strategies, conversational opening strategies 1. Introduction Behaving appropriately, politely and effectively in face-to-face interaction with others is extremely essential because, for a long time, people have employed faceto-face interaction to create, re-create and maintain social relationship (Goffman, 1963; Kendon, 1977; Maynard & Zimmerman, 1984; Schegloff, 1986). However, it is rather challenging for many people to produce a smooth conversation, especially the opening process. Opening a conversation in one’s mother tongue is difficult, and it becomes even more difficult and exceedingly challenging in a .
