How does your social network provide clues to the way I speak?
As can be seen in the given network diagram, the people I have the most communication and interaction
with are my parents and my best friend, Thúy. Interacting with these networks has significantly influenced
my communication style through various factors such as vocabulary, tone, topics, and gestures.
When I speak with my parents and their acquaintances, which is super essential for me to mind my manners,
I tend to use clear and polite language and opt for a slightly formal tone to show respect for older
generations. I would never use slang with them since there’s a generational gap; they wouldn't understand
the casual terms I use with friends. Instead, I will use words with a respectful and formal tone, such as "dạ"
or "dạ thưa". Additionally, I also like to add "ạ" at the end of sentences to maintain a humble tone and
express politeness. In terms of topics, I usually talk to them about life-related subjects like work and studies.
Due to the age difference, I don’t share many personal matters, even though I interact with them regularly.
This indicates that my conversations with my parents and their acquaintances tend to be informative rather
than affective. Additionally, when speaking with older people, I have a habit of clasping my hands close to
my tummy area, a gesture I picked up while working in a restaurant to show respect. Now, it’s become a
reflex for me when talking to adults.
Moving on to my interactions with my friend Thúy, her friends, and my siblings, the approach is quite
different. Since we’re closer in age, I communicate informally, but I still strive to be polite to maintain a
comfortable atmosphere. And they barely, or never, judge my attitude while I’m talking, so it allows me to
speak with a much more comfortable mood. I don’t focus too much on tone; I usually speak louder when I
feel excited or happy without worrying about being seen as rude. Especially when chatting with peers, I
often slip in trendy slang like “rắn độc”, “ẩu rồi đó ba,” “bà nói thiệt hả bà Thơ,” “chill đi,” or “người đẹp.”
Sometimes, I even use profanity when I’m upset or frustrated. The vocabulary I choose plays a significant
role in creating a relaxed environment during our conversations. Moreover, when I talk with them, I feel
more at ease, which allows me to share more personal topics comfortably. As for gestures, since I’m not
bound by formality with this group, I don’t often clasp my hands. Instead, I use more relaxed gestures like
clapping, putting my arm around someone’s shoulder, pointing, or giving light pats during our
conversations.
2) Whose speech does my speech most resemble?
Among the people I communicate with most frequently, my speech obviously resembles that of my friends
the most, even more so than my brother and sister. This similarity arises from the fact that we are the same
age, attend the same school, and spend a considerable amount of time hanging out together. Additionally, we
often share TikTok videos with each other, and these videos significantly influence how we talk and interact.
Given these factors, our speech patterns are quite similar. First and foremost, we frequently use slang when
talking to each other. This serves not only to create a comfortable and humorous atmosphere but also acts as
a sort of private code that allows us to understand one another easily without the worry of being overheard
by others. This shared slang adds an extra layer of connection and intimacy to our conversations, making
them feel unique to our group. Moreover, it’s not just about word choice; our gestures and tone are also
remarkably similar. In our interactions, there’s no formality present, which means we don’t have to be
overly strict or serious with one another. Instead, we tend to adopt a more casual, down-to-earth tone that
makes communication feel effortless and natural. This lack of formality allows us to express ourselves
freely, fostering an environment where we can comfortably discuss anything, from lighthearted topics to
more personal matters.
3) Conclusion
Finally, I would like to conclude that in my network, there are hundreds of people, but the three individuals I
talk to the most are my parents and my elementary school friend, Thúy. My parents and Thúy represent two
different groups in many aspects, such as generation, perspective, and thinking. This has prompted me to
frequently adjust the way I communicate to be polite, appropriate, and to meet the expectations of these two
groups, while also maintaining comfort and naturalness. The things I need to change to fit the conversations
with each participant vary widely, such as vocabulary, tone, gestures, and even the setting. However, these
flexible changes do not pose a difficulty for me; I can subconsciously and easily adapt to them. Of course,
this adjustment applies not only to my parents and Thúy but also to everyone I listed in the diagram, as well
as others in real life that I haven't mentioned.
