COMPARISON OF “POLITE STRATEGIES” IN DIFFERENT CULTURAL CONTEXTS IN THE ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE VERSIONS OF WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE

Abstract

This study compares politeness strategies in the British and Vietnamese versions of Who Wants
to Be a Millionaire, focusing on pronouns, address forms, humor, and host–contestant interaction. British
hosts use direct speech and brief humor with “you” to stress autonomy, while Vietnamese hosts employ
collectivist strategies, using “chúng ta” (we) and honorifics to show respect. Drawing on Brown and
Levinson’s theory and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, it recommends promoting intercultural politeness
awareness and training hosts in culturally adaptive communication.