An Investigation into the Syntactic and Lexico-semantic Features of Indications and Contra-indications in English and Vietnamese Medical Package Inserts
INTRODUCTION
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In the package insert, the section lists the uses (indications) and contra-indications for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug. The language used in them must not be opaque. Here are some examples of the indications and contra-indications in both Vietnamese and English below:
(1) – Chỉ định: Dùng điều trị dài ngày trong bệnh thoái hóa khớp, viêm cột sống dính khớp và các bệnh khớp mạn tính khác.
Meloxicam [111]
We can see that the word “mạn tính” (1) means a condition which is a human health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease. Regarding the syntactic aspect, the indications and contra-indications typically make use of:
– some imperative sentences:
(3) – Chỉ định: Dùng điều trị dài ngày trong bệnh thoái hóa khớp, viêm cột sống dính khớp và các bệnh khớp mạn tính khác.
Meloxicam [111]
– a lot of noun/ verb/ preposition/ adjective phrases:
(9) – Indications: For the prophylaxis and treatment of vitamin B complex deficiency, in case of exclusive parenteral nutrition.
Becozyme® [91]
From this actual reality, I have decided to choose An Investigation into the Syntactic and Lexico-semantic Features of Indications and Contra-indications in English and Vietnamese Medical Package Inserts as the topic of my M.A thesis.
1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- Aims
This thesis aims at considering how these indications and contra-indications are written in English and Vietnamese. Hopefully, this comparison will help Vietnamese people be aware of the differences and similarities of the syntactic and lexico-semantic features in the two languages so that they can feel confident when they use the medicines.
1.2.2. Objectives
The study is intended to:
- identify the syntactic and lexico-semantic features of indications and contra-indications in English and Vietnamese medical package inserts.
- compare and contrast the indications and contra-indications in English and Vietnamese languages in terms of the syntactic and lexico-semantic aspects to clarify the similarities and differences.
- suggest some implications of the finding for the translation and using of English package inserts as a foreign language in Vietnam.
1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study is to answer the following questions:
- What are the syntactic and lexico-semantic features of indications and contra-indications in English medical package inserts?
- What are the syntactic and lexico-semantic features of indications and contra-indications in Vietnamese medical package inserts?
- What are the similarities and differences in terms of the syntactic and lexico-semantic features between indications and contra-indications in English and Vietnamese medical package inserts?
1.4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
When the thesis is completed, I hope that the findings can be helpful for teaching and learning the language of medicines. This can be useful for people to get a better insight into the use of medicine in the two languages.
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
With the purpose of doing a research into the syntactic and lexico-semantic features of indications and contra-indications in English and Vietnamese medical package inserts.
1.6. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This study covered the following 5 chapters:
- Chapter 1, Introduction
- Chapter 2, Literature Review and Theoretical background
- Chapter 3, Research Methodology
- Chapter 4, Findings and Discussions
- Chapter 5, Conclusions and Implications
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
2.1. PREVIOUS STUDIES
2.2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
2.2.1. Definition of “Package Inserts”
Provided by Stedman’s medical dictionary [46], a package insert is information provided with a prescription drug that tells you: what the drug is, how it should be used and how it works. This information is used based on evidence reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
2.2.2. Definitions of “Indications” and “Contra-indications”
a. Indications
According to Stedman [46], in medicine, an indication is a valid reason to use a certain test, medication, procedure, or surgery. In the United States, indications for medications are strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are included in the package insert under the phrase “Indications and Usage”.
b. Contra-indications
The opposite of indication is contraindication. A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the patient.
2.2.3. Lexico-Semantic Features
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