Refusals Realizations in Three Different Cultures: A Speech Act Theoretically-based Cross-cultural Study

要旨

In this paper, the researcher assumes differences in the ways people from different cultural backgrounds perform refusals even while using the same linguistic code (i.e. English). Three groups of subjects, Americans, Arabs and Japanese are compared in the ways they perform refusals with respect to three dimensions of semantic formulas: order, frequency and content of semantic formulas. In addition, the subjects are given different status in which the refuser is equal, higher, or lower to the refusee. The aim of presenting the three groups of participants is to point out the differences in realizing speech acts of refusals in different cultures and problems posed to L2 learners when producing speech acts in the target language. The findings shows that the subjects are different in the ways they perform refusals, but not across all situations. There are circumstances in which they tend to react to the same way (e.g. the 'request situations). Finally, the study recommends second language teachers to help learners enhance their knowledge or competence of appropriate use of speech acts in the target language. The enhanced sociolinguistic competence is necessary for not only avoiding communication errors, but also for establishing a fertile ground for increased interaction between native speakers of English and their nonnative interlocutors.

主題