are you deaf i’ve said “no, no, no”
DESCRIPTION
A study on refusals!TRANSCRIPT
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Cem BALÇIKANLIGazi University, Faculty of Education, English Language Teaching Department E-mail: [email protected] 8th International Language, Literature and Stylistics Symposium İzmir University of EconomicsMay, 2008
Are you deaf? I’ve said “No, No, No”Are you deaf? I’ve said “No, No, No”
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The term ‘speech act ’ has been defined as a minimal unit of discourse by Searle (1969) and as a basic and a Functional unit of communication by Cohen (1996).
We perform speech acts when we offer an apology, greeting,request, complaint, invitation, compliment, or
refusalrefusal.
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In order to achieve approximate native-speaker levels of pragmatic competence, learners need to acquire the rules of politeness of the target culture and to
develop interaction skills, knowing who may or may not speak in certain settings, how they should talk to
people of different statuses and roles, what nonverbal behaviors are appropriate for them to use in various
contexts, what routines they should use for turn taking in conversation, and how to perform and comprehend speech acts such as requesting,
apologizing or REFUSING (Saville-Troike, 1996).
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REFUSALS can be a tricky speech act to perform linguistically
and psychologically since the possibility of offending the interlocutor is inherent in the
act itself (Kwon, 2004:340).
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At a summit meeting between President Nixon and the late Prime Minister Sato of Japan in 1969, Nixon asked Sato whether he would agree to
curtail Japan’s fabric exports to the United States in exchange for the return of Okinawa. Sato
answered, “Zensho shimasu”, which was literally translated into English as “I’ll take a proper step”,
but in Japanese is usually understood as a rejection. Nixon thought he had received a
commitment and was furious when Sato failed to take any effective action. But in fact, Sato did not feel that he had made any commitment, as this kind of statement in Japanese culture is a polite way of refusing (Beebe and Takahashi, 1990).
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Sample, Instrumentation, and procedures
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Aim
to investigate refusals of English learners in Turkey and in Czech Republic
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Sample forty-two Turkish learners in Turkey and thirty-five Czech learners in Czech Republic
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Instrument
DCTs are written questionnaires
including a number of brief situational descriptions, followed by a short dialog with an empty slot for the
speech act (Kasper and Dahl, 1991).
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! A big thank you to Czech and Turkishcolleagues and student teachers....
! “I’m sorry. I wish I could come to the party with you but I’ve lots of homework to do”.
* I’m sorry ............ Statement of regret* I wish I could..... Wish* But I ’ve a.......... Excuse
Data Collection & Analysis
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Ercetin, N. G. (1995). “Pragmatic transfer in the realization of apologies: The case of Turkish EFL learners”.Dogancay-Aktuna, S. and Kamıslı, S. (1997). “Pragmatic transfer in interlanguage development: A case study of advanced EFL learners”. Bulut, D. (2000) “A Cross-cultural study of refusals in American English and Turkish.”Karatepe, Ç. (2001) “Pragmalinguistic Awareness in EFL Teacher Training”. Demir, S. (2003). “Bidirectional pragmatic transfer: An investigation on refusal strategies of Turkish users of English”.Madak, M. (2004). “Gender differences in the use of requests by Turkish EFL learners”. Kal Ünal, F. (2004). “Requests in English and in Turkish in the language of Turkish student teachers: A comparative study”. Tekyıldız, Ö. (2006). “A comparative study on the use of refusals by Turkish learners of English and Native speakers of English in urban and rural areas”.
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SITUATION 1: You are the owner of a bookstore. One of your best workers asks to speak to you in
private.Worker: As you know, I’ve been here just a little over a year now, and I know you’ve been pleased with my work. I really enjoy working here, but to be quite honest I really need an increase in pay YOU:...............................................................Worker: Well...then I guess I’ll have to look for another job.
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SITUATION 2:You are a junior in college. You attend classes regularly and take good notes. Your classmate often misses class and asks you for the lecture
notes. Classmate: Oh God! We have an exam tomorrow but I don’t have notes from last week. I am sorry to ask you this, but could you please lend me your notes once again? YOU: ..................................................................Classmate: Well, then. I guess I’ll have to ask someone else.
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SITUATION 12:
You are at the office in a meeting with your boss. It
is getting close to the end of the day and you want
to leave the office.
Boss: If it’s okay with you, I’d like to spend an
extra hour or two tonight so that we can finish up
with this work. Can you stay little longer at the
office?
YOU:...................................................................
Boss: Well, that’s too bad…I was hoping you
could stay.
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REFUSAL OF REQUEST
Situation 1: Refusing a lower status person’s request
Situation 2: Refusing an equal status person’s request
Situation 12: Refusing a higher status person’s request
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Some refusals...TURKISH LEARNERS
S1: I pay you more than other bosses!S1: I have pleased with your work but that doesn’t mean “I will increase in your pay.
S2: I’m sorry, but I’m not a slavewho always have to attend the class all the time while you’re having fun.S2: If you had attended your lectures regularly, I would have given the notes, but I’m not a green or a jerk.
S12: It’s not possible because my mom is sick. I have to go homeS12: I wish I could but my husband’s waiting for me at home.
CZECH LEARNERS
S1: Unfortunately, we have no budget for this although I’m very satisfied with your work.S1: I’m sorry but I can’t afford it.
S2: Sorry man, I just left my notes at home by accident. S2: I’m sorry but do you think that I should? I regularly attend and you do not.
S12: I’m really sorry but my husband and I will celebrate our anniversary, and we have already booked a place in the French restaurant. S12: I’m so sorry, but my wife has prepared delicious food for me, so I can’t disappoint her. Sorry again.
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SITUATION 3:You are the president of a big printing company. A salesman from a printing machine company invites
you to one of the most expensive restaurants, Lutece, in New York.
Salesman: You have met several times now, and I’m hoping you will buy my company’s printing machine. Would you like to have dinner with me at Lutece to sign the contract?YOU: .......................................................................
.Salesman: Well…maybe we can meet another time.
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SITUATION 4:
You are an executive at a very large software
company. One day the boss calls you into his
office.
Boss: Next Sunday my wife and I are having a
little party at my house. I know it’s sudden.. but I’m
hoping all my executives will be there with their
views/husbands. Will you come to the party?
YOU: .....................................................................
Boss: Well, that’s too bad.. I was hoping everyone
would be there.
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SITUATION 10:
A friend invites you to dinner, but you
really don’t like this friend’s husband/wife.
Friend: How about coming to my house Sunday
night? We’re having a small dinner party.
YOU: .............................................................
Friend: Well…maybe next time.
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REFUSAL OF INVITATION
Situation 3: Refusing a lower status person’s invitation
Situation 4: Refusing a higher status person’s invitation
Situation 10: Refusing an equal status person’s invitation
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Some refusals...TURKISH LEARNERS
S3: I’m afraid it is my daughter’s today and I believe that being a big businessman first of all requires to have a big heart for your family.S3: I’ll meet my lover at that time.
S4: Sorry, but my wife and I broke up.S4: I feel proud of myself since you’re so kind to invite me, but I’m afraid I can’t.
S10: Thank you, but I’ve promised my wife to go to her parents.S10: I don’t like parties.
CZECH LEARNERS
S3: I would like to have a dinner with you but, I have no time right now. Maybe later.S3: Sorry, I don’t have time for this.
S4: Sorry, I can’t come. My husband is in a hospital and I’ll have to take care of my children.S4: I’m sorry but, we are invited to my sister’s engagement.
S10: I’m sorry I can't. My husband is mentally ill, so we can’t visit any friends now. S10: I’m sorry but I’ve already been invited to another one.
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SITUATION 5:
You are at a friend’s house watching TV. Your
friend offers you a snack.
You: Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve been eating like a
pig and I feel just terrible. My clothes don’t even fit
me.
Friend: Hey, why don’t you try this new diet I’ve
been telling you about?
YOU:........................................................................
Friend: Well…you should try it anyway.
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SITUATION 6:Your boss just asked you to bring a report to him.
You can’t find the report on your desk because your desk is very disorganized. Your boss walks
over. Boss: You know, maybe you should try to organize yourself better. I always write things down a piece of paper so I don’t forget them. Why don’t you try it? YOU: (However, you don’t like the boss’suggestion) .........................................................Boss: Well…it was only an idea anyway.
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SITUATION 8:You teach English at a university. It is just about
the middle of the semester now. One of your students asks to speak to you.
Student: Ah, excuse me, some of the students were talking after class yesterday. We feel that
the class would be better if you could give us more practice in conversation and less on grammar.
YOU:.....................................................................Student: Well…it was only a suggestion.
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REFUSAL OF SUGGESTION
Situation 5: Refusing an equal status person’s suggestion
Situation 6: Refusing a higher status person’s suggestion
Situation 8: Refusing a lower status person’s suggestion
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Some refusals...TURKISH LEARNERS
S5: Oh, thanks. But, you know I have an allergy about diets.S5: No, thank you. I don’t think I need a new diet.
S6: Thank you for your suggestion.S6: Sir, sorry, but it is not my style.
S8: Yes, it would be wonderful, but I’m sorry because I have no time, but If I have time, I can help you. S8: We don’t have enough time to do that. Maybe later.
CZECH LEARNERS
S5: You know, I don’t believe in diets.
S5: I have my own diet, thank you.
S6: That’s a good idea, but I have a
good memory. I should rather tidy
the mess on my desk.
S6: I have my own system about
how to organize my things. But thank
you for your advice.
S8: I’m teaching English grammar, not
the English conversation.
S8: If you feel so, we can discuss it,
but your grammar and practice is
balanced acoording to your needs.
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SITUATION 7:
You arrive home and notice that your cleaning lady
is extremely upset. She comes rushing up to you.
Cleaning lady: Oh God, I’m sorry! I had a terrible
accident. While I was cleaning, I bumped into the
table and your china vase fell and broke. I feel very
bad about it. I’ll pay for it.
YOU: (Knowing that the cleaning lady is
supporting three children) .......................................
Cleaning lady: No, I’d feel better if I paid for it.
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SITUATION 9:
You are at a friend’s house for lunch.
Friend: How about another piece of cake?
YOU:............................................................
Friend: Come on, just a little piece?
YOU: ............................................................
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SITUATION 11:You’ve been working in advertising company now for some time. The boss offers you an increase in salary and a better position, but you have to move to another town. You don’t want to go. Today, the
boss calls you into his office. Boss: I’d like to offer you an executive position in our new office in Hicktown. It’s a great town- only 3 hours from here by airplane.YOU: ..................................................................Boss: Well…maybe you should think about it some more before declining.
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REFUSAL OF OFFER
Situation 7: Refusing a lower status person
Situation 9: Refusing an equal status person
Situation 11: Refusing a higher status person
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Some refusals...TURKISH LEARNERS
S7: No, no, no, Don’t feel bad. It’s not important. Forget it.S7: It is not important. In fact, I didn’t like it very much.
S9: Thank you very much, it look wonderful but I’m on a diet ok, but just a little piece. S9: No, thanks. Are you deaf? I’ve said “no, no, no, no”
S11: You make me happy with you offering but I’m sorry. S11: Sir, to be honest. I don’t want to go another town. I think I’ll be more efficient if I continue to work this company.
CZECH LEARNERS
S7: No, you don’t have to pay for it.You do a good job in here. Such things happen.
S7: Oh, it’s OK. I didn’t really like
it all.
S9: Not really, I feel like a pig.
S9: No, thank you. I said NO!
S11: My mother-in-law would kill
me if I moved somewhere else.
S11: No, I don’t want to move.
Does it sound clear to you?
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Concluding remarks Unless learners pay conscious attention to the relevant social factors in a particular context, they are likely to
lapse automatically into the norms of their native language and culture and may thereby cause
unintended offense’.
With sensitivity and awareness of sociolinguistic rules involved in the target
language, Korean learners of English may avoid the occurrences of cross-cultural miscommunication as a
result of inappropriate refusals (Holmes and Brown,1987: 535).
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