scholarly journals Realisation of the Speech Act of Request, Suggestion and Apology by Libyan EFL Learners

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110503
Author(s):  
Abudalslam Alfghe ◽  
Behbood Mohammadzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Linguistic Competence ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Efl Students

This study investigates the three speech act strategies of request, suggestion and apology in Libyan Arab EFL undergraduate students (AREFLUS) and Amazigh EFL undergraduate students (AMEFLUS). It also examines their linguistic and pragmatic competence in these strategies. Two Libyan universities (Sebha and Zwara) are selected for the study, which includes 50 AREFLUS and 37 AMEFLUS participants. To investigate the students’ socio-pragmatic and pragma linguistic competence, two instruments are used: a questionnaire in the form of a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) and a rating scale. The results reveal numerous similarities between the Libyan Arab and Amazigh participants in performing all the speech act strategies of request, suggest and apology. However, some significant differences regarding gender are found among Libyan EFL students. Overall, both groups appear to be more competent in functioning than in structuring the three mentioned speech act strategies.

scholarly journals Iranian EFL Learners’ Realization of Condolence Speech Act: An Interlanguage Pragmatics Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-119
Author(s):  
Maryam Sharif ◽  
Lotfollah Yarmohammadi ◽  
Firooz Sadighi ◽  
Mortaza Yamini ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Bagheri
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Interlanguage Pragmatics ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Addition Level

This study was an attempt to compare and contrast the realization patterns of condolence speech act in English and Persian and to examine Iranian EFL learners’ realization of this speech act in English. The study was further interested in investigating whether Iranian EFL learners’ realization of condolence speech act is associated with their level of L2 proficiency. To this end, a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) was administered to 82 undergraduate Iranian EFL students in English. The participants were divided into three levels of language proficiency (elementary level, intermediate level, and advanced level) based on their scores on the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT). For baseline comparisons, the EFL learners also received the translated version of the same DCT in Persian, and the English DCT was administered to 20 native speakers (NSs) of American English. The data were analyzed based on Elwood’s (2004) coding scheme. The results revealed that English and Persian NSs and Iranian EFL learners had access to the same condolence strategies, yet they differed in the semantic formulas, content, or forms they adopted to formulize their condolence expressions. In addition, level of L2 proficiency was found to be associated with Iranian EFL learners’ realization of condolence speech act. 

scholarly journals The Effects of Explicit/Implicit Instructions on the Development of Advanced EFL Learners’ Pragmatic Knowledge of English: Apology Speech Act

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Pasand Shark
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Real Life Situation ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Pragmatic Knowledge

The current study explored the effects of explicit and implicit instructions on the development of advanced EFL learners’ pragmatic knowledge in terms of apology speech act. A total of 10 English native speakers and 40 advanced EFL students participated in this study. The Iraqi Kurdish EFL learners were selected from grade 12 in British International School in Erbil/ Iraq and their level was determined by Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT) proficiency test. These 40 participants were divided randomly into two; explicit group (EG) and implicit group (IG) Later, they were provided a Multiple-choice Discourse Completion Test (MDCT) as a pre-test, which consisted of 10 different situations of apology and were based on the participants’ real-life situation, each situation included 3 options and only one answer could be selected which considered to be the most appropriate answer to them. The aim was to show if there were any significant differences between EG and IG. The English native speakers were given the same (MDCT) and were asked to choose the most appropriate answers. After the treatment, (EG) and (IG) were provided the same MDCT as a post-test. The findings revealed that the results of EG and IG were significant and they showed improvements after the treatment, and the EG outperformed the IG in post-test and delayed-test.

scholarly journals Speech Act of Complaining: Socio-Pragmatic study of Complaint by Moroccan EFL Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-155
Author(s):  
Abdelfattah Laabidi ◽  
Adiba Bousfiha
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Social Power ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Social Variables ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Cultural Variables ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Quantitative Design

Complaining as a speech act can occur in every conversation even unintentionally. The use of this speech act is culture specific. The expressions and strategies used to issue a complaint vary according to context, interlocutors and to other socio-cultural variables. The present study investigates the complaint strategies of Moroccan higher education institutions’ EFL students. Data for the current study are collected from 37 second and third year students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) representing a population in Moroccan Higher Education embodied in Moulay Ismail University, Meknes and who have managed to answer a discourse completion test composed of five situational prompts. A quantitative design is used for the collection, the analysis and the interpretation of data. The data gathered are described and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that Moroccan EFL students use specific linguistic forms to make complaints regarding different social variables such as social distance, ranking and social power. They also imply that Moroccan EFL learners tend to use more indirect strategies in issuing their complaints along with some intimacy expressions that mark the specificity of the Moroccan culture as a positive politeness culture, par excellence.

scholarly journals The Implementation of ISSECI Model for Enhancing Thai EFL Students’ Intercultural Pragmatic Competence: Politeness Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Wapee KONG-IN ◽  
Anamai Damnet
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Free Response ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Open Time ◽  
Politeness Strategies ◽  
Efl Students

Regarding pedagogical purpose, Thai EFL learners’ communicative English proficiency is obviously restricted by the limited experiences of L2 politeness strategies. The aim of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of the innovative teaching, ISSECI Model in terms of intercultural pragmatic competence: face threatening ace (FTA) – Do FTA and Don’t do FTA. The twenty Thai EFL undergraduate students from Rajabhat University were selected as participants through simple random sampling. Data were collected using rejoinder-discourse completion task mixed with open time free response construction, and was statistically analyzed in MEAN, standard deviation, and t-test. The findings revealed that the participants’ intercultural pragmatic competence after learning through ISSECI Model is significantly higher than that before the experiment (*p < 0.05). The participants’ perception with regard to ISSECI Model included four domains, i.e., English knowledge gained, cultural awareness, strengths, and weaknesses of the model.

scholarly journals Croatian EFL Learners’ Interlanguage Requests: A Focus on Request Modification

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
Danijela Šegedin Borovina
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Oral Discourse ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Completion Test

This paper explores the development of pragmatic competence in the interlanguage of Croatian learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) at three proficiency levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced). It investigates the way Croatian learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) use internal and external supportive moves to modify their requests. Data were collected using an oral Discourse Completion Test consisting of ten school-related situations. The research participants were 60 EFL learners aged between 11 and 18. The coding categories developed in the Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Project (CCSARP, Blum-Kulka et al. 1989) and adapted by Schauer (2009) were used to analyse the data. Overall results indicated that the request production of EFL learners showed little variation regarding the type of modification and frequency of their use. Results also indicated weak evidence of pragmalinguistic development across levels, particularly in the use of grounders. The infrequent use of request modification suggests that pragmatic instruction should be included in FL classrooms to facilitate the development of L2 pragmatic ability.

scholarly journals Cross-Sectional Study of Refusal Speech Act Used by Iraqi Undergraduate Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-173
Author(s):  
Hutheifa Y. Turki ◽  
Juma’a Q. Hussein ◽  
Ahmed A. Al-Kubaisy
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Arabic And English ◽  
Refusal Strategies

This paper is conducted to investigate how Iraqi EFL learners refuse different speech acts across different proficiency levels. It aims to examine the most appropriate strategies used by 2nd year students of English as compared to those of 4th year when refusing their interlocutors' invitation, suggestion, and offer. WDCT questionnaire was used to collect data from 40 Iraqi undergraduate students of English: 20 2nd year and 20 4th year. Adopting Beebe et al.'s (1990) theory of refusal, data collected was analyzed quantitatively using statistical analysis. The findings revealed that the 2nd year students of English were more frequent in using direct refusals than their 4th year counterparts. This means the latter were more aware of using refusals politely than the former. On the other hand, the findings showed that 4th year students more frequent in their use of indirect refusal strategies that the 2nd year students. This indicates that the EFL learners of low proficiency level might not bridge the gap between the pragmalinguistic strategies and the grammatical form of the target language. This means that they were not pragmatically competent of the use of the appropriate pragmalinguistic strategies. This implies that the 2nd year students need to pay more attention to pragmatics and use their refusal strategies appropriately. Thus, the paper recommends conducting further research on the use of refusal speech act in Arabic and English.

scholarly journals REFUSAL STRATEGY PERFORMED BY INDONESIAN EFL LEARNER

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Nenden Sri Rahayu
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Interlanguage Pragmatics ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
The Status ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Similar Range

The research investigates the speech act recognition of refusing as made by Indonesian learners of English as a foreign language, native Indonesian, and native English. It involves three groups: 13 Indonesian EFL Learners (IELs), 13 Indonesian Native Speakers (INSs), and 13 American Native Speakers (NSs) of English. They were asked to respond to ten different situations, in which they carry out the speech act of refusal. Their strategies in refusing were compared one another in order to find out whether the refusal performed by Indonesian EFL Learner (IELs) correspond more closely with those of the Indonesian Native Speakers (INSs) or with speakers of the target language, the American Native Speakers (NSs). The data, collected from a Discourse Completion Test (DCT) which was developed by Blum-Kulka, were analyzed and categorized based on Azis�s categories (2000). Results indicated that although a similar range of refusal strategies were available to the two language groups, cross-cultural variation still exists. The data involved some contextual variables, which include the status of interlocutors (higher, equal, or lower status) and eliciting acts, i.e., requests, invitations, offers, and suggestions.Keywords: Indonesian EFL Learners; interlanguage pragmatics; refusal strategy; speech�act.

scholarly journals Pragmatic competence in English at the VG1 level: To what extent are Norwegian EFL students able to adapt to contextual demands when making requests in English?

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silje Brubæk
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Choice ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Pragmatic Development ◽  
L1 Transfer ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Subject

The present article presents an investigation of Norwegian students of English as a foreign language (EFL) and their pragmatic competence in English. The importance of developing such a competence receives a strong focus in the English subject curriculum. However, very few studies have been conducted in the field of pragmatics in Norway, and even fewer Norwegian studies have focused on students’ pragmatic competence in a second language. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate whether Norwegian EFL students would be familiar with and show awareness of English politeness norms and pragmatic conventions when having to communicate in English. Would they be able to adapt their language, choice of strategy and level of formality to the contextual demands when making requests in the second language (L2)? Forty students answered a simplified version of a discourse completion test (DCT) consisting of four different situations in which the students had to make requests. The results, which were analysed by means of Brown and Levinson’s theory of face threatening acts, indicated that most of the students were at one of the beginning stages of English pragmatic development. Their language use was characterized by first language (L1) transfer and overuse of familiar and informal expressions. When faced with more formal and demanding situations, they fell short and clearly lacked the knowledge and competence that would allow them to communicate successfully. It can be argued that these findings might indicate a lack of focus in Norwegian schools when it comes to developing students’ pragmatic competence. If this is true, an important part of the subject curriculum is being neglected.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Complaint Strategies among Iranian Upper Intermediate EFL Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Nasiri Kakolaki ◽  
Mohsen Shahrokhi
Keyword(s):  
Women Students ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Completion Task ◽  
Efl Students

<p class="Default"><em>The goal of this research </em><em>was</em><em> to know the differences </em><em>between</em><em> the strategies used by </em><em>male and female upper</em><em> intermediate EFL learners in complaining. Various studies suggest that the way men and women speak is different. Women are considered to be more polite than men. The present study investigated the differences of complaining realizations between Iranian EFL men and women students. A number of 60 (30 males and 30 females) upper intermediate students were selected based on their performance on a general proficiency test administered by the institute’s authorities to participate in the study. Data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire in the form of a Discourse Completion Task (DCT). The responses were analyzed based on Rinnert and Nogami’s (2006) taxonomy. The study revealed that there was a difference between men and women in realizing the complaining speech act. Men used very direct complaint more frequently compared to women who used indirect complaints the most. The present study found gender has an influence on the choice of complaining strategies and politeness.</em><em></em></p>

Realization of Speech Act of Permission by Kurdish EFL University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-30
Author(s):  
Yaseen Alzeebaree
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Speech Act ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Private University ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
State Universities ◽  
Completion Test ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Convenience Sampling

This study aims to examine Kurdish EFL university students’ development of L2 pragmatic competence by investigating their performance of the speech acts of permission. The methodology of this study was a combined research method, which comprises a quantitative and a qualitative method (mixed method). Total of 97 participants were involved in this research study. 83 (33 males and 50 females) were from four state universities and one private university in the Iraqi Kurdistan region and 14 were native speakers of English. A discourse completion test (DCT) was used to elicit the required data from participants. The study used convenience sampling for the participants because both native and non-native participants were selected on the basis of their availability. The data were coded and analysed quantitatively in terms of overall strategy use and strategy patterns. The findings revealed that there were differences in the frequency and percentages of strategies and semantic formulae in performing the speech act. KEFLUS tended to use more direct and explicit. There were more politeness and implicitness in NSE' behaviours in performing the speech act, which might have resulted from the lack of pragmatic competence of KEFLUS.

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