Analysing Gender Effect on the Speech Act of Suggestion: A Pilot Study

This is a pilot study on analyzing the effect of gender on the speech act of suggestion. It introduces preliminary analyses of whether gender affects the use of suggestion strategies produced and recognized by Iraqi EFL learners. The strategies are dealt with from three perspectives: structural, directness, and politeness. The purpose of this small-scale study is twofold, (1) to explore if there is a relationship between gender and suggestions and (2) to check the validity and reliability and thus the workability of the instruments in question to a large-scale study. To this end, the study sampled voluntarily, on an equal base, 10 male and 10 female fourth-year undergraduates using a name-in-box method. The study used two quantitative-based instruments to elicit suggestions: Written Discourse Completion Task (WDCT) and Multiple-choice Discourse Completion Task (MDCT). Each of which consisted of 12 situations approximating real-like interactions. The corpus was statistically analyzed via SPSS and yielded that gender affected the use of structural and directness strategies of suggestions, but it had no effect on the politeness strategies. Results along with the feedback of the raters, who were chosen to rate the situations, have both proven that the instruments in question are valid and reliable to work on relevant further studies.

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A Descriptive Analysis of Disagreement Strategies: The Case of Iranian EFL Learners

International Journal of Linguistics ◽

10.5296/ijl.v8i5.10254 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Atieh Farashaiyan ◽

Paramasivam Muthusamy

Keyword(s):

Social Power ◽

Speech Act ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Power Distance ◽

Written Discourse ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Situational Variables ◽

Completion Task ◽

Contextual Understanding ◽

Pragmatic Knowledge

The purpose of this research was to describe the L2 pragmatic knowledge of Iranian EFL learners by producing the speech act of disagreement in English in different situations. One hundred and twenty Iranian EFL learners took part in this study. The required data were accumulated through a Written Discourse Completion Task (WDCT). The results showed that most participants tended to make use of more indirect strategies (44.85%) to disagree with another speaker’s statement either with higher or lower power or within different social distance. The respondents’ most frequent strategy use refers to counterclaims with 44.8%. On the other hand, challenges with 8.8% and Irrelevancy of claims with 3.2% were respectively among the least frequent strategies used in all situations. The results showed that learners almost utilized the same strategies in different disagreement situations with the same frequency. Therefore, it indicates that they did not notice the situational variables of social power, distance and imposition to vary their choice of strategy. In other words, they did not have the contextual understanding of the mentioned factors. Therefore, the results can suggest that the learners lack sufficient pragmatic knowledge in performing the studied speech act. The implication of this study is for Iranian language instructors, materials writers and curriculum developers.

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PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE OF THE YEMENI EFL LEARNERS

European Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics Studies ◽

10.46827/ejlll.v5i3.281 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Qasem H. Al-Khadhmi ◽

Mirza M. B. ◽

Abdullah Ali Al-Eryani

Keyword(s):

Speech Act ◽

Native Speakers ◽

Analytic Approach ◽

Pragmatic Competence ◽

Written Discourse ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Completion Task ◽

Native Speakers Of English ◽

Refusal Strategies ◽

Loading Scheme

The present study aimed at investigating the pragmatic competence of the Yemeni Non-Native Speakers of English (YNNSs) through examining their performance in the speech act of refusals. The study followed the qualitative comparative analytic approach. For the purpose of attaining the required data for this study, forty (YNNSs) and forty American Native Speakers (ANSs) of English were involved. The questionnaire used for collecting data from the participants was a written Discourse Completion Task (DCT), which was developed by Beebe et el. (1990), employed for collecting the data related to the use of refusal strategies by the two groups of participants in English. The data collected from DCT was analyzed by using a loading scheme adapted from Beebe et al. (1990). This study revealed that the Yemeni NNSs were not pragmatically competent enough in English. In spite of the similarity between the two groups in their use of refusal strategies, the differences between them were more apparent. The total number of strategies used by the American NSs was almost double those used by the Yemeni NNSs in all refusal situations. This study recommends that instructors should design contextualized, task-based, oral activities and integrating the intercultural aspects of language into ELT textbooks. Article visualizations:<img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0895/a.php" alt="Hit counter" />

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Air versus water chilling of chicken: a pilot study of quality, shelf-life, microbial ecology, and economics

10.21203/rs.3.rs-40342/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aeriel D Belk ◽

Toni Duarte ◽

Casey Quinn ◽

David A. Coil ◽

Keith E. Belk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Microbial Ecology ◽

Large Scale ◽

Water Immersion ◽

The United States ◽

Poultry Meat ◽

Small Scale ◽

Meat Industry

Abstract Background. The United States’ large-scale poultry meat industry is energy and water intensive, and opportunities may exist to improve sustainability during the broiler chilling process. After harvest, the internal temperature of the chicken is rapidly cooled to inhibit bacterial growth that would otherwise compromise the safety of the product. This step is accomplished most commonly by water immersion chilling in the United States, while air chilling methods dominate other global markets. A comprehensive understanding of the differences between these chilling methods is lacking. Therefore, we assessed the meat quality, shelf-life, microbial ecology, and technoeconomic impacts of chilling methods on chicken broilers in a university meat laboratory setting. Results. We discovered that air-chilling (AC) methods resulted in superior chicken odor and shelf-life, especially prior to 14 days of dark storage. Moreover, we demonstrated that AC resulted in a more diverse microbiome that we hypothesize may delay the dominance of the spoilage organism Pseudomonas. Finally, a technoeconomic analysis highlighted potential economic advantages to AC when compared to water-chilling (WC) in facility locations where water costs are a more significant factor than energy costs. Conclusions. In this pilot study, AC chilling methods resulted in a superior product compared to WC methods and may have economic advantages in regions of the U.S. where water is expensive. As a next step, a similar experiment should be done in an industrial setting to confirm these results generated in a small-scale university lab facility.

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Pragmatic Rating of L2 Refusal: Criteria of Native and Non-native English Teachers

TESL Canada Journal ◽

10.18806/tesl.v30i7.1152 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 63 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Minoo Alemi ◽

Zia Tajeddin

Keyword(s):

Teacher Assessment ◽

Interlanguage Pragmatics ◽

Main Criterion ◽

Written Discourse ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Completion Task ◽

Nonnative Teachers ◽

English Speaking ◽

Rating Criteria ◽

Shed Light

Many studies have shed light on rater criteria for assessing the performance of language skills (e.g., Eckes, 2005). However, the interface between rater assess- ment and interlanguage pragmatics (ILP) has remained largely unnoticed. To address this interface, this study explored the ratings native (NES) and nonnative English speaking (NNES) teachers assigned to second language (L2) refusal pro- duction and the criteria they applied in their ratings. To this end, 50 NES and 50 NNES teachers participated in rating L2 refusal production of EFL learners that included responses to a 6-item written discourse completion task. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative analysis showed that na- tive teachers applied 11 criteria and nonnative teachers applied 6 criteria in their pragmatic ratings. Reasoning/explanation was the leading criterion in teacher assessment among native raters, whereas politeness was the main criterion for nonnative ratings. Quantitative analysis documented variation in the frequency of drawing on rating criteria and significant differences in ratings, with NNES teachers being more lenient and divergent in their ratings. The results suggest there is a gap between NES and NNES teachers in terms of rating criteria, strictness, and convergence in rating.

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Examining the Mediating Role of Innovativeness on the Relationship between Innovation Strategy, Atmosphere, Culture and Performance of Hotel Industry in Thailand: A Pilot Study

Annals of Contemporary Developments in Management & HR ◽

10.33166/acdmhr.2020.02.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 29-39

Author(s):

Thienchai Phankhong ◽

Lily Julienti Abu Bakar ◽

Donny Abdul Latief Poespowidjojo

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Large Scale ◽

Initial Step ◽

Innovation Strategy ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Good Reliability ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Hotel Performance ◽

And Performance

Pilot study is an essential initial step of a survey. The paper aims to explore the validity and reliability of the instrument in the pilot study stage before implementing large scale study of the mediating role of innovativeness between innovation strategy, organizational atmosphere, organizational culture and hotel performance in Thailand. The data were collected from 60 three to five stars hotel in Thailand. In this study using PLS-SEM 3.2.8 software for data analysis. The main results of the study found that content validity greater than 0.90, the cronbach’s alpha coefficient value of all the five constructs ranged from 0.747 to 0.928. Furthermore, the results of the composite reliability were above 0.70 which is acceptable confirmed that the instruments have a good reliability. Additionally, the results confirmed that the instruments were fit to be used for the actual study.

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Gender Differences in Complaint Strategies among Iranian Upper Intermediate EFL Students

Studies in English Language Teaching ◽

10.22158/selt.v4n1p1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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

The goal of this research was to know the differences between the strategies used by male and female upper 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.

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Politeness Strategies of Disagreement by English Native Speaker Students

Lexicon ◽

10.22146/lexicon.v5i1.41271 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nadia Yofa Laela Khoirunnisa ◽

Tofan Dwi Hardjanto

Keyword(s):

Speech Act ◽

Native Speaker ◽

Research Paper ◽

Completion Task ◽

Politeness Strategies ◽

English Native Speaker

This research paper investigates the speech act of disagreement performed by English native speaker students. Particularly, it attempts to examine the politeness strategies used by English native speaker students in realizing disagreement. The data were obtained using Discourse Completion Task consisting of six situations that were completed by twenty students. The results showed that a total of 113 utterances of disagreement were found. The most frequently used strategy was negative politeness (41.6%) since this strategy becomes the most suitable strategy to minimize the imposition of disagreement utterances. The rank is then followed by positive politeness (29.2%), bald on-record (25.7%), and off-record (3.5%).

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Speech Acts across Cultures: A Comparative Study of Chinese and Pakistani Students’ Request and Politeness Strategies

sjesr ◽

10.36902/sjesr-vol4-iss2-2021(1-12) ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Amina Shahzadi ◽

Abdul Ghaffar Bhatti ◽

Munir Khan

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Social Distance ◽

Speech Acts ◽

Speech Act ◽

Chinese Students ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Politeness Strategies ◽

Request Strategies ◽

Esl Learners

The examines are the different request strategies in English used by Pakistani and Chinese students according to social distance and power of interlocutors. Data comprises students from Pakistan and China enrolled in an undergraduate program at International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan. Blum-Kulka, House, and Kasper's (1989) taxonomy of request strategies is taken as a theoretical framework to compare the request speech act patterns of Pakistani and Chinese students. This study analyzed the request speech act in terms of head act strategies used by participants. Blum-Kulka et al. (1989) categorized the request speech act into three request strategies i.e. direct, conventionally indirect, and non-conventional indirect strategies. The study identifies similarities between Pakistani ESL learners and Chinese EFL learners in making use of mood derivable as the preferred strategies for making requests in situations of different social distance, power, and familiarity between the interlocutors.

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Model latihan imagery untuk peningkatan ketepatan floating service atlet voli pantai

Jurnal Keolahragaan ◽

10.21831/jk.v7i2.21837 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Johan Irmansyah ◽

Muhammad Ridwan Lubis ◽

Andi Gilang Permadi ◽

Nune Wire Panji Sakti

Keyword(s):

Research And Development ◽

Large Scale ◽

Small Scale ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Test Analysis ◽

Paired Sample ◽

Training Models ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Before And After ◽

Sample Test

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1) menghasilkan sebuah model latihan imagery untuk peningkatan ketepatan floating service pada atlet voli pantai NTB, dan (2) mengetahui keefektifan model latihan imagery untuk peningkatan ketepatan floating service atlet voli pantai NTB. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian dan pengembangan atau yang sering disebut research and development yang mana digunakan untuk menghasilkan sebuah produk yang diinginkan. Hasil penelitian ini, yaitu studi pendahuluan, uji skala kecil dan skala besar yang telah dilakukan dengan percobaaan floating service dan instrument yang telah teruji validitas dan reliabilitasnya, dinyatakan bahwa penilaian para ahli terhadap model latihan imagery untuk meningkatkan ketepatan floating service dikatakan ‘layak’ untuk diterapkan di lapangan. Untuk uji efektifitas produk akhir, dari hasil analisis uji t menggunakan Paired Sample Test, menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan pretest – posttest ketepatan floating service dengan nilai t sebesar 8.104 dan signifikansi 0.000 < 0.05, maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa peningkatan floating service sebelum dan sesudah diberikan latihan imagery mendapatkan peningkatan yang signifikan atau ada pengaruh yang signifikan dari latihan imagery untuk peningkatan ketepatan floating service. Exercise model imagery to improve the accuracy of floating service in beach volleyball athlete AbstractThis study aims to: (1) produce an exercise model of imagery to improve the accuracy of floating service in NTB beach volleyball athletes, and (2) determine the effectiveness an exercise model of imagery to improve the accuracy of floating service in NTB beach volleyball athletes. This research uses research and development methods or often called research and development which is used to produce the desired product. The results of this study, namely a preliminary study, small scale and large scale tests that have been carried out with a trial of floating services and instruments that have been tested for validity and reliability, stated that experts' assessment of imagery training models to improve the accuracy of floating services is said to be 'feasible' in the field. To test the effectiveness of the final product, the results of the t-test analysis using Paired Sample Test, showed that the increase in pretest-posttest floating service accuracy with a t value of 8,104 and significance of 0,000 <0.05, it can be concluded that the increase in floating service before and after imagery training was given get a significant increase or there is a significant effect of imagery training on improving the accuracy of floating services.

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Complaint and Politeness Strategies used by Iranian Speakers of English

International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature ◽

10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.7n.3p.38 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 38

Author(s):

Narges Masjedi ◽

Shamala Paramasivam

Keyword(s):

Social Relationship ◽

Speech Act ◽

Speech Act Theory ◽

Politeness Theory ◽

Academic Context ◽

Good Relationship ◽

Completion Task ◽

Politeness Strategies ◽

The Face ◽

Relationship Breakdown

Complaint is a face threatening act and it happens when a speaker reacts with anger to things which go wrong or to a speech or an action which affected him/her unfavorably. Therefore, complaints can engender social relationship breakdown. However, a complainer can use politeness when he/she aims to maintain a good relationship with complainee or to mitigate the severity of his/her complaint and face threat. This study aims to investigate the complaint speech act with regard to the strategies and structure used as well as the politeness strategies employed by Iranian learners in communication with other nationalities in the academic context of a university. Searle’s (1969) speech act theory and Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory comprised the theoretical framework of the study. The data were elicited through open-ended discourse completion task questionnaire from 50 Iranian learners. The data were analyzed using pragmatics as the approach within discourse analysis. The findings show that Iranians are able to draw on a variety of strategies and structures and adapt them in a flexible manner when faced with various complaint-provoking situations. Culturally, the findings show that Iranians are indirect and exercise negative politeness as they try to minimize the face threatening act of complaining. However, when the situation demands for it, they can be direct in their manner of speech.

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