Social Distance and Politeness in the Speech Act of Refusal: A Double Voicing Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/ijleal.v15i2.10036Keywords:
Chinese L1 English majors, Double voicing, Politeness, Refusal, Social distance, Speech actAbstract
Politeness plays an important role in cushioning the impact of refusal and ensuring smooth communication. “Double voicing” emerges as a helpful strategy in this regard to maintain social harmony, allowing interlocutors to consider the other person’s perspective. This process is further influenced by social distance. How language learners navigate the production of refusals is worth exploring from a double voicing perspective because it can shed light on how politeness is negotiated by them. This study examines the role of double voicing in refusals among Chinese students majoring in English as a foreign language. Data were elicited from 39 students via role plays, with social distance being categorised as close, medium and distant. The responses were screen-recorded, transcribed, and examined via discourse analysis methods consistent with Schiffrin’s Interactional Sociolinguistics. Findings indicate that double voicing can be classified into 12 types that are all mediated by social distance: hedging of a positive relation type; explanation, apology, gratitude, compliment, buffer, mixed double voicing of a ‘V’ type; comfort, self-modesty, empathy, self-commitment, and authority of an inverted ‘V’ type. All these patterns are functions of politeness, which can be utilised as a sophisticated strategy to consolidate relationships.
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