Strategies to refuse requests in Solutions Elementary and Pre-Intermediate
Abstract
In communication, refusing is a sophisticated issue. The speech act of requesting requires language knowledge and skills of speakers in order to maintain the relationships between the speakers and the hearers. This article deals with an investigation into refusal strategies in English dialogues. It aims to find out the strategies English speakers use to decline requests, suggestions and offers. The strategies were investigated in 213 conversations in Solutions Elementary and Pre-Intermediate. The results of the study reveal that the strategies used to refuse suggests, offers and requests are “bald on-record”, “off-record”, “positive politeness” and “negative politeness”. The findings show that the English tend to combine two or more strategies to refuse. This combination helps speakers save interlocutor’s face and maintain their relationship. The article hopes to help English learners know how to decline requests, suggestions and offers appropriately when they communicate with native English speakers.