Requests
Download as PPT, PDF1 like1,758 views
Requests are asking someone to do something like lending something, doing a chore, or doing something for someone. There are different kinds of requests like hearer-oriented, speaker-oriented, and speaker- and hearer-oriented. A request has an attention getter, head act which is the actual request, and sometimes supportive moves. Requests can threaten face and place a burden on the recipient so speakers use strategies like suggestions, grammatical downgraders, and supportive moves to minimize the burden. How requests are made depends on social and situational factors.
Requests
- 2. Requests: What are they? Kinds of requests Parts of a request Requests & face Burden of requests Request strategies Factors affecting requests Japanese requests
- 3. When you make a request, a speaker asks a someone to do something Lend something Can I borrow 1,000 yen? Do or help with a chore Would you clean up your room? Do something for someone Could you drive me to the station?
- 4. Hearer-oriented Could you clean up the kitchen, please? Speaker-oriented Can I borrow your notes from yesterday’s class? Speaker- and Hearer-oriented So, could we tidy up the kitchen soon? Impersonal So it might be a good idea to get it cleaned up.
- 5. Danny, can you remind me to bring the book for you on Monday? Otherwise I might forget. Attention getter Danny Head act – the request Can you remind me to bring the book for you on Monday? Supportive move(s) Otherwise I might forget.
- 6. Face is your feeling of self-worth or self-image Positive face is the desire for approval by others We want others to like and respect us Negative face is the desire not to impose on others. We don’t want to be a burden to others
- 7. Requests can potentially be intrusive The request may place a burden on the recipient Asking someone who is busy to do something else places a burden on them A recipient may have to refuse a request We don’t like to say no We don’t like to be refused
- 8. Refusing a request and having a request refused result is a potential loss of face Therefore, there is a need to minimize the burden of requests Speakers reduce the burden of requests through different strategies
- 9. Direct strategies Usually the second most common (10% in English) Conventially indirect strategies Most common in all languages (82%) Non-conventially indirect strategies Least common (8%)
- 10. Explicit requests I’m asking you to clean up the kitchen. You’ll have to clean up the kitchen. I really wish you’d clean up the kitchen. Often imperatives (commands) Clean up the kitchen. Do your homework! Sit down.
- 11. Make use of frequently used expressions to downgrade the request Suggestions How about cleaning up? Why don’t you help with the cleaning up?
- 12. Grammatical downgraders Could you…? I wonder if you would mind…? Do you think I could…? It would really help if you…? Would you mind if I…? Would you be kind enough to…?
- 13. Supportive moves Do me a favor Can you do me a favor? Would you lend me 1,000 yen? Explain I missed my bus. Could you give me a lift home?
- 14. Supportive moves Check possibility Are you going towards the station? If so, could I have a ride? Compliment You have beautiful handwriting. Could I borrow your notes?
- 15. Non-conventionally indirect strategies are hints There is a gap between the speaker’s intended meaning and the literal meaning
- 16. It’s cold in here. Meaning: Close the window Do you have any money on you? Meaning: Can I borrow some money? Do you know where the newspaper is? Meaning: Would you get the newspaper?
- 17. How requests are made depend on social and situational factors Social status Social distance Hearer’s obligation to carry out the request Right of the speaker to make the request Difficulty of completing the request
- 18. English speakers prefer conventionally indirect strategies even when the burden is small Japanese tend to use direct strategies when the burden is small English speakers do use hints, but Japanese hints tend to be more ambiguous
- 19. Requests: What are they? Kinds of requests Parts of a request Requests & face Burden of requests Request strategies Factors affecting requests Japanese requests
Editor's Notes
- #5: Requests usually include reference to the requester, the recipient fo the request and the action to be performed.