The Effect of Social Status and Gender on Realization of Refusal of Suggestion among Iranian EFL Intermediate Learners
The dependence associated with both practical and discovered strategies about the refusal of proposal among people sharing distinct social status and gender have been an issue of concern to many researchers. Therefore, research was carried out among the Iranian intermediate level students to understand the strategies used and their application, based on gender and social status. The paper covers an article review on the above issue. The report for reconsideration bears the title” The Effect of Social Status and Gender on Realization of Refusal of Suggestion among Iranian EFL Intermediate Learners”.
The primary theme and idea of the research are the dependence of both applied and discovered strategies about the refusal of suggestion among people sharing distinct social status and gender.
Importance of the study
The study is considered significant because it helps to understand how EFL students can get rid of pragmatic failures by learning about social conventions, communicative rules, and values. It also equips learners with the knowledge about factors in the realization of refusal strategies. Additionally, the study is significant because it will outline various strategies of denial among Iranians in both formal and informal environment; gender and social status. It gives a critical analysis showing the type of strategies applied by people of various social status. The article was also chosen because it provides a comprehensive study on the topic that will help in relating the results with the previous studies’ results.
Theoretical background
The realization of speech refusal has been a subject of major concern among people from various languages and dialects. Many studies and researches have been carried out to analyze the topic. For instance, Azizi Abarghoui carried out research that considered Iranian EFL learners, Sahragard and Javanmardi and Qadoury Abed studies, which were based on the refusal of the request among other studies (Hedayatnejad et. al, 2015). All the studies came up with results that might be similar or different from the findings of the article tackled in this particular preview. From the study carried out on request, it was concluded that Iranians use the strategy of expression that is defined by regret followed by the reason for refusal. Additionally, it was also noted that the American and Iraqi EFL students use different denial strategies. However, there were some similarities between the American and Iraqi EFL students. The differences that were observed included that Iraq learners used more caution and gave a reason to justify their rebuttals more than the Americans did.
American students paid high attention to their interlocutress in addition to people from higher status while the Iraq students were sensitive to individuals from lower status. However, in both cases, females used fewer rejection approaches compared to males. Ladies were particularly susceptible to the individuals belonging to the upper class than men. Therefore, it can be deducted that gender disparities play a significant role in refusal acts and strategies among people from various social classes. There are three strategies of refusal, which are; a direct method that involves first hand or apparent refusal by using the word “NO”, indirect way, and adjunct method. Pragmatics played a crucial role in the learning of a second language among the students. The use of social language requires individuals to use language well to achieve politeness and save interlocutors from facing challenges while engaging in a talk or speech.
Speech acts are termed as vital informal communication in regards to the distinctions they provide to the social status of the participants. The refusal of expression act is defined as a response to an invitation, suggestion, request and an offer. According to a study conducted by Grice, he explained cooperative principles into four broad categories (Hedayatnejad et. al, 2015). These principles included quantity that is defined by informativeness, quality, which is defined by truthfulness, relevance and avoiding ambiguity by being brief. Two primary ways could be used to exercise refusal speech acts; direct and indirect ways. Politeness is a primary requirement for communication to avoid quarrels that arise from contrasting points of view.
Data collection procedures and data analysis
Methodology for data collection
Various methodologies of gathering data such as questionnaire and document review group among others were used. The study involved 60 students from both genders at the intermediate level in Zaban Negar Institution located at Tehran, Iran (Hedayatnejad et. al, 2015). The most important instrument for the research was the Discourse completion test questionnaire that was built using uniformity in regards to standards. The surveys were made up of eighteen open-ended questions written in English. The questionnaire majored in two variables that are strategies and social status. The other methods of data collection were written materials and document reviews, based on previous research on semantic formulas.
Data analysis
Reliable methods of evaluation were used in the research to ensure that data obtained was analyzed appropriately. Tests and evaluations were carried out on the methods that were used in the research. The tests were carried out to affirm the reliability of the data collection methods used to ensure that they provided the researcher with static and competent results during the research. A qualitative analysis was used for research, where the Cronbach Alpha was used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire and a correlation matrix was formulated. The correlation was indicated at the 0.5 level and an alpha level of p < 0.5 making the questionnaire justified as being reliable (Hedayatnejad et. al, 2015). Additionally, experts who taught English as a part of the foreign language acknowledged the reliability of the DCT instrument. The residual was analyzed using the SPSS, Version 21 based on the descriptive analysis. A Chi-square Test was conducted to demonstrate the relationship that existed between various variables utilized during research.
Primary results and conclusions
Results
Conclusion from the study
The study was aimed at identifying strategies used for refusal by Iranian intermediate levels based on gender and social status. From the results obtained, it can be depicted that the recognition and solicitation of the tactics among the Iranian learners were much dependent on the social status of the interlocutor. Strategies that were more indirect were used on people from equal status while the direct strategies were mostly applied to people in low social status. On the other hand, similar usage of both straight and unforeseen approaches was noted in individuals from higher social status. Both males and females exhibited similar trends in the use of the procedures on individuals from distinct collective prominence. Additionally, both genders applied more directs refusal strategies than indirect strategies across gender.
Comparing the results obtained with other knowledge on language and distinctiveness exploration.
The outcomes obtained from the survey showed similarities with other literature and research findings achieved previously. For instance, the study indicated that strategies that are more indirect were used to people belonging to the higher social status that is a similar result to other previous studies. The study supported the results from studies from other researchers that indicated that Iranian English students used the less direct method of refusal when responding to either equal or higher social status members.
Lessons learned
References
Hedayatnejad, F., Maleki, R., & Mehrizi, A. A. H. (2015). The Effect of Social Status and Gender on Realization of Refusal of Suggestion among Iranian EFL Intermediate Learners. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(1), 99-109.
