External Request Modifications in Yemeni Arabic as Used by Male-Male and Male-Female Interactions

External Request Modifications in Yemeni Arabic Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics Vol. 3 No. 1, 2018 eISSN: 2503-4197, pISSN: 2527-5070 www. indonesian-efl-journal.org External Request Modifications in Yemeni Arabic as Used in Male-Male and Male-Female Interactions Yahya Mohammed Ali Al-Marrani Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen e-mail: Abstract: The current study explores the types and frequency of external request modifications in Yemeni Arabic as produced by male speakers the study participants were 336 undergraduate students (168 male participants and 168 female participants) from Sana’a University, aged 20-23. All of the participants are relatively homogeneous in terms of their cultural background. The data were collected by using Discourse Completion Test (DCT).The analysis of the data is based on Blum-Kulka et al’s (1989) CCSARP (Cross Cultural Speech Act Realization Project) coding scheme. The results of the study showed that the male speakers generally showed greater use of external request modification to mitigate their requests. Seven external request modifications were identified in the data of the present study in M-M, M-F interactions. However, in M-M interactions, the number of external request modifications, which were identified in the data, was 2006. On the other hand, in MF interactions the number of external request modification was 2016. The results revealed that Yemeni males showed greater use of the external request modification when interacting with females more than to males. Keywords: request, politeness, direct request, indirect request, external modifications Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, Vol. 3(1), 2018 67 External Request Modifications in Yemeni Arabic 1. INTRODUCTION A speech act is a direct or an indirect utterance that serves a function in communication such as thanking, apology and request, and which consists of a word, phrase, sentence, number of sentences or gesture and body movement (Hatch, 1992). Speech acts are very important parts in real-life interactions, therefore, the interlocutors must have full knowledge of the language and how to use that language appropriately within a given culture to minimize misunderstanding especially since the speaker’s intent and sentence meaning may differ (Lindfors, 1999; Hatch, 1992; Cohen and Olshtain, 1981). Austin (1962) defines speech acts as acts performed by utterances like giving orders or making promises. Austin suggests that speech acts could be expressed directly by using both explicit and implicit performative. Austin’s explanation and distinction between implicit and explicit led Searle (1975) to categorize speech acts into two types, ‘direct speech acts’ and ‘indirect speech acts’. A direct speech act is defined as an utterance in which the meaning of the expression is consistent with what the speaker means or intends. For example: (a) I would like you to give me your dictionary. In example (a), the speaker performs a speech act of request by using explicit sentence. On the other hand, Searle (1975) defines indirect speech acts as utterances “in which one illocutionary act is performed indirectly by way of performing another” (Searle, 1975:60). For example: (b) Can you reach the dictionary? It can be observed that when the speaker utters the sentence as the example (b) it is not merely acting as a question, but as a request to pass the dictionary. The problem posed by the indirect speech act is how the hearer can understand the indirect meaning of the sentence. In some cultures making a request from someone that is not close with the hearer, may make the hearer feel that the speaker is nosy or intrusive. Furthermore, the hearer might feel that the speaker is forcing him to be rude by making a direct request he cannot skate over and may answer with a direct “I don’t want to give you my dictionary.” Therefore, directness requires good feelings for the situation, however, being too direct when stating your opinion might seem like an insult, especially if the hearer perceives you as being lower in the social hierarchy. Direct commands, can easily sound like the speaker is bossing people around. It is noted that the interaction of directness and indirectness is also an interesting factor in social situations where people know each other better and as new acquaintances. Using direct speech to old friends and indirect speech to the newcomers is an efficient way to keep the two groups separate. On the other hand, addressing new friends very directly in front of old friends can have a few effects. It can serve as an invitation to join the group. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, Vol. 3(1), 2018 68 External Request Modifications in Yemeni Arabic Many researchers (Searle, 1975; Brown and Levinson, 1978; Leech, 1983; Scollon and Scollon, 1995) point out that the main purpose for using indirect speech acts such as indirect requests is politeness. For example, using the form ‘can you’ as a request instead of using imperative shows that the speaker is concerned with the person’s right and shows that a person can act independently. It can be observed that indirectness of the speech act includes “a theory of speech acts, certain general principles of cooperative behavior, mutually shared factual background information of the speaker and hearer, and an ability on the part of the hearer to make inferences” (Searle, 1975: 61). Searle’s taxonomy or classification of direct and indirect speech acts has been adopted by numerous studies, including Blum-Kulka et al.’s (1989) Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Project (CCSARP) coding manual that builds on his notion of directness and indirectness. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Politeness There is a ‘disconcerting amount of divergence and lack of clarity concerning the meaning of politeness’ (Meier, 1995:345). Politeness is not a natural phenomenon which existed before humanity or was born with human beings, but it is established by interactional relationship. It is a process which has been developed socioculturally and historically (Reiter, 2000). “The term of polite dates back to the fifteenth century and etymologically derives from Late Medival Latin politus meaning ‘smoothed’ accomplished” (Reiter 2000:1). Different scholars and linguists ( Goffman, 1967; Lakoff , 1975; Brown and Levinson’s, 1978; Brown and Gilman, 1989; Scollon and Scollon, 1995; Watts, 2003, etc.) through different studies introduced different definitions for politeness. Goffman (1967) views politeness as the way human beings successfully manage interpersonal relationships to achieve both individual and group goals. He considers that a person has a public self-image which he/she wishes to relate to other group members. He categorizes politeness behaviour or deferential behaviour into two categories. The first one is avoidance rituals, which emphasize the social distance between speaker and hearer. The second one is presentational rituals tha (...truncated)