A Sociolinguistic and Cross-cultural Investigation into the Speech Act of Suggestion

Abstract

This study investigated the pragmatic strategies employed by 30 Iranian EFL learners in making suggestions in their L2. Their suggestions were compared with 30 American and another 30 Iranian students who made suggestions in their first language (English and Persian, respectively). Triangulated data obtained from DCT and open role-plays were analyzed based on three aspects of making suggestions at macro level (perspective, directness and politeness) and a number of micro strategies. While the general tendency was to make suggestions from the perspective of both the speaker and hearer (S+H) using almost direct language and redressive actions, at micro level significant differences were observed between the three groups of participants. Moreover, gender, relationship between interlocutors and the topic on which suggestions were made, also appeared to contribute to the observed differences. The findings of the study are discussed in the light of cross-cultural differences and its pedagogical implications are elaborated on.