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Exercise 1: Observing Refusals in Japanese -1Your response has been submitted to
speechactstrategies@gmail.com.
As illustrated in the examples, making a direct/indirect refusal (saying no) and providing a reason
for the refusal are common strategies in the discourse of refusals,
although either one could be omitted or just hinted at.
Also, notice the change in the level of politeness
while talking to a friend as opposed to talking to a teacher. As in any other speech acts, using an
appropriate level of politeness is an
important strategy.
Notice some other characteristics of the refusals in
the second example (refusing the teacher’s invitation). (Parts
in red are core refusal statements.) ¨
Hedging
expressions あの、ちょっとあのアルバイトの方が入ってまして、あの、行くことができないんですけれども。 ano, chotto ano
arubaitono houga haitte mashite, ano,
ikukotoga dekinain desu keredomo. ‘Well, I’m afraid that um, I have to work
part-time and um, I am not able to come.’ ¨
Markers
for upcoming refusals それでちょっと申し訳ないんですけれどもあの、今回だけはちょっと、あの、遠慮させていただこうかな、と思ってますので。 Sorede chotto moushiwake
nain desu keredomo ano, konkai dakewa chotto, ano, enryosasete itadakoukana, toomotte masunode. ‘Well, I’m
really sorry, but I don’t think I can
make it just this time.’ ¨
Incomplete sentences to avoid sounding too assertive
(see both examples above) |
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