RequestsOriginally created by Alan Bessette

Adapted by Candice Quinones

Requests

Lecture Outline Requests: What are they? Kinds of requests Parts of a request Requests & face Burden of requests Request strategies Factors affecting requests

Requests - Intro

When you make a request, a speaker asks a someone to do something

Lend somethingCan I borrow 1,000 dollars?

Do or help with a choreWould you clean up your room?

Do something for someoneCould you drive me to the station?

Kinds of Requests

Hearer-orientedCould you clean up the kitchen, please?

Speaker-orientedCan I borrow your notes from yesterday’s class?

Speaker- and Hearer-orientedSo, could we tidy up the kitchen soon?

ImpersonalSo it might be a good idea to get it cleaned up.

Parts of a RequestDanny, can you remind me to bring the book for you on Monday? Otherwise I might forget.

Attention getterDanny

Head act – the requestCan you remind me to bring the book for you on Monday?

Supportive move(s)Otherwise I might forget.

Requests & Face

Face is your feeling of self-worth or self-image

Positive face is the desire for approval by othersWe 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

Burden of requests

Requests can potentially be intrusive

The request may place a burden on the recipientAsking someone who is busy to do something else places a burden on them

A recipient may have to refuse a requestWe don’t like to say no

We don’t like to be refused

Burden of requests

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

Request Strategies

Direct strategies Usually the second most common (10% in English)

Conventially indirect strategies Most common in all languages (82%)

Non-conventially indirect strategiesLeast common (8%)

Direct Strategies

Explicit requestsI’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.

Conventionally Indirect Strategies

Make use of frequently used expressions to downgrade the request

SuggestionsHow about cleaning up?

Why don’t you help with the cleaning up?

Conventionally Indirect Strategies

Grammatical downgradersCould 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…?

Conventionally Indirect Strategies

Supportive movesDo me a favor

Can you do me a favor? Would you lend me 1,000 dollars?

Explain I missed my bus. Could you give me a lift home?

Conventionally Indirect Strategies

Supportive movesCheck possibility

Are you going towards the station? If so, could I have a ride?

ComplimentYou have beautiful handwriting. Could I borrow your notes?

Non-conventionally Indirect Strategies

Non-conventionally indirect strategies are hints

There is a gap between the speaker’s intended meaning and the literal meaning

Non-conventionally Indirect Strategies

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?

Factors Affecting Requests

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

Lecture Conclusion Requests: What are they? Kinds of requests Parts of a request Requests & face Burden of requests Request strategies Factors affecting requests