Cross-cultural contrastive analysis of request directness levels

Abstract

This paper summarises the results from a study conducted to determine whether there are salient differences in the perception of request directness levels between first and second language speakers. Blum-Kulka and Olshtain (1984) claim that theoretically, speakers universally display three major directness levels in requesting, namely the impositive (or direct level), the conventionally indirect and the non-conventionally indirect level. The main objective of this study is to establish whether or not that claim made within the Cross—Cultural Speech Act Realization Project (CCSARP) framework is valid for Luganda and Luganda English. In addition, the study establishes whether or not the choice of directness levels depends on the situation and language or cultural dimensions. Finally, the paper explains when and where first and second language speakers differ in their choice of directness levels and whether these differences may cause negative transfer of native speakers= cultural norms to their target language, resulting in misunderstanding, misinterpreting and stereotyping. To collect data, I utilised Discourse Completion Test questionnaires similar to the ones used in the (CCSARP). The results from the investigation could have implications for language learners, multilingual speech communities, teachers, textbook writers, syllabus designers and researchers.