Research on ways of refusals between Taiwanese and Japanese－Using refusals to invitation as examples－
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Lin, Hsin-Han
Abstract
In recent years, there are many researches on comparison between expressions of refusals among two different countries, thus such comparisons between Taiwanese and Japanese are increasing. As far as I know, there is still no research on refusals to invitation. But inappropriate ways of refusal to invitation might cause harm to interpersonal relationships. Therefore a need to research on ways of refusals to invitation exists. he purpose of this paper focuses on discovery of the tendencies that Taiwanese and Japanese have when they use refusal to invitations, including the ‘consideration’ hidden within. The research uses Discourse Completion Test: DCT to investigate four target populations: Working adults in Japanese, working adults in Taiwan, college students in Japan, college students in Taiwan. This investigation observes such four sets of targets’ selection and amounts of Semantic Formula in their refusals, and the changes caused by the combination of Semantic Formula in the refusals. esults of observations:.As for the amount of Semantic Formula, generally Japanese tends to have three Semantic Formulas in their refusals while Taiwanese have two. This calculation contains both working adults and students..Selection of Semantic Formula: Most people, including Taiwanese and Japanese chose to use “apology”, ‘excuse’, ‘a next time date’ in their refusals. “Apology” is the Semantic Formula that Japanese use in refusals to any different inviters. And Taiwanese mostly use “excuse” to refusals..Combination of semantic Formula: Refusal of Japanese is a combined set of “apology + excuse + a next-time date” while refusal of Taiwanese appear more in a set of “apology+ excuse”. However, for Japanese, a fixed-term combination of Semantic Formula in refusal could be found, especially in working adults’ expression. Meanwhile such combinations of semantic Formula in refusal for Taiwanese are so multitudinous to find a fixed-term expression..In general, Japanese tend to have more “consideration” in minds when they refuse “invitations”, so their tendencies toward choosing “Semantic Formula” are more obvious. Taiwanese prefer to refuse “invitations” with explicit reasons, and compared to Japanese, they have more individual differences.
Subjects
refusal
invitation
Discourse Completion Test
Semantic Formula
consideration
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-97-R93127008-1.pdf
Size
23.53 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):19b5544eb52d78fd7b2388c8711ce579