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Hamid Reza Dowlatabadi

Hamid Reza Dowlatabadi

Academic rank: Assistant Professor
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7763-6678
Education: PhD.
ScopusId: 57188754727
Faculty: Literature and Languages
Address: Arak University
Phone:

Research

Title
The Effects of Language Proficiency on the Use of Refusal Strategies of Iranian Freshman EFL Learners
Type
Thesis
Keywords
Speech acts, Refusals, Social status, Gender
Year
2021
Researchers Hamid Reza Dowlatabadi(PrimaryAdvisor)، behnam heydari(Student)

Abstract

Abstract: English is currently frequently used language among Iranians for intercultural interacultural purposes. In contrast with the strengths in acquiring and performing English language, most of the EFL students in Iran aren’t familiar with the use of suitable speech acts, especially speech act of refusals in real contexts. Refusals are described as ‘reacting communication through a request that the speaker declines to engage with a request offered by the interlocutor' (Chen, Ye & Zhang 1995: 121). Refusals are typically produced in response to an act such as a recommendation, proposition, request, or invitation (Gass & Houck 1999). It is required to study the way of using English by non-native English speakers, and their local sociocultural customs and values which are revealed in their activities in English. For additional research on the use of English by Persian speakers, I studied on refusal strategies used by Iranian English language learners (as a second language) when they refusing offers, demands, invitations and recommendations in their second language which is English. To achieve these aims, a total of 60 participants were toke part in this study. The participants were a mixed form of males and females of BA freshman students of English literature of Arak University and also their ages were between 18-30. I investigated the way of using refusals based on Beebe et al.’s (1990) model among first - term students (T1) and compare them with their second - term (T2) refusals in order to understand if there are any differences among their refusals in first term and second term or not. The data were collected from the participants in three phases: first intended at a standard online OPT sample. Second, it looked into the collecting of data from DCT forms, and third, it explained FGI findings. Based on OPT, out of 60 participating students, 10% of them were at the level of intermediates, 70% were upper - intermediates and 20% of them were in advance level. The