Intra-lingual pragmatic variation in Mexico City and San José, Costa Rica: A focus on regional differences in female requests

Abstract

This study focuses on intra-lingual pragmatic variation, in particular, the effect of region on speech act production. It examines the similarities and differences in the realization of requests in two varieties of Spanish, that of Mexico City and San José, Costa Rica, in symmetrical (−Power) and asymmetrical situations (+P) with different degrees of distance (+/−Distance). Experimental data (open-ended role plays) of 34 female participants (17 Mexicans; 17 Costa Ricans) were collected in six comparable situations with two interlocutors, one with a person of equal status and another with a person of higher status. The 204 interactions were classified according to request head act: direct, conventional indirect (CI), and non-conventional indirect (NCI) strategies, as well as internal modification of the request. The results of the current study show that although conventional indirectness was the primary means of negotiating a request in each group, regional differences were identified between the groups with respect to the frequency and type of strategy use (direct vs. conventionally indirect requests) and the frequency and type of internal modification of the request. Pragmatic variation at the situational level between the groups is also addressed. In addition, to account for pragmatic variation based on gender, the results of the current study on the realization of requests by females are discussed in light of existing research that analyzes the request production of male Mexican and Costa Rican students in comparable situations. Overall, this study contributes to the emerging body of research that focuses on regional pragmatic variation by exploring the interface between dialectology and pragmatics.