Query preparatory modals: Cross-linguistic and cross-situational variations in request modification

Abstract

This paper compares the use of query preparatory modals in conventionally indirect requests made by native speakers of English (NS-Es), native speakers of Chinese (NS-Cs), and Chinese learners of English-as-a-Foreign Language (EFLs). A total of 3600 expressions of request were elicited from 180 college students (60 in each group—NS-E, NS-C and EFL) using the Discourse Completion Task (DCT). An in-depth comparison of the use of the requestive modals, substrategies, and the actual pragmalinguistic expressions among the three participant groups across different situations revealed cross-linguistic and interlanguage patterns which cannot be captured by considering only the main strategies used to perform the speech act. It is suggested that future ILP studies should pay more attention to details of substrategies (their form, function and distribution) in order to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the learners’ language and provide effective guidelines for courseware designers and language teachers.