Rapport Management Approach to Condolence: EFL Learners Vs. Native Persians

Abstract

Using rapport management approach proposed by Spencer-Oatey (2005), this study focuses on the condolence giving strategies produced by Persian native speakers and EFL learners in six different situations. To that end, a Discourse Completion Task onto which a five point likert-scale is attached is utilized as the instrument of study. Participants respect behavioural expectations by expressing empathy, involvement, and respect components. Participants also respect face sensitivities through strategies that enhance the interlocutor's identity face. By observing participant's age, it is noticed that there is not any significant relationship between age and condolence-giving strategies. Most of the strategies used by participants convey participants’ feeling and emotional sense; therefore, condolence-giving strategies are mainly relational. Participants also respect face sensitivities through strategies that enhance the interlocutor's identity face. By comparing strategies produced by Persian native speakers and FEL learners, it is observed that some of the intermediate EFL learners exploit the same strategies as the ones used in their mother tongue. This can high light role of transfer in second language learning.