Strategies of Refusal in American English and Egyptian Arabic Discourse

Abstract

This study investigates strategies of refusal in Egyptian Arabic dialect, and American English focusing on the speech acts of apology, request, and invitation. Furthermore, the study sheds light on the similarities and differences between Egyptians and Americans in realizing the three above-mentioned speech acts. Sixty respondents from two different cultural groups, one American and one Egyptian participated in the study. Data were collected using closed-ended role plays which consisted of 6 scenarios eliciting refusal of apology, request, and invitation. Different groups of American and Egyptian participants sometimes yielded the same results in acceptance; however, some other times they were different