The performance of a rapport-challenging act (blaming) by Peruvian Spanish speakers

Abstract

Using Spencer-Oatey's (Journal of Politeness Research 1: 95–119, 2005) rapport management approach, this study analyzes the participation of Peruvian Spanish speakers in a rapport-challenging situation exhibiting social distance, strong power differential among interlocutors and high damage received by the participant; gender differences/similarities are explored. Results show that participants started and developed the interaction maintaining a rapport-challenging orientation in their pursuit of transactional goals and violated the interlocutor's identity and respectability face. When finishing the interaction, however, they showed a rapport-maintenance orientation; they continued violating the equity principle, albeit less strongly. Male and female differences were found throughout the interaction