Interlanguage Refusals

The authors study and describe refusal sequences as exemplified through the verbal and nonverbal strategies of a group of Japanese learners of English as they negotiate their way through a complete refusal interaction. Considered are the non-native speakers' verbal and nonverbal behavior and their language and nonverbal actions both when they are the primary speaker and when they are listening. The authors infer how the on-line behaviors manifested by the non-native speakers and their interlocutors may play a role in both the successful performance of a face-threatening act and the acquisition of pragmatic competence. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)