An Analysis of the request strategies used by EFL students

Abstract

This study examines the request strategies used by Algerian students when speaking with people of the same or different gender. It also investigates the influence of the gender of the interlocutor on the participants. choice of strategy type. The study also aims to find out if there are any similarities and/or differences in the request strategies used by both male and female participants. The population of this study consists of third year EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners enrolled in the department of English at Bejaia University. The sample of the study consists of 15 males and 15 females from the same department. In the current study, it has been hypothesized that the male and female students will be rather different in their use of the request strategies and will be affected by the gender of the interlocutor in their choice of strategy type. To test this hypothesis, the researcher used a mixed method including both quantitative and qualitative methods through the use of a Discourse Completion Task (DCT). Data were analyzed in terms of semantic formulas and were categorized based on the classification of request strategies established by Blum-kulka and Olshtain (1984). The results of the study revealed that both male and female participants preferred the use of direct strategies when requesting both their same-gender and cross-gender interlocutors. The findings also showed that the gender of the interlocutor did not have a significant effect on the participant¡¯s choice of strategy type. Further, it was found that the male and female students tended to be rather similar in their use of request strategies when addressing both same-gender and cross-gender interlocutors. Therefore, the hypothesis of the study is not confirmed.