An Investigation on Second Language Learners’ Production of Conventional Expressions in L2 Pragmatics

Abstract

This study is designed to elicit second language learners’ production of conventional expressions in L2 pragmatics. A questionnaire was conducted to students who were required to write the oral responses towards 19 scenarios instead of answering the scenarios orally. In prepared scenario questionnaire, a production task was consisted of 19 scenarios, which demonstrate various speech acts. Such as, expressions of gratitude, apologies, warning, leave-taking, requests, condolences, declining offers, acceptance of offers, acceptance of request, acceptance of invitation, declining an invitation, an agreement, deflecting thanks… etc. Twenty four second grade students from Translation and interpretation department in an private university completed the questionnaires voluntarily, with no class credit and compensation available for participating in this research. No level differences were taken into consideration, and it is assumed that all participants are non-native upper-intermediate and advanced English users. Content analysis was applied to measure the frequency and rate in production of conventional expressions.