Yuli Kurniatiningsih

ID #89232
Nov 2, 2016
INTR 619
A Summary- Discourse Completion Test: Request
People use different words and phrases to perform language functions. One of these
language functions is making requests. I chose making request because it is the basic need
language function in daily life. Based on my questionnaire, there are variations of utterances used
by different categories of people to perform requests. These categories, which affect the variation
of words used, include gender, age, the audience for the request, current status: students vs
employees, and closeness of the people with the situations where they need to perform requests.
In addition, the findings include the common words used to make requests and the situations
where people avoid performing requests. From the survey, it would seem that people perform
requests when they feel secure, and if their request doesnt jeopardize their status in social and
work contexts.
Gender and age are factors in performing different discourse to make requests. The
majority of the requests are in question form. Males are more direct and give less explanation,
whereas females give longer explanations before making a request. The younger generation tends
to be more direct, and use less formal language. On the other hand, the older generation tends to
use more explanation, be more formal, and use less direct speech. When people need to make a
request to children, they use a statement rather than a question-- normally short words, direct and
easy to understand.
The audience for the requests is also a factor in variation of words used. When people
request orally with people in the same status situation or age, they request more freely and
directly. When they talk with people in authority, their requests are more structured and indirect.
Also if the requests require a favor or extra help from the audience, people use more structured
and indirect requests.
Students and employees perform differently in their requests. Students use more
structured words when they talk to their professors; however when talk as if they were in a work
situation they use more free and direct language. Employees tend to use more explanation before
asking for a request relating to work situation; while in academic setting they would use less
structured and direct words and phrases.
The closeness of the people with the situations is also a main factor in the words used.
People speak more freely and directly when they are close. The words they use tend to be more
structured and indirect with more explanation when they talk to a stranger.
The common words used to perform requests include would you?, may I? and
could you?. In less formal situations people use can you..?. In a more formal situation such
as a gala dinner or related to someone with authority, people use more polite words, for example
would you please..? or would you mind?.
Another surprising finding that an employee may not want to make a request at all if it
relates with bothering their boss in their vacation leave, for example a honeymoon leave. A small
number will leave a message. This situation didnt seem to be a problem for most of the students.
There is probably a social boundary relating to asking requests that only people at work will
understand and apply.
In conclusion, a discourse of request may vary depending on the gender, age, the
audience, and the situation. People change their word choice and type of sentence depending on
the situation they face. People tend to speak more freely and directly when they know the
audience. People avoid performing a request when it crosses a social boundary. People in many
contexts use the variety of requests to function in daily life.