The present study analyses the uses and functions of discursive markers (DMs) in complaints and apologies performed by learners of Italian as L2 and native speakers of Italian engaged in dyadic interactions. Oral data were elicited through prototypical scenarios, where the context and the relationship between the interlocutors were variable. The comparison between learners and natives highlighted some differences both in the use and in the variety of DMs. In general, native speakers exploited the DMs' polyfunctionality in performing the speech acts, in combination with politeness strategies, to strengthen or attenuate the illocutionary force or to guide the interlocutor in the interpretation of the message, resulting more effective and appropriate to the context and the interlocutor. On the other hand, even the most advanced learners did not draw upon similar strategies; despite using a discrete variety of DMs, they showed a minor variability of DMs depending on contextual variables, resulting in some cases too emphatic/impositive and less appropriate when addressing a distant interlocutor or a superior. The results of this study could offer useful information on the language teaching level.
Discourse Markers in Complaints and Apologies: a Comparison between Native and Non-native Speakers of Italian
De Marco A.;
2024-01-01
Abstract
The present study analyses the uses and functions of discursive markers (DMs) in complaints and apologies performed by learners of Italian as L2 and native speakers of Italian engaged in dyadic interactions. Oral data were elicited through prototypical scenarios, where the context and the relationship between the interlocutors were variable. The comparison between learners and natives highlighted some differences both in the use and in the variety of DMs. In general, native speakers exploited the DMs' polyfunctionality in performing the speech acts, in combination with politeness strategies, to strengthen or attenuate the illocutionary force or to guide the interlocutor in the interpretation of the message, resulting more effective and appropriate to the context and the interlocutor. On the other hand, even the most advanced learners did not draw upon similar strategies; despite using a discrete variety of DMs, they showed a minor variability of DMs depending on contextual variables, resulting in some cases too emphatic/impositive and less appropriate when addressing a distant interlocutor or a superior. The results of this study could offer useful information on the language teaching level.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
