"I REFUSE YOU!" AN EXAMINATION OF ENGLISH REFUSALS BY NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH, LAO, AND TURKISH.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine English refusals produced by native speakers of English, Turkish, and Lao to determine if the non-native speakers' first language played a role in the formation of L2 refusals. The two groups of L2 English speakers followed the same general pattern as the native English speakers, with members from each group using an excuse, reason, or explanation most often when forming a refusal statement.  Males and females had different patterns of refusals, and pragmatic transfer seemed to have played a role in some cases.