華語拒絕請求的策略分析：語體與語境的作用

An Analysis of Strategies for Refusing Requests in Chinese: Stylistic and Contextual Factors

本研究根據真實的請求情境歸納華語的拒絕模式，詮釋在特定語體與語境變因作用下之運作特徵。語料來自台灣大學生與研究助理的對話內容，溝通媒介包括電話與電郵；拒絕標的包括勞心與勞力請求。結果指出，拒絕行為一般包含意圖明確的拒絕與阻因兩個成分，在電話中出現順序不定，偶以迂迴策略取代；在電郵中偏好先說明阻因再拒絕，並搭配更多道謝與道歉的禮貌策略。兩種語料的差異反映媒介的特性，電話接近口語語體；電郵接近書面語體。請求類型亦影響拒絕模式，內在阻因多用以拒絕勞心的請求；外在阻因拒絕勞力的請求，可見拒絕行為與請求標的有其相依性。結論顯示語言、語體與語境的互動，並為語用分析與華語教學的聯繫提供例證。

This study classifies Chinese refusals and examines their usage in particular styles and contexts. The refusals examined were in response to real-life requests. The language data is drawn from telephone and email conversations between Taiwanese university students and research assistants. The results show that refusals tend to be explicit, and consist of a refusal and an impeding factor. In refusals made over the telephone these two components do not appear in a fixed order, and are occasionally replaced by indirect refusal strategies. In emails the impeding factor often precedes the refusal, and politeness strategies such as gratitude and apology appear more often. These differences reflect the contrast between the styles of spoken and written communication. The nature of the request also affects the refusal. Internal impeding factors are often given in response to requests involving mental labor, while external impeding factors are given in response to requests that involve physical labor. The study‘s conclusion explains the interaction between language, style and context, and provides examples that link pragmatic analysis and Chinese language teaching.