汉语母语者与非汉语母语学习者言语行为的元语用评估——以请求和道歉为例

Metapragmatic Assessment of Speech Acts by Native and Non-Native Chinese Speakers:A Case Study of Requests and Apologies

本研究使用元语用评估问卷考查汉语母语者与非汉语母语学习者对请求和道歉情景中情境变量的评估,包括说话双方之间的相对社会地位、熟悉度、请求度和冒犯严重度。结果显示,两组受试对情境变量的评估存在显著差异。半结构化访谈结果表明,受试间的差异与他们对情境变量内涵与情景内容的解读有关,并且受到个人经历、情感等主观因素的影响。该结果说明,以话语填充任务为数据采集工具的语用研究有必要考查语用情境在受试间的对等性,个体主观因素的影响在语用行为解读中不可忽视。此外,元语用评估问卷能有效帮助研究者从受试角度理解语境,了解语用表现背后更深层的动机和影响因素。

Using a metapragmatic assessment questionnaire, this study examined the perception of contextual variables(social status, familiarity, rank of imposition/severity of offense) of requests and apologies by native and non-native Chinese speakers. Results revealed significant differences between the two groups. Semi-structured interviews indicated that the differences were attributed to the subjects’ disparity in their perception of the contextual variables and interpretation of the situations, and were influenced by subjective factors such as personal experience and affect. The results provided empirical evidence for the necessity of examining subjects’ equivalence in the perception of situations and variables in studies adopting discourse completion tasks as data collection instruments. The influence of subjectivity on pragmatic performance should not be ignored, either. In addition, metapragmatic assessment is effective in helping researchers analyze the context and pragmatic performance from an emic perspective and understand the underlying motivations of subjects’ verbal responses to particular situations.