Abstract:

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to identify the strategies used by EFL learners while performing the speech act of refusal and to find its relationship with their Big Five personality traits including Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. It was also aimed to investigate the effect of gender on the choice of refusal strategies. Research participants consisted of 162 EFL learners who responded to NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Discourse Completion Task (DCT). The NEO-FFI was piloted to see whether it was valid and reliable for the subjects of the study. Based on the result of the pilot study, some modifications were made and 32 items were removed. The data thus gathered was then analyzed. Standard linear regression analyses indicated personality traits were significantly related to the choice of some refusal strategies by EFL learners. As results revealed personality traits accounted for 34 percent of variance in EFL learner’s choice of refusal strategies and 7 out of 27 used strategies indicating some relationship with personality traits. These strategies were No, Joke, Lack of enthusiasm, Let interlocutor off the hook, Gratitude, Statement of principle, and Swearing. Finally a t-test indicated significant difference between male and female performance on 7 refusal strategies including: Criticize the requester, Hedging, Postponement, Statement of regret, Statement of empathy, Statement of principle, and Unspecific reply.

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