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Classification of refusals
(After Pragmatic Transfer in ESL Refusals
by L.M. Beebe, T.Takahashi, R. Uliss-Weltz)
1. Direct
a) Performative (I refuse …)
b) Nonperformative statement
i) "No"
ii) negative willingness/ability (I cant. I won't. I don't think so)
2. Indirect
a) Statement of regret (I'm sorry… I feel terrible…)
b) Wish (I wish I could)
c) Excuse, reason, explanation
d)
e) Statement of alternative
i) I can do X instead of Y (I'd rather… I'd prefer…)
ii) Why don't you do X instead of Y (Why don't you ask someone else?)
f) Set conditions for future or past exceptence (If you had asked me earlier, I would
…)
g) Promise of future acceptance (I'll do it next time. I promise I will. Next time
perhaps.)
h) Statement of principle (I never do business with friends)
i) Statement of philosophy (One can't be too careful)
j) Attempt to dissuade interlocutor
i) Threat or statement of negative consequences to the requester (I won't be any
help tonight)
ii) Guilt trip (waitress to customers who want to sit a while "I can't make a living
off people who just order coffee")
iii) Criticize the request/requester (statement of negative feeling or opinion;
insult/attack (Who do you think you are? That's a terrible idea!)
iv) Request for help, empathy, and assistance by dropping or holding the request.
v) Let interlocutor off the hook (Don't worry about it. )
vi) Self-defense (I'm trying my best. I'm doing all I can)
k) Acceptance that functions as a refusal
i) Unspecific or indefinite reply
ii) Lack of enthusiasm
l) Avoidance
i) Nonverbal
(1) Silence
(2) Hesitation
(3) Do nothing
(4) Physical departure
ii) Verbal
(1) Topic switch
(2) Joke
(3) Repetition of part of request, etc. (Monday?)
(4) Postponent (I'll think about it)
(5) Hedging (Gee, I don't know. I'm not sure)