Tom : Lane. Lane. Lane
Lane : Yes?
Tom : This is the document we’re sending to Paris.
You don ’t speak French, do you?
Lane :
It depends on how you define “speak.” Tom
: I’m really disappointed in you, Lane. This would have been disastrous if I’d sent this out.
Lane :
I’m sorry.
SC 2026QU
The conversation happens when Tom realizes that there is something wrong with his document that has been sent to Paris. He
calls Lane and wants to ask for her explanation. He knows that in Lane’s curriculum vitae, it is written that she is fluent in French. He
feels furious with Lane, because finally he knows that Lane has just lied to him about her ability in speaking French.
Lane feels affraid that Tom will dismiss her from the company since she does not tell the truth when she makes her curriculum vitae.
Lane can not find any suitable word to respond to Tom’s utterances,
then she chooses to say “I’m sorry”
in order to avoid Tom’s anger. On the other hand, behind
Lane’s apology, she feels that it is not fair for her because Tom does not give her a chance to explain her reasons.
Thus, it is clear that Lane expresses an apology to show her dispreferred act which aims to avoid Tom’s anger.
l. Mentioning Obligation
When someone does not like and at the same time does not interested in discussing a certain topic in a conversation, mentioning
an obligation is one of the ways to do dispreferred act in order to avoid the conversation. By using this strategy, this person’s utterance
will not sound too harsh when heshe gives a feedback to the first pair part, and avoids to give the next respond so that the conversation will
not be continued any more. The example of this phenomenon is as follows.
Liam : Lovely to see you, Lane.
Lane : Hello, Liam. How was London?
Liam : It was rather
—Let’s talk outside. Lane
: Ah, just one second, love. Let me tell you how this works. This, uh, waiter has a great
British accent, and he’s gonna tell you all of these fantastic stories about his exciting life
in England. And he’s smooth, so you’re gonna fall for it. And it’s gonna turn out to
be one big cheap lie.
Liam : I just wanted to impress you.
Lane : You just wanted to get laid.
SC 3541QU
The conversation above is a conversation between Liam and Lane. Lane realizes that she has been deceived by Liam. Before they
are in a relationship, Liam admits to Lane that he is a Britishman. Lane believes it because she loves how the way Liam speaks using
British accent. Liam also tells Lane that his family is in London and he goes to New York because he works as a well-known producer
here. However, when Lane and Joanne have a dinner in a restaurant,
inadvertently, Lane sees Liam is working as a waiter in that restaurant. Yet, Liam says to Lane that he has to go to London because he has
