Table 2. Description of DCT situations.
NO. SITUATION IN DCT
STATUS IMPOSITION FAMILIARITY
1 Lending a pen
+ -
- 2
Paying a book -
+ +
3 Allowing an interview
- +
= 4
Finding workbook source book +
+ =
5 Rescheduling final exam
- +
- 6
Handing a tissue =
- +
7 Lending a book
+ +
- 8
Recommending some books -
- -
9 Fixing a flash disk
= +
= 10
Showing the location of the books
- -
+ 11
Taking a pen =
- =
12 Paying the bill of the food
+ +
+ 13
Taking a book -
- =
14 Borrowing an important book
= +
- 15
Fixing a laptop =
+ +
16 Taking some sugar
= -
- 17
Taking scattered papers +
- =
18 Giving a paper
+ -
+
The 18 situations in the DCT which is employed in the present study to elicit expressions of gratitude in responding to favors are as follows:
1. Lending a pen high-status, low-imposition, low-familiarity
You are a mentor to some freshmen. At mentoring class, you need to write some information, but you realize that you left your pen at home. You ask
for a pen. Jennie, a freshman who you just met a few days ago, lends you one. When you return it, you would say
Note: This situation is adapted from a situation in a DCT developed by
Hinkel in 1992:
You need to write down some information. You do not have a pen. K.C. hands you one. After you finish writing, you can say to K.C.:
A A pen is just what I needed.
B Thanks.A pen is just what I needed.Thank you very much.
C Thanks.A pen is just what I needed.
147
In adapting Hinkel‘s situation, the only thing which is followed by situation 1 in the present study is the theme of low-imposition favor of lending a pen.
But, in situation 1 in the present study, the interlocutor social status and familiarity with respect to the thanker are specified since there is no specific
information about the interlocutor in Hinkel‘s situation.
2. Paying a book low-status, high-imposition, high-familiarity
You are in a bookstore to buy a book which you really need to complete a paper for your course. When you want to pay the bill, you realize that you
left your wallet at home. Fortunately, Prof. Clooney, a lecturer whom you know very well, is also looking for some books in the same bookstore. He
notices the situation and offers to pay. After your bill is paid, you would say
Note: This situation is adapted from a situation in a DCT developed by
Eisenstein and Bodman in 1986:
Your friend suggests going out to lunch. You say that youd like to go, but you only have 2.00. Your friend says, Ah, dont worry. Ill take
you today. Your friend takes you to a very nice restaurant —a much
more expensive one than the ones you usually go to. You have a wonderful meaL Your friend pays, and you get up to leave.
148
In adapting Eisenstein and Bodman‘s situation, the only thing which is followed by situation 2 in the present study is the theme of high-imposition
147
Eli Hinkel 1992, op.cit. p. 17.
148
Miriam Eisenstein and Jean W. Bodman 1986, op.cit. p. 180.
favor of paying something. However, i n Eisenstein and Bodman‘s, the favor
is paying food. In situation 2 in the present study, the favor is paying a book; then, the social status of the favor giver is adapted and changed. In
Eisenstein and Bodman ‘s, the thanker and the favor giver have equal social
status since they are friends. But, in the situation 2 in the present study, the favor giver is a professor whose higher-social status than the thanker who is
situated as a student.
3. Allowing an interview low-status, high-imposition, equal-familiarity
