Urgency of the Requests
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356 Sorry, friend. I have something urgent to do. I must finish my tasks because the boss is waiting for the report.
Can you return my computer? DM 112
357 Sorry to disturb you, but I need to finish my tasks since the boss is waiting for me.
Can I use this computer now? DL 100
358 Excuse me, sir. I am sorry to disturb you. This is not what I want. But, I must say this
. Could you help me to let me copy my documents
first since I have to bring them to the meeting now, sir? Please. DM 201
359 Excuse me, bro. I have 15 minutes to copy these whole papers. Can I use the machine first? I am so so so sorry, but it is really
important
, please? DL 195
The 356 and 357 were taken from the fourth situation of DCTs. This situation indicated an urgent state where the speaker needed to finish the task soon
because the boss was waiting. Thus, it fulfilled the urgency quality in which the speaker conveyed that the request was obliged to do for this context. The speaker
stated supportive reasons and justifications of “I must finish my tasks because the boss is wait
ing for the report” and “but I need to finish my tasks since the boss is waiting for me” indicated that the speakers willy-nilly had to make requests to the
hearer. At the same time, these expressions also represented the force on the speaker side since the boss was waiting for himher for finishing the task as well.
Nonetheless, before saying what they intended, the speakers apologized for the potential troubles arose because of the requests made as noted in “Sorry, friend”
and “Sorry to disturb you”. Practically the same as the two preceding examples, responses of situation
six in 358 and 359 were carried the same urgency state to be handled soon. In this situation, the speaker necessitated to make request since the speaker obliged to
soon prepare the documents for the meeting and heshe had only limited time to do it
. Thus, to start the talk, the speaker opened the request by mentioning “Excuse PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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me” to get the hearer’s attention which at the same time functioned as the alert. The speakers also deeply apologized for the troubles might be come up due to the
request by selecting the acts “I am sorry to disturb you” and “I am so so so sorry”. Furthermore, the speakers also employed downtoner internal modifications
realized in “But, I must say this” and “but it is really important” to diminish the impositive force. Nonetheless, the speakers also used disarmers to eliminate any
possible refusal to the potential request from the hearer by emphasizing that “This is not what I want” and “it is really important”. On the other hand, as stated above,
the speaker also utilized the time delimiter to signify the urgency like “now” and “I have only 15 minutes” which increased the illocutionary forces. These expressions,
in the same line, denoted the strong supportive reasons to inquire the hearer took the pleas as “since I have to bring them to the meeting now” and “I have 15 minutes
to copy these whole papers…. It is really important”. Finally, to strengthen the urgency of the request, the speakers promoted supportive
begging of “please” to implore the hearer accepted the requests.