In the example above, B suggests an alternative in order to refuse A‘s suggestion to go out for dinner. B suggests A to have dinner at another time.
b Avoidance
Non-verbal and verbal refusals are the realizations which can be employed by the refuser in avoidance.
i Non-Verbal
In non-verbal, the refuser will refuse the request, suggestion, invitation, and offer by silence, hesitation, doing nothing, or physical departure. An example of
non-verbal refusal is presented in the conversation below: A: Instead of watching TV, why don‘t you clean your messy room?
B: still watching TV
Even though A suggests B to clean his room, B still watches TV. B‘s response
shows a non-verbal refusal. He chooses to do nothing in refusing.
ii Verbal
In verbal refusals, the refuser perform refusals by using several strategies, such as using joke, using hedge, switching the topic, offer, suggestion, and
invitation. The conversation below is an example of a verbal avoidance:
A: offering cigarette B: I cannot buy cigarette from you. I could spend all my salary on
cigarette since the seller is beautiful.
The refuser in the example abo ve uses joke to refuse the refusee‘s cigarette offer.
He jokes about the seller for being so beautiful that he can spend all his salary on cigarette. Another example of avoidance by using verbal strategies is presented in
the conversation below: A: Would y
ou mind to cover for me on tomorrow‘s presentation?
B:
Let’s decide what we will have for lunch.
B‘s refusal is the example of verbal-avoidance by switching the topic. He changes the topic of conversation in order to show A that he does not want to comply with
the request.
c Excusereasonexplanation
Through this strategy, the refuser indirectly refuses the request by providing an excuse, reason, or explanation. The examples can be seen in the statements I
have an important meeting tonight and My children are at home. The first statement, I have an important meeting tonight, is stated by an employee to refuse
his friend‘s suggestion to watch a movie. Meanwhile, the statement My children at home
is stated by a mother to refuse her neighbor‘s invitation to go on a trip for four days. Both of the refusers in the examples use an excusereasonexplanation
in order to refuse the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation. The first refuser uses his job to make an excuse in order to refuse the suggestion. On the other hand, the
second speaker provides an explanation about her children to refuse the invitation.
d Promise to the Future Acceptance
The refuser refuses the refusee by promising that the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation will be performed later. For example, the statement
I’ll do it next time
is spoken by the refuser as a response to the refusee‘s request. The refuser refuses to perform the request at the time the refusee asks him. However,
he might help the refusee later. Another example is the statement I’ll buy it for
you on your next birthday. This statement is stated by a mother who refuses to buy
her son a new notebook for his birthday gift. However, she promises her son that she will buy him a new notebook on his next birthday.
e The Attempt to Dissuade the Interlocutor
There are several strategies which can be employed by the refuse to refuse the request, invitation, suggestion or offer.
i Threat or Statement of Negative Consequences to the Requester
The refuser tries to make some threat that may have negative impact to the refusee if the refuser agrees to perform the task Phuong, 2006: 35. For example,
the statement You could break up with your partner if I buy you a ring is stated by refuser to refuse the refusee‘s request to buy her a ring. The refuser states the
negative consequence the refusee might get if he complies with the request.
ii Guilt Trip
In guilt trip, the refusers point out things the refusee failed to do in the past Chen, Ye, and Zhang, 1995: 129. For instance, when the refusee tries to borrow
the refuser‘s calculator, the refuser says Yesterday I tried to borrow your notebook, why didn’t you lend it to me? The refuser in the example indirectly
refuses the refusee‘s request by making the refusee feels guilty about the past.
iii Criticisms
The refuser can criticize the refusee or the request, offer, suggestion, and invitation in order to show his refusals. In addition, the refuser can give a negative
opinion in an attempt to refuse the request, invitation, offer, or suggestion. The examples can be seen in the conversations below:
A: You have to quit from your job. B: Who do you think you are?
The example shows the refuser who criticizes the refusee. B thinks that A does not have an authority to order him what he should do. The second example is
presented in the conversation bellow: A: It seems that going to the beach this weekend would be so nice.
B:
That’s a terrible idea.
The second example shows the refuser who criticizes the refusee‘s idea. He thinks that going to the beach during weekend is a terrible idea.
iv Request for Help, Empathy, and Assistance by Dropping or Holding the
Request
In this strategy, the refuser asks for empathy, help, or assistance from the refusee. For example, the statement I beg you to let me live here is stated when the
refuser refuses to move out from his apartment. The example shows the refuser who asks for the landlord‘s empathy, so he does not need to move out.
v Let the Interlocutor Off the Hook
The refuser will refuse the request, offer, suggestion, or invitation by escaping the refusee from difficult situation. For example, the statement
That’s okay or Never mind
are stated by someone when he refuses the his friend‘s offer to pay for a pair of broken glasses.
vi Self-defense
In this type, the refuser uses self-defense when he performs refusals. An example of self-defense is presented in the example below:
A: I can‘t accept it. Revise again your report. B:
I’m doing my best.
B‘s response is the form of a self-defense. He defends himself that he has done his best in finishing the report in order to indirectly refuse the request from A.
f The Statement of a Principlephilosophy
In this category, the refuser will use his principle which he has followed for a long time. An example of statement of a principle is presented in the
conversation below:
A: You will gain a lot of profits if you join my business. B: I never do business with friends.
