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
To complete the data for your research paper, you have to interview Prof. Wierzbicka, an expert whom you do not know, three days before your
deadline. You come to her office and ask to schedule an interview. At first, she refuses because she is really busy these three days but finally she agrees
to be interviewed. After you interview her, you would say
4. Finding workbook and sourcebook high-status, high-imposition, equal-
familiarity
You lost your important workbook and a source book that you will use as a primary reference for your research paper. On the next day, while you are in
the library at your university, a librarian, whom you do not know, gives you your books and tells that the books were left at the library the day before.
After you get your books back, you would say
5. Rescheduling final exam low-status, high-imposition, low-familiarity
On the day of final exam, you are going to be absent because you have to come to the final interview at overseas university scholarship. You come to
the office of Prof. Kasper, a lecturer whom you do not know very well, and ask her to reschedule your exam. At first, she refuses your request. But then,
she gives you permission to take the exam on another day. After you get the permission, you would say
Note: This situation is adapted from a situation in a DCT developed by
Cheng in 2005 for her pilot study:
There is a midterm exam in two weeks, but you have to miss class that day because you are scheduled to present a paper at a conference and will be out
of town. You ask Professor F., whom you don‘t know very well, if you can
take the exam on a different day. Professor F. hesitates because heshe is very strict about attendance, but finally agrees to let you take the exam
before you go to the conference. When you complete and submit the exam, what do you say to Professor F.?
149
In adapting Cheng‘s situation, the things which are followed by situation 5 in the present study are the theme of high-imposition favor of rescheduling
exam, interlocutor social status and interlocutor familiarity. However, in the situation 5 in the present study, the midterm exam is adapted and changed
into final exam. Then, the cause of asking of rescheduling the exam is also changed. In Cheng‘s situation, the asking of rescheduling the exam is due to
a conference. In situation 5 in the present study, the cause is due to a final interview at overseas university scholarship.
149
Stephanie Weijung Cheng 2005, op.cit., p. 125.
6. Handing a tissue equal-status, low-imposition, high-familiarity
