被要求者側の当然性と負担度から見た 「受諾」と「断り」の一考察

Abstract

This article explores the effects of levels of naturalness and burden on acceptanceand refusal of a request for action from the perspectives of the type of expressionsand the type of semantic classifications. The analyses are divided into four patternsdepending on the levels of naturalness and burden: when ① naturalness is high andburden is low; ② naturalness is low and burden is high; ③ naturalness and burdenare high; ④ naturalness and burden are low. The pattern ① is the easiest when signalling acceptance but the most difficultwhen signalling refusal. In contrast, the pattern ② renders acceptance difficult butrefusal easy. Unlike the patterns ① and ②, the patterns ③ and ④ do not seemto incur apparent difficulties in acceptance or refusal. When responding to the patterns③ and ④, requestees tend to judge the request for action in reference to the pattern① and mention a gap between the levels of naturalness and burden. Acceptance inthe pattern ③ suggests a low likelihood of execution as the acceptance expressesa willingness to try (i.e., "I will give it a try") even when the pattern employs'clarification of acceptance' as the type of semantic classification. Refusal in thepattern ③ prompts the requester to withdraw the request through 'reason' and'persuasion' as the perceived burden of the requested action is high while the requestis judged to be strongly desired by the requester. Acceptance in the pattern ④highlights the low level of naturalness as the requestee shows hesitation even whenusing 'clarification of acceptance', or accepts the request ambivalently by omittingexpressions, or signals "Okay" which implies "I will do it for you". Previous studies have indicated that a linear and inversely proportional relationshipexists between level of naturalness and level of burden. However, the findings fromthe current study suggest that these two are separate. Also, selection of the typeof expression and the type of semantic classification for acceptance or refusal needsto account for the difference between levels of naturalness and burden perceived byrequesters and requestees.