Speech Acts Videos Final Project

Speech Acts VideosFinal Project Subject: Pragmatics II Professor: Edna Cepeda Hatem Students: - Alan Villarreal - Alberto Gutierrez - Carlos Omar Muñiz - Lucy Martinez - Sayuri Flores - Perla Galvan - Norma Garcia

I. SpeechAct: Ending a Conversation • Reason for choosing: Sometimes conversations can drag on so it is important for students to know how to end a conversation politely. It is necessary for them to be alert for linguistic and body language cues to allow the other person to end the conversation as well. Lastly, remind them that before starting a conversation, they need to be as brief and clear as possible to avoid being cut off by the other party. • Possible expressions: “Look at the time!”, “Listen, I have to get going…”, “I’m in a rush.” • Non verbal cues: Looking at one’s watch, putting up a hand (“stop” signal), signaling with your thumb, etc. • Other techniques: Moving towards the exit or parking lot, slowing distancing yourself from the other person, putting away your belongings, etc. Video Links:Ending a Conversation | Ending a Conversation with subtitles

Dialogue #1: Ending a Conversation DONE • Person A: Hi “Sayuri-san”. How are you? • Person B: Hi “Norm”! How are you? Fine, thank you. You? • Person A: I’m great too, thank you. What are you doing? • Person B: I’m doing some homework. • Person A: Yeah? What class? • Person B: Pragmatics. • Person A: Oh, Pragmatics. I took it last semester. Who is your teacher? • Person B: It’s teacher Edna. • Person A: Oh, Edna. She’s great, isn’t she? • Person B: Yes, she is! Hey “Norms”, I have to get going. I have to print something out. • Person A: Oh, ok. • Person B: I’ll see you around? • Person A: Oh, ok. See you later then. Ok. • Person B: Ok, I’ll see you. Bye! • Person A: Bye-Bye! Video Links:Ending a Conversation | Ending a Conversation with subtitles

II. Speech Act: Active Listening • Reason for choosing: There are few things more annoying than a listener who does not “listen”. Therefore, students should learn an array of techniques to become more effective listeners. It is aslo important that they understand that by using just one technique over and over during a conversation will have quite the opposite effect to seeming interested in what the other person is saying. • Possible expressions: “Yes”, “Yeah”, “Really?”, “Right.” • Non verbal cues: Nodding, looking at the speaker… • Other Techniques: paraphrasing, asking questions, summarizing, showing empathy, etc. Video Links: Active Listening | Active Listening with subtitles

Dialogue #2: Active Listening DONE • Person A: Hey Alan. How was your date with Paula? • Person B: Terrible. • Person A: What? Why? I thought you guys hit if off. (Asking questions) • Person B: So did I. • Person A: So, what happened? • Person B: She doesn’t like “The Simpsons”. • Person A: Is that it? You’ve got to be kidding. (Asking questions) • Person B: It’s not funny. It’s serious. It’s a deal breaker. • Person A: Alan, get a grip. She’s amazing. You have issues my friend. • Person B: Ah, man. I’m moving on. • Person A: Really? Can I date her? • Person B: Hell no. Video Links: Active Listening | Active Listening with subtitles

III. Speech Act: Requests • Reason for choosing: Very often, obtaining what we want from others depends entirely on the appropriate way of asking. Students can save “face” by learning the polite manner of asking for what they require. By using some expressions as softeners, our students can achieve persuading, convincing or getting the addressee to do something. • Possible expressions: “Could you… , please?”, “Please…” , “Would you mind…” , “Can I have…”, etc. • Non verbal cues: Smiling, appearing friendly or non threatening, etc. • Other techniques: Watching the tone of voice and/or inflections. Video Links: Request| Request with subtitles

Dialogue #3: Requests DONE • Person A: Hey Alan. Do you have a pen? • Person B: No, I don’t. Ask Norma; maybe she has one. • Person A: Hi Norma. Can you lend me a pen? • Person C: Sorry, I’m using it, but… I have a pencil. • Person A: Oh, that’s good. Can I borrow it? • Person C: Yeah, sure. • Person A: Thank you. • Person C: Here. • Person A: Great! Video Links: Request| Request with subtitles

IV. Speech Act: Refusals • Reason for choosing: Students should be aware of how to express or indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow something without being rude and while being respectful of the sociocultural norms of the target language. To accomplish this, it is necessary to equip students with the knowledge of how to apply strategies that accomplish a successful communicative exchange. • There are 5 Strategies with possible expressions: • Positive Opinion: “That sounds great, but…”, “I’d love to, but…”, “I’d like to, but…”, “I wish I could, but…” • Thanking: “Thanks, but…”, “That’s very nice of you, but…”, “I appreciate it, but…” • Apology: “I’m sorry, but…” • Alternative: “Maybe next time?”, “Maybe some other time.”, “Perhaps next time.” • Direct Refusal (+ Reason/Excuse/Justification/Explanation): “I can’t make it… because…” “I can’t go… because I have to….”. • Non verbal cues: moving head from side to side, showing sympathy or guilt, slowly distancing yourself or walking away, lifting up your arms and hands midway and shrugging, hands-off gesture, crossed arms and legs, stiffening of the body and a serious facial expression. • Understanding softeners and their use is recommended. Video Links: Refusal | Refusal with subtitles

Dialogue #4: Refusals DONE • Person A: Hi Marcela. • Person B: Hi. • Person A: I heard your grandfather passed away. • Person B: Yes, he did. My family and I are so sad about that. • Person A: I’m very sorry about your loss. Is there anything I can do? • Person B: Thank you. Actually, yes. Can you come with me to the funeral tomorrow at 6pm. • Person A: Tomorrow at 6? • Person B: Yes. • Person A: I would like to go with you but I have to be at work. We are under a lot of pressure because we have to give a final project. • Person B: Oh, that’s too bad. • Person A: I know. I’m sorry. But, I will make it up to you. • Person B: Ok. • Person A: Ok. Video Links: Refusal | Refusal with subtitles

V. Speech Act: Compliments • Reason for choosing: it is relevant to teach students the importance of complimenting others as a possible and effective technique for breaking the ice between two people. However, students have to be aware of the appropriateness of their compliment depending on the socialcultural context. • Vocabulary: nice, good, beautiful, pretty, really, great, etc. • Possible expressions: “You look nice today.”, “You have great taste.”, “I really like your…”, “What a beautiful…”. • Non verbal cues: pointing, smiling, look of amazement or surprise. Video Links: Compliments | Complements with subtitles

Dialogue #5: Compliments DONE • Person A: Hey Marcela! That’s a beautiful sweater. • Person B: Oh, thank you. That’s so nice of you. • Person A: Where did you buy it? • Person A: Ah, I bought it last week on sale at Macy’s. • Person B: Really? • Person A: Yes. • Person B: Well, you have great taste. • Person A: Oh, thank you! Video Links: Compliments | Complements with subtitles

VI. Speech Act: Complaining • Unlike other speech acts such as expressions of apology or compliments, the speaker who complains addresses an interlocutor directly and uses various strategies to show dissatisfaction that precede or follow a direct complaint. • Students should be able to express dissatisfaction about oneself, someone or something. It is used to request for redress, express annoyance or disapproval, accusation, warning, justifications and/or criticisms. Students need to be assertive but polite. • Possible expressions: the use of imperatives, if clauses and exclamations. • Use politeness. “I´m sorry to bother you but…”, “I wish to make a complaint…” • Use softeners and/or point out positive things first. • When complaining you must: 1. State the problem 2. Request for redress (reimbursement, return, compensation), or action. 3. Statement of future intentions Video Links: Complaining | Complaining with subtitles

Dialogue # 6: Complaining PENDING VIDEO • Person A: Good morning sir! How can I help you today? • Person B: Good morning. Well, I hope that you can help me to solve my problem. This is the FIFTH TIME in the past three months that you guys disconnect my service!(Stating the problem)If you don’t fix that right now, I’m taking my business with someone else, seriously! (Statement of future actions) • Person A: Oh, I apologize for any inconvenience with your service. Can you give me your phone number so I can pull up your account and take a look to it? • Person B: This happens every month! I’m SO tired of having my phone disconnected.(Direct complaint) But ok, here we go, once again! • Person A: Again, I apologize for the inconvenience. • Person B: (Interrupting) Blah blahblah! I just want my service back!(Request for redress) my phone number‘s 12345678, and let me tell you something:the other companyhave a better reception, better phones and better prices than you guys! Not to mention customer service! You guys cannot continue ripping people off this way; seriously, I’m thinking of suing your company!(Statement of future actions) • Person A: I’m taking note of your comments so we can improve our service, thank you sir! (Pause) Well, let me see. Ok, I can see that we haven’t received August, September, October and November payment, we have been trying to reach you to discuss this matter Mr. Alan. • Person B: What are you talking about? Are you kidding me? I have five different credit cards and I’ve been paying my phone bill every single month, you know what? Just forget it! I will take my business with another carrier. (Statement of future actions) • Person A: Well, I see that you have been trying to pay your service with different credit cards; however, the transactions have been declined by the bank. I’m sorry. • Person B: Yes, I’m sorry too because, you know what? You’ve just lost another customer, thank you for nothing bye! • Person B: Have a nice day sir! Video Links: Complaining | Complaining with subtitles

VII. Speech Act: Leaving a message (voice mail) • Reason for choosing: Frequently, when students find themselves in the unexpected situation of leaving a voicemail, their mind might go blank and they begin to stutter. It is helpful to teach some easy techniques as to how to leave a message successfully. • Possible expressions: “Hi, this is [insert name]”, “Please call me at…” • Non verbal tip: steady voice equals assertiveness. • Other techniques: Rehearsing before actually calling and leaving the message. Include all pertinent information. Use correct terms of address. Try to keep it brief and positive. Video Links: Leaving a message | Leaving a message with subtitles

Dialogue #7: Leaving a message (voice mail) PENDING VIDEO • Person A: Hi. I’m not available at the moment. Please leave your message after the beep and I will return your call. • Person B: Hi, this is Chuck Norris. Bruce Willis told me that we will be working together on the next project for MGM. We’re going to have a meeting next Tuesday at our office and I’d like you to join us. Call me back at 555-1234. Thanks. • Person C: This message will self destruct in 5 seconds. 5…4…3…2…1. BOOM. Video Links: Leaving a message | Leaving a message with subtitles

Speech Acts Videos Final Project