Use of Expressions of Suggestion and Advice by Korean L2 Learners of English

Abstract

The Journal of Studies in Language 35.1, 097-108. Taking a socio-pragmatic approach, the current study explored the production of speech acts of suggestion and advice in English as L2 context. Specifically, the study investigated how Korean learners of English expressed suggestion and advice in terms of strategy use. The study compared the two speech acts realized by Korean L2 learners and native English speakers. The participants encompassed 49 Korean university students and 20 native English speakers. The data consisted of responses to eight situations of written discourse completion test per participant to elicit advice and suggestion speech acts. The responses were coded using 9 categories for advice and 10 categories for suggestion to determine the strategies adopted, and then were analyzed according to the frequency of the choice of strategies for each speech act. Findings revealed that Korean L2 learners of English were not well-balanced in the selection of strategies between making suggestions and giving advice, and linguistic formulae selected to realize certain strategies. (Konju National University)