Helen Marriott

Investigating evaluative behavior in Japanese tour guiding interaction

As a means of investigating evaluative behavior, this study employed a panel of six native Speakers of Japanese to assess the deviations from politeness norms made by two non-native Speakers of Japanese who were performing the role of tour guides. In the analysis, the deviations were broadly divided into those concerned with honorific style and those which involved other politeness deviations. Overall, it was found that the most severe negative evaluations tended not to concern the honorific style, but involved the management of the speech acts of apology, compliment and request. A serious problem with the control of content rules was also identified. Variation was found in the assessments made by the native Speakers and some reasons for this are given.

The management of academic discourse acquisition

Abstract This article applies the Language Management Theory (LMT) in the context of overseas students participating in university study in an English-speaking context and who are developing their academic discourse while at the same time undertaking disciplinary studies. It draws upon data from a number of previous studies and examines central aspects of the theory, including kinds of management, stages of the management process, and simple and organized management, showing how the latter are sometimes interconnected in various ways. In the article, I consider issues relating to the start of the management process and analyze how power is exercised and by whom in these contact situations. Finally, consideration is given to methodological procedures which help us to identify the occurrence of management, in particular, follow-up (stimulated recall) interviews and interaction interviews.