REFUSAL SPEECH ACTS IN DRAMA SCRIPTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
speech act, refusal, pragmatics, drama scripts, communication, indirect refusal, direct refusal, dialogue, discourse analysis, politeness strategiesAbstract
This research paper investigates refusal speech acts in drama scripts from pragmatic and linguistic perspectives. Refusal is one of the most important communicative acts because it directly influences interpersonal relationships and social interaction. In dramatic discourse, refusals are widely used to express disagreement, emotional conflict, social distance, and personal attitudes. The study examines direct and indirect refusal strategies used by dramatic characters in different communicative situations. The research also discusses the influence of culture, politeness, gender, and social status on the use of refusal expressions. Drama scripts provide natural examples of communication because dialogues reflect real-life conversational behavior. The findings demonstrate that indirect refusals are more frequently used than direct refusals due to politeness considerations and social harmony. Furthermore, refusal speech acts play an essential role in developing dramatic tension and revealing character personality. This study contributes to pragmatics, discourse analysis, and literary linguistics by emphasizing the importance of speech act theory in drama studies.
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