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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelThis research is about refusal strategies used by male main characters
based on ethnicity in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In this research, the
writer wants to find out the types and differences of refusal strategies used by
Greek and American male main characters. It is hoped that the results, can
contribute to the readers in understanding that people?s speech is influenced by
social factor. To do the investigation, the writer refers to the theory of refusal
strategies (Beebe et al, 1990) and the theories of ethnicity both Greek (Tannen,
1990) and American (Felix-Brasdefer, 2002). The findings show that there are two
differences regarding the types of refusal that are used towards requests, offers,
and suggestions (there is no occurrence of refusal strategies toward invitations by
those two characters) and the types concerning the addressee. The first differences
regarding the types used by those characters towards requests, offers, and
suggestions are American never uses "acceptance that functions as a refusal" as
Greek does and Greek uses "excuse, reason, explanation" only toward suggestions
whereas American uses it toward requests, offers, and suggestions. It is also found
that Greek?s speech is more indirect compared to the American?s speech.
Regarding the addressees, there is no difference found since topic influence more
than the addressees? social status and social distance. From those results, it can be
concluded that cultural background influences people?s speech since it brings
differences.