This document summarizes a study comparing complaint behaviors in American English and Chinese. The study used discourse completion tasks (DCTs) with 40 native English speakers from the US and 40 native Mandarin speakers from Taiwan across 8 scenarios varying in social power and distance. The strategies used for complaints were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the frequent use of no explicit reproach, indirect complaints, and indirect accusations by Chinese speakers compared to American speakers. However, the study had limitations due to the hypothetical DCT situations and narrow age range of subjects.

1. A CONTRASTIVE STUDY ON THE COMPLAINT BEHAVIORS IN AMERICAN ENGLISH AND CHINESE Yuan-Shan L. Chen A Critical Review By : Ari Listiani Postgraduate Program of Linguistics (Translations) Udayana University

4. 40 SUBJECTS Ages Range : 16 – 21 YO 20 NS –A Undergraduate Students of Colleges in Washington 20 NS –C Ling Tung University in Taiwan 1. RESEARCH METHOD II. SUMMARY

9. CON’T a. NO EXPLICIT REPROACH AMERICAN CHINESE “ Oh, it’s OK, accidents happen” “ Meiguanxi “ (It’s OK) Let the hearer off the hook first, followed by statement of understanding Let the hearer off the hook without further elaboration

10. CON’T b. INDIRECT COMPLAINT AMERICAN CHINESE “ I took the established hours believing that is what I would be working” 1. “Wanshang zhemowan huijia tai weixian” (It’s too dangerous to go home so late and my family was worried) 2. “Meigeren douyao paidui chadui shi hen” (Everyone should wait in line and cutting in line is very immoral!) Express fact of annoyance regardless of the hearer’s relative power or distance The complaint expression differ based on the hearer’s level of status

11. CON’T c. INDIRECT ACCUSATION AMERICAN CHINESE “ Why did you open letter?” 1. “Ni bushi daying wo buzai kai wode xin ma” (Didn’t you promise mo not to open my letter again?) 2. “Ni you kai wode xin ma” (Did you open my letter?) Using “Wh” question ; Most direct, threaten the speaker’s negative face straightforwardly by holding the hearer’s responsible for the offence In #1, the speaker shows his/her disappointment at the hearer’s act of breaking the promise and disturbing privacy. In #2, the speaker has no prior assumption about the (+) & (-) response, so it is left open to the hearer to answer the question.

12. CON’T d. REQUEST FOR REPAIR AMERICAN CHINESE “ I would like to ask you to give me extra pay” 1. “Wo xiwang wo yihou keyi zhushi xiaban buyao” (I hope I can get off on time in the future, and do not postpone until 12:00 like before! 2. “Xiaci xiaoxin yidian” (Be carefull next time) Tend to use the modal verb “would” to modify the illocutionary verb “like” . Ask for compensation for the damage for the hearer has caused. Tend to use subjectiviser such as “I hope…”. Carried a moral overtone and advise the hearer that such an act should be prevented and care should be taken in the future