MITIGATION IN SPEECH ACT PRODUCTION IN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS OF SPANISH

Abstract

In this article we discuss the results of a study where we compare the production of speech acts in native and non-native speakers of Spanish. We have collected the data following a closed-role play protocol where the informants had to react to speech situations producing dispreferred or negative reactions. The study shows that both native and non-native speakers plan out and use mitigation (mitigation or intensification) strategies in order to produce dispreferred responses, although these vary in number and variety in native and nonnative speakers. In the discussion, we explore factors determining mitigation strategies, and we also forward implications for the study of pragmatic interlanguage.