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Second language pragmatic development in study abroad contexts
Edited by Ariadna Sánchez-Hernández
[Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education 7:1] 2022
► pp. 54–87

Openings and closings in institutionally-situated email requests

| University of Central Lancashire
| University of Central Lancashire

The study abroad (SA) experience presents opportunities to enrich linguistic and cultural knowledge, but pragmatic development does not always follow a linear path. This investigation describes one interlanguage challenge: managing online interactions in upward email requests. Openings and closings in emails of two academic discourse communities are examined: (L1) English-speaking experts with three years of prior socialization into UK academic practices (n = 162) and (L2) Chinese English as a foreign language novices as newcomers on their SA stay (n = 159). The study aims to analyze sociocultural variance between the groups and whether a 10-month sojourn influences novice email practices. Results revealed novices and experts adopted markedly different strategies for interpersonal work. Experts tended to take a less formal, egalitarian stance when initiating emails while novices opted for increased levels of formality in structure and style. Most novices’ mismanagement could be traced back to first language influences or, more commonly, to an overreliance on formal letter writing techniques.

Keywords: L2 pragmatics, study abroad, emails, requests, Chinese learners
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Current research
    • 2.1Study abroad and Chinese learners of English
    • 2.2Institutional emails and Chinese learners of English
    • 2.3Openings and closings in L2 English emails
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Participants and email data
    • 3.2Analysis of the opening and closing sequences
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1Research question 1: How do experts and novices formulate openings and closings in request emails to manage interpersonal relations with academic staff?
      • 4.1.1Opening moves
      • 4.1.2Closing moves
    • 4.2Research question 2: Is there evidence of transformation from novice to expert email practices during study abroad?
      • 4.2.1Opening moves
      • 4.2.2Closing moves
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion and implications
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 19 April 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sar.21010.hal
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