In forward Hebrew and Arabic speakers of English, status affected request directness alike, dissimilar to the use of please. In both groups, conventional indirect requests grew as the addressee status grew vis a vis the speaker. Direct requests grew as the addressee abated vis a vis the speaker. L1 Arabic speakers showed the biggest use of please when the addressee's status was lower or higher than the speaker's. L1 Hebrew speakers only chose please when the addressee's status was lower than the speaker's.