Discourse Completion Questionnaire
(Please provide answer in the shaded area, a total of 24 questions.)
Q1 .
Some people are making loud conversation in a theater before the show starts. A girl approaches you and says, “Do you know where the switch is to turn off all the noise?” Apparently, she does not want to spoil the atmosphere but is quite fed up with the noise.
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q2 .
In a student conference out of town, a male that you do not know comes in late.
As you look at him, he says, “I had a wrong time written down in my schedule.
It’s so embarrassing but I don’t want to miss it.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q3 .
In the school cafeteria, the TV is broadcasting some tragedies and a girl sitting next to you, who you have never met, says, “It’s terrible to watch the news and have lunch. The sad stories ruin your appetite and your mood altogether.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
113
Q4 .
A female auditing in your class comes in late. As you watched her, she said to you, “Sorry. I should have been here earlier. Don’t let me disturb this class. I’m so sorry.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q5 .
In the hallway of the Business School, a male janitor is not happy with a snack wrapper left on the sofa in the open area. “How is it possible that someone didn’t see this is the ONLY garbage in the hallway? The educated don’t care about basic manners anymore now.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q6 .
In a line for concert tickets, a man says, “I was all prepared but the traffic was jam-packed and my car simply could not move. If it wasn’t for the traffic, I should be drinking coffee in a café instead of standing in this bloody line.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
114
Q7 .
A girl next to your table is eating something unappetizing and your choice is no better. She says, “The serving is terrible. The cook is an alien or what? I don’t think you’d like to come again.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q8 .
In a Q&A section of a seminar, somebody just made an extremely long statement that barely had any relationship with the topic. The boy next to you says, “I think the man doesn’t have any idea what he is talking about.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q9 .
Your friend who lives in an all-boy’s dorm says in your morning class, “How could I sleep with firecrackers banging outside of the building?”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
115
Q10 .
In the browsing room at the library, your classmate is angry because someone used his computer when he left for some water. “What the hell? Didn’t he see the computer is not in standby mode? Can he not figure it out if there is no OCCUPIED sign?”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q11 .
A female friend is expressing her anger by saying, “You know, he never comes to me and tells me why he is so upset with me. He tells Angie, Charles and many others. But he never comes to me at all.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q12 .
In a computer room, a friend by your side obviously encounters a lag in the Internet connection. He says, “Yours seems OK. But mine doesn’t understand my commands. For twenty minutes, I haven’t even got one complete page.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
116
Q13 .
A friend in class cannot find her glasses and thus cannot read the words from the board. She is upset and she says, “I don’t know what happened. I cannot find my glasses anywhere. Yesterday, I searched for an hour only to find my house key in my pocket…”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q14 .
Your girl friend comes out of the restroom with a very ugly expression. She says,
“The toilet is so dirty. What torture to have to use the restroom in this damn place!”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q15 .
A classmate you know comes in early to class. He looks worried and he is murmuring, “Oh. My. I’ve miscalculated my budget for this month and it’s only half way through the month.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
117
Q16 .
A girl friend says, “When will the old facilities in the dorm meet the high-tech ones in our classroom? It’s like two different worlds, in and out of the dorm.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q17 .
Your best male friend comes in and says, “I am a dead man. I fell asleep last night and I will definitely fail this test.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q18 .
Your super good friend tells you that he is allergic to the smell of a person whom you both know. “I’m so sick of his smell. He comes in smelling like he’s been swimming in sewage. Does he ever think about others?” He says this to you and not to the person maybe because you’re close friends.
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
118
Q19 .
A very good girl friend of yours is patting her fat tummy. She is upset and she says, “I know that I need to get rid of it before it gets rid of me. But when I start eating, I am totally out of control…”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q20 .
The temperature is 105
oF. Your best male friend says, “I’m so fed up with the heat. Everything is drying up and dying.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q21 .
A very close girl friend told you, “I’ve had enough of her. She comes to me with everything. I don’t want to be mean but it has taken a lot of my time. I think that I’ve told her about my annoyance but maybe she just can’t help it.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
119
Q22 .
Everybody is told to save energy and save the earth. You and a good male friend walking pass a classroom with all lights lit up, nobody inside, and no sign of a coming event. Your friend says, “I just don’t know how I can help. I mean, I switch off everything after I use it. But how can I save the world if all others are not helping?”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q23 .
Your very close girl friend comes back from a 5-minute class break and sees her pen is gone. She says, “Oh. That’s my favorite pen that I’ve used for 5 years. I was using it and now IT’S GONE. It’s awful.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
Q24 .
Your very good girl friend is upset about the nasty weather, she says, “The weather has kept me from dressing up. I’ll be sick if I keep on wearing these clothes.”
What will you say?
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
120
Appendix C
Language Behavior Questionnaire
for Native English Speakers Living in USA (Americans)
Language Behavior Survey Instruction before filling the questionnaire
Dear participant,
This is a research to investigate the language behavior of college students of native English speakers and learners of English as a foreign language. You are invited to respond to the following situations naturally. Please put yourself in the context and write down what you may say as if you are in the situation. You are allowed to opt out if you don’t know what to do. In that case, please state the reason in the space provided. If you will act in some way, please also note that down for our records. Your efforts are highly appreciated. Thank you for your kind participation in our investigation of human language behavior.
Here is an example for your reference,
A girl passed by your garden and picked a beautiful flower. You saw it and came out of the house. She said, “I’m sorry but the flower is so beautiful.”
What will you say?
___________________________________________________________________________
You may say, “You are a thief. How can you pick flowers from other’s garden?”
Or, “That’s OK. Nature is full of wonders. You can come and visit as you want.”
Or, you may choose to not say anything and explain why.
Just do the talking as you would normally do in a face to face interaction.
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
121 Please advise your personal information
1. Sex male female
2. Age under 20 between 21 and 30 between 31 and 40 over 40 3. Native language English Chinese other, please specify
If English is not your native language, please advise your English learning experience in and out of school.
In school years in junior high school
years in senior high school
years in college
Additional information
Out of school years, in cram schools or tutoring Name of institute
4. Major in Business Administration Banking Accounting Financing Other, please specify
5. Currently enrolled as Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Other, please specify _________________
6. In case of the need for a phone or face-to-face interview, please advise your best availability.
Best availability of the day?
Best availability of the week?
Contact MSN or SKYPE?
And if need be, can you be reached in person? yes no
‧
1. Some people are making a loud conversation in a theater before the show starts. A girl approaches you and says, “Do you know where the switch is to turn off all the noise?” Apparently, she does not want to spoil the atmosphere but is quite fed up with the group of people.
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
2. In a student conference out of town, a male that you do not know comes in late. As you look at him, he says, “I had a wrong time written down in my schedule. It’s so embarrassing but I don’t want to miss it.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. In the school cafeteria, the TV is broadcasting some tragedies and a girl sitting next to you, who you have never met, says, “It’s terrible to watch the news and have lunch.
The sad stories ruin your appetite and your mood altogether.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
123
4. A female auditing in your class comes in late. She keeps saying, “Sorry. I should have been here earlier. Don’t let me disturb this class. I’m so sorry.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. In the hallway of the Business School, the janitor is not happy with a snack wrapper left on the sofa in the open area. “How is it possible that someone didn’t see this is the ONLY garbage in the hallway? How can someone educated not know basic manners in everyday life?”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. In a line for concert tickets, a man says, “I was all prepared but the traffic was jam-packed and my car simply could not move. If it wasn’t for the traffic, I should be drinking coffee in a café instead of standing in this bloody line.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
124
7. A girl next to your table is eating something unappetizing and your choice is no better.
She says, “You know what? I think this place is perfect when you want to lose weight.
It just ruins your appetite. Not a thing is enjoyable.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
8. In the cafeteria, a boy that you saw in the expensive seminar you are taking is not happy with the price and the choice of food. He says, “Look at the price! You’d have to rob me before I would pay for this food. I mean, the seminar is not free and should include lunch with a charge so high.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
9. In the browsing room at the library, your classmate is angry because someone used his computer when he left for some water. “What the hell? Didn’t he see the computer is not in standby mode? Can he not figure it out if there is no OCCUPIED sign?”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
125
10. A female friend is expressing her anger by saying, “You know, he never comes to me and tells me why he is so upset with me. He tells Angie, Charles and many others. But he never comes to me at all.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
11. In a computer room, a friend by your side obviously encounters a lag in the Internet connection. He says, “Yours seems OK. But mine doesn’t understand my commands.
For twenty minutes, I haven’t even got one complete page.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
12. A friend in class cannot find her glasses and thus cannot read the words from the board.
She is upset and she says, “I don’t know what happened. I cannot find my glasses anywhere. Yesterday, I searched for an hour only to find my house key in my pocket…”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
126
13. Your friend who lives in an all-boy’s dorm says in your morning class, “How could I sleep with firecrackers banging outside of the building?”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
14. Your girlfriend comes out of the restroom with a very ugly expression. She says, “The toilet is so dirty. What torture to have to use the restroom in this damn place!”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
15. A classmate you know comes in early to class. He looks worried and he is murmuring,
“Oh. My. I’ve miscalculated my budget for this month and it’s only half way through the month.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
127
16. A girl friend says, “When will the old facilities in the dorm meet the high-tech ones in our classroom? It’s like two different worlds, in and out of the dorm.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
17. Your best male friend comes in and says, “I am a dead man. I felt asleep last night and I will definitely fail this test.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
18. Your super good friend tells you that he is allergic to the smell of a person whom you both know. “I’m so sick of his smell. He comes in smelling like he’s been swimming in sewage. Does he ever think about others?” He says this to you and not to the person maybe because you’re close friends.
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
128
19. A very good girl friend of yours is patting her fat tummy. She is upset and she says, “I know that I need to get rid of it before it gets rid of me. But when I start eating, I am totally out of control…”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
20. The temperature is 105oF. Your best male friend says, “I’m so fed up with the heat.
Everything is drying up and dying.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
21. A very close girl friend told you, “I’ve had enough of her. She comes to me with everything. I don’t want to be mean but it has taken a lot of my time. I think that I’ve told her about my annoyance but maybe she just can’t help it.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
129
22. Everybody is told to save energy and save the earth. You and a good male friend walking pass a classroom with all lights lit up, nobody inside, and no sign of a coming event. Your friend says, “I just don’t know how I can help. I mean, I switch off
everything after I use it. But how can I save the world if all others are not helping?”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
23. Your very close girlfriend comes back from a 5-minute class break and sees her pen is gone. She says, “Oh. That’s my favorite pen that I’ve used for 5 years. I was using it and now IT’S GONE. It’s awful.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
24. Your very good girl friend is upset about the nasty weather, she says, “The weather has
kept me from dressing up. I’ll be sick if I keep on wearing these clothes.”
What will you say?
_______________________________________________________________________
Or, you would not say anything about it. Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
130