Gender and the Pragmatics of Refusal: A Study of Moroccan University Learners of English

Abstract

This study investigates the use of refusal strategies within the framework of pragmatics and politeness theory, with a specific focus on gender-based patterns among Moroccan university learners of English. The research explores whether male and female participants employ refusal strategies similarly across various situations. Using a Discourse Completion Task (DCT) questionnaire, data were collected and analysed quantitatively to identify the frequency and types of refusal strategies used. The findings reveal that male and female participants generally follow comparable patterns in their use of refusal strategies, with only minor differences observed in a single situation. These results contribute to the understanding of gender and pragmatic competence, offering insights into how politeness and social norms shape refusal behaviour in a second language context.