Moroccan EFL learners’ and American English native speakers’ requesting strategies

Résumé

This study compares Moroccan EFL learners and American English native speakers’ requesting strategies. It particularly investigates the distribution of the three main head requesting strategies, the various requesting sub-strategies and request perspectives. Towards this objective, 122 Moroccans and 36 Americans completed a discourse completion task. The results mainly revealed that both groups preferred conventionally indirect strategies over direct strategies. In addition, the two groups showed very limited use of non-conventionally indirect strategies, the “suggestory formula” sub-strategy, the “performative” sub-strategy and the “inclusive” perspective. However, Moroccan EFL learners were found to use more direct requesting strategies overall. The study concludes with several research and pedagogical implications.