Speech Acts Bibliography:
Condolences

García, C. (2010).  ‘Cuente conmigo’: The expression of sympathy by Peruvian Spanish speakers. Journal of Pragmatics, 42(2), 408-425.

The study attempted to fill in the gap the study of expression and pain by analyzing the expression of sympathy by a group of native Spanish speakers. Using Spencer-Oatey’s (2005) rapport-management approach, the goal of the study was to analyze Peruvian Spanish speakers’ preferred communication patterns in the performance of expressing sympathy in a situation exhibiting social distance, power differential among interlocutors, and where the loss experienced by the interlocutor was high. Data were collected in Lima, Peru in 2006 using subjects participating in an open-role scenario. Subjects included twenty adults, 10 females and 10 males. The group was diverse in terms of education and occupation. Participants represented a continuum from middle to upper middle class. Analysis of the data showed that subjects exhibited a strong rapport-enhancing orientation using a series of strategies that expressed respect towards the equity and the association principles. Participants observed their behavioral expectations in this context expressing empathy, involvement, and respect. In addition, the author noted that participants also respected the interlocutor’s identity and respectability face, which at the same time, reflected positively on their own identity and respectability face. The study asserted that the participants’ interactional wants were notably relational, both maintaining and enhancing in-group harmony. Thus, a perfect synchrony among participants was observed that included rapport-enhancing orientation, respect for the interlocutor’s identity and respectability face wants, and the pursuit of relational wants. Gender comparisons showed that males and females had different preferences in their observation of the association principle. Females preferred to express empathy and involvement while males preferred to convey respect and empathy.