The present research investigates the strategies adopted by native and trilingual speakers of Italian, Spanish, and English when expressing disagreement. The study focuses on understanding the pragmatic phenomena associated with disagreement, including directness, formality and informality, within different cultural and linguistic contexts. The findings reveal that native speakers utilise a broader range of strategies than trilingual speakers, with argumentative disagreement being the most prevalent approach. The study also highlights cultural variations in expressing disagreement, with Italian speakers demonstrating the highest levels of formality, followed by Spanish and English speakers. Trilingual speakers tend to be more direct in their second or third languages, reflecting reduced linguistic control and a need for clarity in communication. Furthermore, the research identifies new strategies, such as expressing disagreement through disappointment and the expanded use of requests and orders, which have not extensively explored in previous literature. Additionally, the study examines the pragmatic awareness of trilingual speakers, revealing a strong correlation among language competence, frequency of target-language use, social interaction, linguistic distance and the ability to navigate and adapt to different pragmatic norms across languages. These results underscore the complexity of intercultural communication, where cultural norms, language proficiency, and the specific communicative context influence disagreement strategies.
| Date of Award | 28 May 2026 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Roxanne Taylor (Main Supervisor) |
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