... none of the subjects from the VLE and the NSE groups used DP, IPr, IPh, IOH, IRI, IP and IRQ. The number of the other formulas such as IR, IW, IER and IRQ were similar in the refusals of the ... distance of the speakers and the hearers and to the formality of the invitations. Some important factors which emerge from the above reviewed studies inform the present study. Firstly, speakers of ... threaten the speaker’s face, still others threaten the face of both the hearer and the speaker. To reduce the risk of possible communication breakdown due to these face-threatening acts, the participants...