Strategies, modification and perspective in native speakers’ requests: A comparison of WDCT and naturally occurring requests

• The study examines the extent to which DCT requests approximate naturally occurring requests.
• DCT requests and natural requests presented significant differences in a number of dimensions.
• At the same time, they followed similar trends in terms of directness and lexical modification.
• WDCT requests can approximate natural data to a certain extent and WDCT data is therefore not without validity.
• WDCTs should be used alongside other research instruments and tested against other data through methodological triangulation.

The present study examines the extent to which written DCT requests approximate naturally occurring requests in a ‘standard’, service-encounter telephone situation with respect to the (a) degree of directness, (b) internal modification (syntactic and phrasal/lexical downgraders), and (c) request perspective. Results from the study revealed a picture with two sides: DCT requests and naturally occurring requests presented significant differences in a number of dimensions but at the same time they followed similar trends in terms of directness and lexical modification. Following the results, it was argued that the WDCT requests can, to a certain extent, approximate natural data and that WDCT data is therefore not without validity. It is warned, however, that findings from WDCT data should be treated with caution and as preliminary and that the use of a WDCT should be used alongside other research instruments and tested against other data through methodological triangulation. This will ensure greater validity and a better level of generalizability.