A Pragmatic Analysis of Wish Strategies Used by Iraqi EFL Learners

The present study aimed to examine the challenges encountered by Iraqi EFL university learners when using 'wish expressions' at both the recognitive and productive levels. This study aimed to offer a theoretical overview of the syntactic constructions of explicit and implicit wish expressions, along with their semantic and pragmatic functions. The study identified a lack of awareness among Iraqi EFL University learners regarding strategies for expressing 'wish'. Many learners in Iraqi EFL universities tend to use explicit expressions rather than implicit ones when communicating. In order to fulfil the objectives of the study and validate its hypotheses, the researcher devised a diagnostic test consisting of two sections: productive and precognitive. The researcher asked the study sample to express their 'wish' in various situations. The recognitive part of the study involved situations where respondents were required to identify illocutionary forces associated with the expression of 'wish'. The study's findings clearly showed that the majority of participants in the sample expressed their wishes explicitly rather than implicitly. The study drew several conclusions. Firstly, the results of the study revealed that wishes can convey both positive and negative desires, like the intention to bless or curse someone. Secondly, the study conclusively validated its hypotheses by demonstrating that the subjects performed better at the production level than at the precognitive level.