A Looooooong time ago I would speak to people before striking.
That gets you killed pretty quick in CF. So most people don't do
it. When you try to get something going after fleeing or even dying
it tends to be looked at as whining instead of an attempt at RP. I'm
really not sure why this is. Lately though, I'm noticing a big pile
of people that are rp'ing like mad, even at the lower levels. Keep at
it. Rp is a self-replicating virus... You keep playing a part and
someone will play off of you even if they aren't the "rp-type". When
you run across the "good" players you will step up your game without
thinking about it. The "support" players give you something to build
on and talking to them causes you to flesh out your own character.
The (admitedly few) "awesome" Rp'ers either inspire you, or challenge
you to keep up, even when you suck they make you look "better" as
long as you try.

As for everyone else... Alot of people don't rp at lower levels
YOU keep doing it. It will prompt others to do so. If you don't have
anything to say/do/idea to make your character less cardboard...
make something up. If I get pked out of nowhere, I just make some
tripe up off the top of my head to talk tot he people involved.
Get 'em talking. There is someone on the other side of the text.
He or she has goals, sometimes they won't involve talking to you.

Talk with your group. Emote stuff. This part is sometimes an issue.
Person X has limited play time, and you spend it chit-chatting with
person Y, then X will get more than a little irate. So I try to talk
when resting waiting for mobs to re-pop. gt Sooo, you guys like
fishin'? Whatever man, just get 'em talkin'. Bring it to life.
"Hey mr. healer-guy, can you take a look at my leg? On the way
through the woods to get here I think I ran into a patch of
something and have a nasty looking rash." If they are in a hurry
to reach a new level, don't push it or anything. Just give people
an opening or lay out a hook.

If you get some good interactions going that make you FEEL something,
lay it out in your role. It'll give you something to build on later.
While I build my characters this way, I tend to not put stuff in my
role. I know I should, but when I have "down time" I'm usually too
paranoid and watching around me for who's gonna kill me next.

When people don't RP with you, try to RP with them. If you get nothing
talk to someone else. Give it a try, I think you'll be surprised at
the layer sitting under the one you've seen so far.