Iraqi online compliments on Facebook and Instagram : a cyber pragmatics analysis

Abstract EN

This study examined the speech behavior of compliments giving and responding among Iraqi Facebook and Instagram users.

Specifically, it investigated the realization strategies of Iraqi complimenting behavior in Facebook and Instagram online interactions.

In addition, it explored the types of modification used by Iraqi Arabic speakers when complimenting in the contexts of Facebook and Instagram.

To achieve the study objectives, a corpus of compliments on Facebook and Instagram platforms compiled from 20 Iraqi users was analyzed.

Both qualitative and quantitative methods were performed to analyze the data and report the results.

The results demonstrated that to pay and respond to compliments, Iraqi Facebook and Instagram users employ verbal and non-verbal complementary patterns.

In paying compliments, Iraqi Facebook and Instagram users preferred using explicit compliments while preferring the category of accepting compliments in responding to compliments.

To modify their compliments, Iraqi Facebook and Instagram users employ internal and external modifications in favor of the former to enhance the intensity and sincerity of compliments paying and responding.

Furthermore, some instances of socio-cultural influence were found in the complimenting behavior among Iraqi Facebook and Instagram users.

On the basis of the findings arrived at, a number of conclusions, implications, and further research are suggested