A pragmatic analysis of polite forms in English and Arabic : a contrastive study

Abstract EN

This study aims to make a pragmatic analysis of some selected polite forms in English and Arabic.

The data for the study consist of a number of exchange unites of discourse which have similar functions in the two languages.

The framework for analysis takes into account the model presented by Brown and Levinson (1987).

It is noted that English deferential behavior adheres to Brown and Levinson’s model of politeness whereas Arabic deferential behavior does not seem to adhere to this model.

The results show that both English and Arabic speakers use a combination of politeness strategies to defer to hearers, but the difference lies in the fact that formal and informal situations and kind of relationships play a great role in the British interaction system, whereas no such role is evident in the Arabic interaction system.