Compliment Responses between Male and Female - Essay Example

Compliment Responses between Male and Female Part one of this paper Dis Variation and Gender: The Case ofCompliment Responses among Male and Female Kuwaiti Speakers of English. Introduction Considerably, according to Hobbs, compliment speech defines an act, which implicitly or explicitly bestows credit upon the person being addressed for the purpose of skills, possession, likes, or characteristics that the speakers can evaluate positively (Llamas, 2007, pg57). The argument of Levinson and Brown is that a complement is controlled largely by a strategy that depicts a great sense of politeness: because, its mandate is to signify the person complimenting attendance and notice to the needs and interests of the being complimented (Schilling, 2010, pg47). The person complimenting bears the responsibility of ensuring that the receiver feels good and that his or her efforts have been appreciated. In other words, it is the mandate of the person complimenting to ensure that the person being complimented feels good on the ground that the efforts have been complimented. On the other hand, Holmes (1988) affirms also that compliments usually affect someone positively concerning speech. However, the obvious function of complement is that they act as ‘oil’, in which they oil up the social wheels, mostly being rooted on the positive wants of a face. This is pertinent since it consolidates or rather increases solidarity among people (Beeching, 2002, pg21). He further illustrates that compliments should best perform as a speech that affects someone positively, therefore they (compliments) can be considered as emphatic. This is a type of speech that gives out ties of union, which is created by the principle of word exchange (Beeching, 2002, pg47). That is why, in the current life, people are struggling to use compliments all, in the name of creating cooperation and not competition, hence bringing out a sense of harmony. Aim of the research The aim of this research is to identify the case of complement responses between both the male and female of the Kuwaiti people. It should be noted that people who reside in Kuwait are mostly advanced Arabic speakers of English (Herman, 2005, pg27). At this point, it should be noted that there is certain type of complement that people usually use all in the name of making others feel appreciated. However, this act according to research varies from one person to another and that is why, in this study, people who are under study are Kuwaiti citizens, whose original and first language is Arabic (Llamas, 2007, pg47). However, they use English as their second language, and therefore, there is a possibility that their Arabic language can affect the degree of complacency. Research scope Here, all the attention has been given to (five male and five female). The analytics have paid attention complement responses in the effort of investigating underlying structures. It is noted that the first person who endured the burden of research on complements for the first time was Pomerantz (Llamas, 2007, pg36). She was a female, and her studies did demonstrate the fact that speakers of varied languages follow different pattern when giving out a compliment response. This was the first time compliments were mentioned, however from that time up to now; several linguists have directed their attention, which they have further drawn as the most wanting phenomenon of compliment responses. Limitations First, the study is limited on the Arabic English speaking people of the Kuwaiti. The truth is that, not all people usually respond to compliments in the same manner. It is of no offense to note that this Arabic group responds different from other groups (Beeching, 2002, pg37). Therefore, the need to understand how they respond is what limited this study to include them and not any other people. Second, the availability is what also limited this study to evaluate the compliment response by the Arabic people. This group proved to be available and corporative; therefore doing research on them gave out a good experience (Llamas, 2007, pg26). Away from that, this group had a varied degree of response, and therefore, they formed a very good people to be researched to in view of the fact that they clearly showed how a men and a female responds to compliments. Their cultural norm dictates a very varied stand when it comes to gender. The way a man can respond is not the way a woman can respond. Therefore, they gave out a clear and distinctive definition. With that in mind, this was the right group to do a research on. Research questions What is your name? Where do you come from? Which language are you fluent in? What is your age? How long have you stayed here? How many are you in your family? What can be your preferences when told to choose between a westernized life and the current eastern life? Where have you liked to visit? Who is your role model in the world today? Do you like being complimented, or not, and if not why? For how frequent have you been complimented, and how did you take that action? Literature review Ali Mohammad Heidari-shahreza “Discourse Variation and Gender: The Case of Compliment Responses among Male and Female Persian Speakers”, The above article illustrates that there are different responses that both the genders usually portray when it comes to the reaction to compliment response. According to the article, male are prone to rejecting a compliment than females (Beeching, 2002, pg76). Further, the article illustrates some Arabic English speaking people who usually employ no-response and others usually portray non-acceptance responses. This result is driven as per the western cultural influence, which influence both the male and the female. This is what brings about the main change (Schilling, 2010, pg36). Research justifications According to this research, it should be noted that this research has been build not only on the already existing literatures but also on the real and physical tabulations available. With that in mind, it is of no offense to note that this research encompasses up to date and current information concerning the compliment response in both the male and female of Arabic English speaking. Methodology overview The population sample involves both the female and male Arabic people. The Arabs taken from different regions were interviewed through questionnaires as the main data collection method, and the response noted. The selection of the participant was random (Llamas, 2007, pg47). No one was selected due to the influence he or she has, instead, the sample entailed people who came from a different background and environment, and then the chance was given to them equally. Data collection was through recording, sampling as well as questionnaires. It was then analyzed, on the ground of gender difference, the geographical location of there residence and the cultural differences. Anticipated results It was noted that the fifty percent of the sample were male and fifty female. The main point of evaluation was their response concerning compliments. However, the results were negative for male but positive for female (Herman, 2005, pg36). In other words, it was noted that female responds positively to compliments but male do not respond positively. Ethical considerations The truth is that the response that Arabs show on compliments is largely influenced by the culture. Male tend to reject a compliment, or discard or ignore more than women. This is geared up by the manner to which their cultures control the behaviors of a male and a female. Part two of the paper Abstract This pragmatic study was employed on ten Arabians English speakers pertaining response making on compliments. Practically, the other ten English speaking people also compared their responses. They gave out responses typically in their language that is in (English and Arabic). The data obtained from the study were triangulated and at the same time open responses were played and then analyzed in three aspects of suggestions making. The analyzed three aspects were politeness, perspectives as well as directive) which was also accompanied with a number of micro strategies. The macro strategies were rejection, acceptance, and evasion. To evaluate the actions properly, the study involved a direct tendency of making suggestions from a side of both the hearer and the speaker, denoted as (H + S). This suggestion involves the use of almost direct language as well as responsive actions. Lastly, gender relationship was also made between the topic of suggestion and interlocutors. The above also according to research, seemed to offer a good contribution of the observed differences. Introduction It should be noted that language learning is something that is more than the mere use of vocabulary, grammar, as well as distinctive sounds. These according to study, are mechanical features that should just be learnt first, before getting on the actual language (Chambers, 2013, pg36). The above mechanical features propel the correct usage of a language, which falls short of socio-cultural, pragmatic. The two are the main features that should be embraced for the correct use of a language. It is as well important to acknowledge that apart from mastering of “linguistics,” learners also should have competence that is moiré of pragmatic so that they may communicate and understand intentions as well as meanings more correctly (Bardovi, 2008, pg47). In addition, this is what brings about the essence of compliment responses. The improper usage of language is what brings about the notion of impoliteness, as well as bringing up a thought that someone is not a good in complimenting (Larsen, 2008, pg47). The truth is that to be good in complimenting, one is supposed to make another person being complimented to feel good (Varner, 2007, pg37). He or she should feel as if, someone somewhere is caring about his or her being. Today, in the general life experience, it should be noted that compliments are being exchanged with an aim of leveling or keeping a relationship more positive (Lesley, 2008, pg47). Furthermore, it is wise to acknowledge that a compliment should not be used for making reports but for making rapports and also not for competition but for cooperation. With that in mind, it should further be understood that a compliment response, denoted as (CR), entails a response that follows a compliment. The speech at most, gives room for a good interpersonal relationship in the human day-to-day life (Chambers, 2013, pg36). Positively, the use of compliment response in a group heightens the maintenance of solidarity in the interpersonal group relationship as well as the harmony of social interaction. Methodology The greater part of the body portrays compliment response, it should be noted that this research entails an empirical research on Arabic compliments as well as Compliment response. This study is an attempt of identifying gender differences regarding the use of compliment response among both the male and the female of Arabic accent (Robert, 2005, pg77). In other words, the study incorporates data from the viewpoint of gender alterations in the use of compliment response. This is what makes a communication to be either a success or a failure. It should then be noted that almost the whole section of this study entails Arabic participants who have been neglected at great perspective because they are considered as a minority group (Varner, 2007, pg37). It is fortunate to note that the group has a distinct response between its male and its females. To make this study a success, it is imperative to note that the research questions was analyzed and then investigated through a wide use of data collection (Robert, 2005, pg77). The data collection involved DCTs (discourse completion task), though in written form, but in a four situational setting, that is the ability, appearance, possession and lastly character. The four reason of using the DCTs, (discourse completion task) is that, in doing this, a sound template of stereotyped requirement of social approach can be perceived (Vimala, 2005, pg56). As much as it is generally acceptable, it should be noted that every data has either weakness or strength with accordance to the aim of the research. Base data techniques have been the best when it comes to data that is on probability assertions or a broad generalization. Therefore, since this is a study of the degree to which the male or the female respond on compliments, then this type of data collection will bring out the intended results since, the generalization bit will act here perfectly (Chambers, 2013, pg36).. It should be understood that not all Arabic people will participate in the study; however, the few ones will give out a general perception of the whole group. Participants Here, 20 participants took part in the study where 10 of them were just English speakers; their participation here gave out a true clarification. Five Thirty were male of Arabic and five female Arabians of Kuwaiti origin (Robert, 2005, pg37). The participants had an average age of eighteen, and before the commencement of the study, it was recommendable that a study be done to clarify whether the participants were fully suitable for informants. It should also be noted that all the participants were just but students of a centered Arabic and English language (Chambers, 2013, pg36).. They were also made to sign certain consent forms, all in the effort of trying to give out proper and distinct outcomes. Procedure In every activity anticipated, procedure usually plays a very vital role, given that this is what will determine the results. Whether positive or negative, the perfectness of what the study was all about will be met. Therefore, here is where a center of concentration was, as a proper evaluation was based from this point (Kate, 2002, pg 36). First, before the actual study could commence, all those who were participating were informed concerning the aims as well as the scope of the study. This information was purposely to make participants have less doubt or be comfortable during the progression of the activity (Robert, 2005, pg57). After which, the participants got a copy of DCT (discourse completion task) so that they can comfortably have a place to feel what they think of them. First, the phenomenon of imagination came in. The participants were told to literally imagine they are taken in a certain situation, after which they were expected to write down answers to the response they could face. The situational imagination varied, as per the direction of the interviewer, and this aimed at giving room to several responses from the participants under situational variation (Robert, 2005, pg77). The response was expected to be as natural as possible, so that the inner naturalness could come into existence. The research was mainly to identify how Arabians could react to a certain compliments, both the male and the female in relation to the English individuals. All the participants gave out their answers, which were coded and then put into classification. The classification entailed the phenomenon of Home’s taxonomy (Chambers, 2013, pg36).. Therefore, taxonomy was useful since it gave out a general response of several individual, hence assisting in giving out evidence and therefore it acted as a literature review. Data analysis Analysis of compliment response, which was in a contractive nature between the Kuiti speakers both the male and the female was used to identify the compliment response pattern between the three groups (Norbert, 2013, pg30). The table below gives out a sample of the participation where S stands for situation, and then P stands for participation, R for rejection and lastly A for acceptance. Furthermore, the participants were assigned special numbers (Chambers, 2013, pg36). Therefore, the numbers that accompanies this abbreviation represents their assigned codes. Also in the same way, the code might represent types of strategies at the level of micro representation and situations. Male Arabs Examples of compliment responses P21, S2 “Hey how are you, you look handsome”, “that is very kind of you, you are handsome too” P 3, S 3 “Thank you so much for your assistance”, “ I am at your service” P 5, S 4 “I am sick will you help me out”, “ what will that help me”, “you are unfair”, “you too” P 4, S 6 “You phone is good”, “ what of yours, they are all phones, no difference” Female Arabs Examples of compliment responses P7, S7 “Hey how are you, you look beautiful”, “thanks” P 8, S1 “Thank you so much for your assistance”, “ it is nothing it is my duty” P 3, S o “You phone is good”, “no worry, take it easy”. English Examples of compliment responses P 12, S 15 “Hey how are you, you look beautiful”, “thanks” P 14, S 16 “Thank you so much for your assistance”, “ welcome” P 17, S 20 “You phone is good”, “thanks yours too”. Frequency (Zelikow 2009: 25) Action Accept (percentage) Reject (percentage) Evade (percentage) Male Arabs 25 45 30 Female Arabs 43 32 25 English 45 15 40 Key: 1 acceptance 2 reject 3 evade Results analysis It should be noted from the above demonstration that the English speakers are the most polite (Norbert, 2013, pg54). However, the Arabic females portray a sense of politeness when complemented. And that is as per their culture, where they are expected to be polite before their male counterparts. Due to that brought up, they have lived to be respectful, and they still portray the sense of politeness even when it comes to another language setting (Kate, 2002, pg26). It should be noted that a language or rather a response at most could be controlled by background situation of a person. A person develops politeness just from the area where he or she resides (Herman, 2005, pg38). That is why the female Arabians have hold on their culture to the extent that the same culture has so far affected their responsibility. On the other hand, the Kuiti speakers males are not that polite. In as much as the males are regarded as people who are not very polite, it should be noted that they are also arrogant because their socio-cultural depicts their nature (Chambers, 2013, pg36). Consequently, the same has affected them all through to the foreign language. They tent to reject a compliment more easily, than how an English-speaking people can do and how an Arabic woman can as well do. This shows a kind of male chauvinism in their whole reaction. Discussion After the interpretation of the above results based on compliment response that both the male and female have portrayed concerning the posed research question, the following section, further interprets the results. First, it should be noted that the results portrays a kind of similarity between the Arabic and the English-speaking people. Both the male and the female Arabs have some similarity as well. This is in the use of the macro strategy (Kate, 2002, pg26). The strategy comprised of evasion, acceptance, and rejection. The acceptance category represented by female was higher than that represented by the male (Varner, 2007, pg37). After rejection, the next considered strategy was the evasion. In the same way, basing argument upon the above table, it should be noted that between the three types of people, that is the male and female Arabians and the English people a similarity line has been drawn (Norbert, 2013, pg34). For acceptance strategy it should be noted that the Arab males represents 25 percent, while the female represents forty-three percent and then the highest portion is represented by the English speaking people, since they represented almost forty-five percent. Considering the reject strategy, it is noticed that forty-five of the whole male sample portrays a sense of rejection, while females shows thirty two percent as a sense of rejection and lastly the English people portrays a 25 percent rejection (Kate, 2002, pg26). Alternatively, away from the above, it should be noted that English speaking are the highest people that portrayed a sense of compliment response in regards to evasion strategy of almost forty as per the frequency table. Then the Kuiti speakers males portray a 30 percent evasion strategy and females portray a 25 percent sense of compliment response. Note: The percent is based on the whole portion of the same gender and origin. For instance out of thirty males, 25 percent shows an acceptance, and out of thirty females, the forty-three percent of them shows an acceptance and finally out of the thirty English people, forty-five percent of them show an acceptance (Kate, 2002, pg26). The above analysis identify the fact that the frequency is seen varying due to the background of the lone group. Socio-cultural diversification market the major determinant of the above variance. Conclusion This research study demonstrated the compliment response strategies that both the male and Female Arabians usually use. It should be noted that the universal model portrayed in the study above concerning the compliment response is of positive outlook. This is because, different gender and origin portrays a different set of protocols. However, although not represented above, it should be noted that age is another important factor when it comes to response made to compliments. The finding in this research explains that the cross-linguistic compliment response patterns portray a different phenomenon at both the micro and macro levels. Notably, the three groups followed a certain preference order of rejection, evasion, and acceptance (Norbert, 2013, pg34). It should be noted that the center of study was on the Arabic speaking of Kuwaiti people. Furthermore, according to the research, its worth noting that the male use a more of downgrading utterances while the women uses a bit of informative comment in this context (Kate, 2002, pg26). However, generally the results indicate that several aspects that influence use of compliment, besides gender. Gender was the focus of the study; however, the research explains that apart from gender, an issue like socio-culture can as well affect the complement response of certain group of people. As stated in the research, “The truth is that the response that Arabs show on the compliments is largely influenced by the culture. Male tend to reject a compliment, or discarded of ignore more than women (Norbert, 2013, pg34). This is geared up by the manner to which their cultures control the behaviors of a male and a female. It should be noted also that the pilot still is emphasizing on the same criterion. As in, the people usually respond to compliments differently due to both gender and other factors like culture. In alliteration, it should be noted that obviously function of complement is that they act as ‘oil’, in which they oil up the social wheels, mostly being rooted on the positive wants of a face. This is pertinent since it consolidates or rather increases solidarity among people (Kate, 2002, pg26). He further illustrates that compliments should best be performed as a speech that affects someone positively, therefore the (compliments) can be considered as emphatic. Therefore, if compliment is met in a more positive manner, then the interpersonal relationship will be strengthened across all the groups of individuals. Bibliography Bardovi-Harli, K. Hartford &Beverly S (2008). Interlanguage Pragmatics:New Yoke Exploring Institutional Talk. Carmen, L., Louise, M., Peter, S. (2007).The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics. London: Routledge. Carmen, L., Dominic, J.W. 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