Positive Politeness Strategies Employed by Jordanian Facebook Users: A Case From Comments on the Roya News Facebook Page

Alaa’ M. Smadi; Sa’ida W. Al-Sayyed; Mohammad Ali Salah Bani Younes; Doa’a F. Al-Momani; Safa M. Alazaizeh

doi:10.17507/tpls.1311.31

Authors

Alaa’ M. Smadi Al-Balqa Applied University
Sa’ida W. Al-Sayyed Al-Ahliyya Amman University
Mohammad Ali Salah Bani Younes Al al-Bayt University
Doa’a F. Al-Momani Al-Balqa Applied University
Safa M. Alazaizeh The British School of King Salman in Tabuk

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1311.31

Keywords:

comments, gender, Jordanian, news topic, politeness strategy

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate positive politeness strategies used by Jordanian males and females through their Facebook comments on the Roya news page. It further aims to explore the effects of gender and news topics on the use of these strategies. Analysis of 389 comments is drawn - in light of Brown and Levinson’s (1987) theory. The results reveal a better understanding of the use of positive politeness strategies by Jordanians in their Facebook comments on four news topics: education, crime, economy, and weather. Further, gender seems to affect the way Jordanians use politeness strategies in their online comments. For instance, a statistically significant correlation between gender and strategy type shows that the most frequently used strategy by Jordanian males is asserting common ground while their female counterparts tend to use joking as their predominant strategy. The news topic appears not to affect the use of politeness strategies by both genders.

Author Biographies

Alaa’ M. Smadi, Al-Balqa Applied University

Department of Basic Sciences, Princess Rahma University College

Sa’ida W. Al-Sayyed, Al-Ahliyya Amman University

Department of English and Translation, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Mohammad Ali Salah Bani Younes, Al al-Bayt University

Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages

Doa’a F. Al-Momani, Al-Balqa Applied University

Department of Basic Sciences, Amman University College for Financial and Managerial Sciences

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