Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 12. Number3 September 2021 Pp. 257-277
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.18
A Pragma- Stylistic Analysis of Formal Congratulatory Letters in English and Arabic
Muna Y. Al-Janabi
Department of English, College of Languages
University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Corresponding Author: mona.yaas1201a@colang.uobaghdad.edu.iq
Ibtihal M. Al-Tememi
Department of English, College of Languages
University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Received: 5/6/2021 Accepted: 8/9/2021 Published: 9/24/2021
Abstract:
Politeness strategies are of significant importance to maintain the face of the addressee. Senders of formal congratulatory letters seek to create a positive image in the minds of their addresses by performing particular illocutionary acts and face-saving acts (FSAs) in the form of written texts. To the best knowledge of the researcher, this topic received little attention from linguistic researchers, especially on the pragma-stylistic level. The importance of this study arises from the fact that congratulatory formal letters are an effective tool in the successful performance of foreign relations and thus deserve investigation. The current study investigates the pragma-stylistic aspects of illocutionary acts and FSA Politeness Strategies in some selected English and Arabic formal congratulatory letters written by English and Arabic officials. Findings reveal that assertive constitutes the highest frequency in English data, while expressive occurs more in Arabic. Besides, the FSA politeness strategy (Use appropriate forms of address) includes most of the total frequency in both English and Arabic data, which still it appeared more in English. Additionally, (Exaggerate interest, sympathy with H) comes next in Arabic, while (Be optimistic) appeared more in English. In addition, results show that exaggeration (Hyperbole) is the prevalent stylistic device used in Arabic. Arabic officials usually exaggerate the glorification of people in authoritative positions, while English high officials tend to be more moderate. The findings will be helpful in cross-cultural comparative studies and other related fields.
Keywords: congratulations, formal letters, illocutionary acts, politeness strategies, stylistic analysis
Cite as: Al-Janabi, M.Y., & Al-Tememi, I. M. (2021). A Pragma- Stylistic Analysis of Formal Congratulatory Letters in English and Arabic.
Arab World English Journal, 12 (3) 257-277.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no3.18
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