A Sociolinguistic Study of the Terms of Courtesy In Hijazi Arabic

Abstract

Many linguists have designed different procedures for analyzing speech in general and speech patterns in particular. Terms of courtesy are patterns adopted for politeness. The selection of these patterns in certain context of situations within a speech community among its speakers is decided by many restrictions; some are social, others are linguistic. Terms of courtesy in Hijazi dialect are categorized according to Lackoff (1972), Brown and Levinson (1978) and Hymes (1973). The realization of these categorizations as well as the correlation of the context of situations to the number of courtesy patterns is shown clearly in the study. The formal criterion indicates that the structures of the courtesy patterns are not alternatives of t eh Arabic language but within the system. The study may unveil further dimension the norm of the Hijazi society. Therefore, undoubtedly a better recognition of the linguistic socio-cultural factors may be reached to.