Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• A. Sharifi Moghaddam
• M. Bahreini
• V. Abolhassanizadeh

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Abstract

Compliments are universal categories which are found in all languages but they are more common in some languages like Persian. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of social variables of “age” and “gender” on the amount of usage of compliments by Persian speakers. To do this, a questionnaire including 15 questions was given to 100 male and female Kermani participants in different age-groups. The research theoretical framework was Brown and Levinson’s (1978) politeness theory. Static analyses indicate that there is significant difference (P< 0.0001) between the usage of compliments by the participants of different ages; in older age-groups they use more compliments to show politeness to their addressees. However, there is no significant difference (P = 0.28) between male and female Persian speakers in using compliments although the structures of compliment representations are different. This point reveals that both gender. Groups use compliments in their verbal interactions to show politeness.

Keywords

• Persian Compliments
• Age
• Gender
• Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory
• sociolinguistics

Main Subjects

• Sociolinguistics
• Standard Language
• Language and Culture
• The Social Embedding of Language Variation and Change