Cultural Deifference Between English and Arabic Essay Example

Both prefer direct rather than indirect complimenting. 2 Tables, 3 Figures, 23 References. Adapted from the source document

TI: Title Directness vs. Indirectness: Egyptian Arabic and US English Communication Style AU: Author Nelson, Gayle L; Al Batal, Mahmoud; El Bakary, Waguida SO: Source International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2002, 26, 1, Feb, 39-57 AB: Abstract This study investigated the similarities & differences between Egyptian Arabic & US English communication style by focusing on the speech act of making refusals. A modified version of the 12-item discourse completion test (DCT) was used to elicit data. The DCT consisted of three requests, three invitations, three offers, & three suggestions.

Each situation type included one refusal to a person of higher status, one to a person of equal status, & one to a person of lower status. To more closely simulate real-life communication & because Arabic is a diglossic language, an interviewer read the situation aloud & the participants responded verbally on audiotape - Egyptians in Arabic & Americans in English. Audiotapes were transcribed - the Egyptian tapes into Arabic & the American tapes into English. Thirty US interviews resulted in 358 refusals & 25 Egyptian interviews resulted in 300 refusals. The refusals were divided into strategies.

Using a modified version of the coding categories developed by the DCTs creators (Beebe et al), two trained coders categorized the strategies. Intercoder reliability was 89% for the US data & 85% for the Arabic data. Data were analyzed according to frequency types of strategies, the direct/indirect dimension of communication style, gender, & status. Results suggest that both groups use similar strategies with similar frequency in making refusals. They differ, however, in the frequency

of indirect strategies, with Egyptian males using less indirection than Americans. 2 Tables, 1 Appendix, 50 References.

Adapted from the source document TI: Title Arab Cultural Communication Patterns AU: Author Feghali, Ellen Kussman SO: Source International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1997, 21, 3, Aug, 345-378 AB: Abstract Communication patterns in the Arab world are examined in a review of scholarly work in this area over the past 20 years. "Arab" is defined as anyone who speaks Arabic as a native language & feels oneself be Arab. Work on Arabic communication patterns is categorized according to three themes:

1. basic cultural values,
2. language & verbal communication, &
3. nonverbal & paralinguistic patterns. Issues related to collectivism, hospitality, & honor dominate research on;
4. code-switching, communicative style, & the use of indirect & elaborate speech on ;
5. interpersonal distance, nonverbal communication & attitude toward time on.

Currently, few scholars possess the necessary linguistic skills to conduct research on these themes within the Arab world, a barrier that must be overcome before sustained naturalistic inquiry into communicative patterns can be accomplished.