Nagetive Politeness Strategies in Jordan Arabic Novel and Southern Nigeria Novel: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study explores Negative Politeness Strategies in two culturally distinct novels: the Jordanian Arabic “The Notebook of Al-Warraq” by Jalal Burjis and the Southern Nigerian “The Fishermen” by Chigozie Obioma. Negative politeness, which respects a listener's autonomy and freedom from imposition, is analyzed through the framework of Brown and Levinson's (1987) politeness theory. The research uses mixed methods, combining quantitative analysis to assess the frequency of sub-strategies and qualitative analysis to classify their usage within the novels. The findings reveal that The Notebooks of Al-Warraq employs four out of ten negative politeness subcategories, with "Be Indirect" dominating at 66%, while The Fishermen utilizes six subcategories, with "Be Indirect" also being the most frequent at 52%. The differences in strategy usage reflect variations in character relationships and power dynamics. Both novels exhibit the absence of several subcategories, highlighting unique cultural influences on linguistic interactions. The study provides valuable insights into the interplay between politeness strategies, social relationships, and cultural norms, contributing to literary studies and intercultural communication by illustrating how linguistic strategies reveal societal structures and issues. This comparative analysis underscores the role of culture in shaping communication styles in literary contexts.