Research Paper

Sex Differences in the Performance of Compliments

We have seen in the previous chapter the various results that are revealed by the data. The next step will be then the interpretation of these results. This interpretation means explaining and discussing the findings of the description following, of course, ones knowledge of the world. Taking into account the different facts that are presented in the first part of this paper, and what I know according to my immediate environment and my own culture. I shall try to find out the different aspects that characterize the performance of complimenting on the day of Laid sghir in Marrakeshi context.

From the description discussed in the last chapter, it appears that the Marrakeshi example supports the conclusions of earlier works on the differences between males and females complimenting behavior. All the findings suggest that complimenting is a very common behavior in our society but there are, however, considerable differences in acting out this speech behavior. Over a range of contexts, it appears that Marrakeshi women compliment much more frequently in interactions involving women than men. This seems to hold true across compliment types except, of course, compliments having to do with ability, which are observed to be much more preferred by men.

On the whole, it could be argued that these differences are due to different social or cultural values and attitudes, which govern speech behavior in our society. One of these can be related to the image of man in the Moroccan culture. A man, in the Moraccan imagination and mind, should display qualities of strength of spirit of body, of severity and strictness. He should be both imposing and soft. These qualities are, of course, reflected in and reinforced by the language men use. So, the very low frequency of mens compliments may be consistent with the fact that men in our society consider compliments, especially those having to do with apparel and physical appearance, to be connected to womens style of interaction or what we call in Moroccan Arabic /hadrat ljalat/ womens talk. Therefore, it is not surprising that men in our society tend to avoid compliments as possible as they can and use them only in cases when required by societal politeness rules.

It is by no means the case, of course, for women who appear to regard complimenting quite differently from the way men do. Their greater use of compliments is consistent, it seems, with the general argument that women pursue a style of interaction based on solidarity and support. Indeed, Marrakeshi women are aware of the importance of compliments; they use them in a wide variety of speech situations to serve a range of functions. One of them is to maintain and reinforce solidarity not only among them but also with men and children. By so doing, women seek to achieve good social relationships, mutual agreement and cooperation. According to some women, the giving of compliments is considered in a wide range of situations as a prelude to opening conversations and in this way they serve as a good strategy to facilitate communication between them.

A research paper submitted to the department of English of Cadi Ayyad University
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Licence-es-Letters in English
Year : 1998 - 1999 / Major : Linguistics / Seminar Title :Pragmatics
Supervisor : Dr. GAJJOUT Hassan