A Comparative Study on the Positive Politeness Strategies Employed by Jordanian and Omani Students in Their Requests

Authors

  • Aya Walid Akkawi

    Department of English and Translation, Collage of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman

    Department of English Language and Literature, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
  • Rose Fowler Al-Hawamdeh

    Department of Languages, School of Social and Basic Sciences, Hussein Technical University, Amman 11183, Jordan
  • Iman Mohammad Zuraigat

    Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Jerash University, Jerash 26150, Jordan
  • Natheer Mohammed ALOmari

    Ministry of Education, Irbid 21610, Jordan
  • Abdulraheem Mohammad AlJaraedah

    Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Jerash University, Jerash 26150, Jordan
  • Shafiq Abdul Jabbar Banat

    Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Jerash University, Jerash 26150, Jordan
  • Mouad Mohammed Al-Natour

    Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Jerash University, Jerash 26150, Jordan
  • Haitham Mohammad Al-Yousef

    Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Jerash University, Jerash 26150, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.11627
Received: 14 August 2025 | Revised: 4 September 2025 | Accepted: 12 September 2025 | Published Online: 4 November 2025

Abstract

This study explores the use of positive politeness strategies in requests made by Jordanian and Omani students within an academic context. By examining the positive politeness strategies employed in their interactions, the research aims to identify the preferred strategies utilized by these students when communicating with their classmates. Data is collected through memos and semi-structured interviews from a sample of Jordanian and Omani students. The study anticipates uncovering both differences and similarities in the positive politeness strategies employed by the two groups, while also investigating the influence of culture on their request patterns. To analyze the data, the positive politeness strategies will be identified and then classified. The theorists of the politesse model claimed that the politeness strategies are universal and are employed by people in different forms based on various social variables. The study reveals that Jordanian students prefer to utilize the four positive politeness strategies of giving reasons, concern for the hearer's wants, promises, and in-group identity. On the other hand, Omani students prioritize the four positive strategies of giving reasons, assuming reciprocity and giving sympathy, hedging, and seeking agreement. Both Jordanian and Omani participants use the giving reasons strategy; otherwise, they use different strategies altogether. Future research could compare the persuasion strategies that could be employed by Jordanian and Omani students in their communication.

Keywords:

Positive Politeness; Requests; Jordanian; Omani; Memos

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How to Cite

Walid Akkawi, A., Al-Hawamdeh, R. F., Zuraigat, I. M., ALOmari, N. M., Mohammad AlJaraedah, A., Jabbar Banat, S. A., Al-Natour, M. M., & Al-Yousef, H. M. (2025). A Comparative Study on the Positive Politeness Strategies Employed by Jordanian and Omani Students in Their Requests. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(12), 150–165. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.11627

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 12 (December 2025): In progress

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Copyright © 2025 Aya Walid Akkawi, Rose Fowler Al-Hawamdeh, Iman Mohammad Zuraigat, Natheer Mohammed ALOmari, Abdulraheem Mohammad AlJaraedah, Shafiq Abdul Jabbar Banat, Mouad Mohammed Al-Natour, Haitham Mohammad Al-Yousef

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