Politeness Principles in Motivational Speech: Arabic and American Speeches

Abstract

This study compared Arabic and American Motivational speeches employed in terms of the politeness principles suggested by Leech (1983). The purpose of the study was to compare how Americans and Arabic speakers use several politeness maxims. The objectives of the speakers in observing each of Leech's politeness maxims have been classified, including six maxims of the Politeness Principle: the tact maxim, the generosity maxim, the approbation maxim, the modesty maxim, and the agreement maxim. The research employed a mixed-methods approach to analyze the collected data. The data comprised the speeches of Arabic and American speakers in motivational speeches. After data collection, the obtained data were grouped into six Politeness Principal maxims. Based on the study's findings, Arabic speakers employ five maxims: Tact maxim, Generosity maxim, Approbation maxim, Agreement maxim, and sympathy maxim. While the result indicated that six maxims had been used by American speakers: Tact maxim, Generosity maxim, Approbation maxim, The Modesty maxim, Agreement maxim, and sympathy maxim.