Facework Interpretation as Pragmatic Competence: Evaluating the Pragmatic Functions of "May God Grant You Health" in Jordanian Arabic

Abstract

This study examines the impact of face orientation and face threat levels on the acceptability of the religious expression /ʔallah jaʕtiːk ilʕaːfjɪə/ in Spoken Jordanian Arabic. This research is grounded in politeness theory and contemporary face management frameworks. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study first identifies the main pragmatic functions of the religious marker. Next, it examines how native speakers interpret face-related factors and how these interpretations affect which pragmatic functions they consider most appropriate in context. The findings challenge prevailing assumptions that collectivistic values and a preference for positive face orientation consistently determine communicative practices in Middle Eastern contexts. Instead, the data suggest that speakers frequently select negative face orientations, emphasizing autonomy and minimizing imposition, rather than consistently favoring pragmatic functions that reinforce group harmony and positive face. Particularly as the perceived social threat increases. However, the findings also suggest that the sanctity of religious expressions limits respondents’ willingness to use them in high-stakes situations. Notably, there were no instances in the data where participants used religious expressions to convey negative face in high-risk scenarios, indicating a clear boundary in their pragmatic choices. The study advances theoretical discussions on face and politeness and suggests a novel methodological framework for exploring religious communication practices.