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An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’
The purpose of the study is to investigate the idiomatic expressions and their pragmatic functions in the conversations of the novel Taxi in the light of Speech Act Theory. The study adopts a qualitative linguistic analysis method of research. After analyzing the 58 episodes of the novel ’Taxi’, the...
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AUC Knowledge Fountain
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613410955362304 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Elshamy, Hala Mohamed |
| author_browse | Elshamy, Hala Mohamed |
| author_facet | Elshamy, Hala Mohamed |
| author_sort | Elshamy, Hala Mohamed |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. |
| description | The purpose of the study is to investigate the idiomatic expressions and their pragmatic functions in the conversations of the novel Taxi in the light of Speech Act Theory. The study adopts a qualitative linguistic analysis method of research. After analyzing the 58 episodes of the novel ’Taxi’, the study reveals 80 idiomatic expressions fulfilling 13 pragmatic functions: describing with six subcategories, complaining, stating, concluding, and swearing, thanking, condoling, sympathizing, deploring and excusing, agreeing and opposing and advising. These pragmatic functions have been classified based on four of Searle’s speech acts: (1) representatives, (2) expressives, (3) commissives and (4) directives. Hence, the study shows that idiomatic expressions fulfill a satisfying number of pragmatic functions which in turn operate in facilitating conversations among speakers as they are stored in their memory and easily retrieved in diverse contexts. In addition, the study shows the high usage of negative pragmatic functions such as complaining, deploring, describing negative issues in comparison with positive ones in the conversations of taxi drivers. It has been also observed that these positive and negative functions shed light on a multitude of cultural aspects in Egyptian society. The study suggests pedagogical implication: the result that the idiomatic expressions perform various pragmatic functions and fulfill cultural aspects provides a rationale for including them in Arabic foreign language classes as their main aim is to use the language appropriately and achieve cultural competence as well. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-1600 |
| institution | American University in Cairo (Egypt) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:35:42.290Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | AUC Knowledge Fountain |
| publisherStr | AUC Knowledge Fountain |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress |
| spelling | oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-1600 An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ Elshamy, Hala Mohamed The purpose of the study is to investigate the idiomatic expressions and their pragmatic functions in the conversations of the novel Taxi in the light of Speech Act Theory. The study adopts a qualitative linguistic analysis method of research. After analyzing the 58 episodes of the novel ’Taxi’, the study reveals 80 idiomatic expressions fulfilling 13 pragmatic functions: describing with six subcategories, complaining, stating, concluding, and swearing, thanking, condoling, sympathizing, deploring and excusing, agreeing and opposing and advising. These pragmatic functions have been classified based on four of Searle’s speech acts: (1) representatives, (2) expressives, (3) commissives and (4) directives. Hence, the study shows that idiomatic expressions fulfill a satisfying number of pragmatic functions which in turn operate in facilitating conversations among speakers as they are stored in their memory and easily retrieved in diverse contexts. In addition, the study shows the high usage of negative pragmatic functions such as complaining, deploring, describing negative issues in comparison with positive ones in the conversations of taxi drivers. It has been also observed that these positive and negative functions shed light on a multitude of cultural aspects in Egyptian society. The study suggests pedagogical implication: the result that the idiomatic expressions perform various pragmatic functions and fulfill cultural aspects provides a rationale for including them in Arabic foreign language classes as their main aim is to use the language appropriately and achieve cultural competence as well. 2016-02-01T08:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/601 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/1600/viewcontent/ECA_20Youssef_20Edit.pdf The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain Formulaic sequences idiomatic expressions |
| spellingShingle | Formulaic sequences idiomatic expressions Elshamy, Hala Mohamed An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title | An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions
in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title_full | An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions
in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title_fullStr | An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions
in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title_full_unstemmed | An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions
in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title_short | An analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions
in the Egyptian novel ‘Taxi’ |
| title_sort | analysis of the pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions in the egyptian novel a€ taxia€™ |
| topic | Formulaic sequences idiomatic expressions |
| url | https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/601 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/1600/viewcontent/ECA_20Youssef_20Edit.pdf |
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