Hasnaa Essam

Abstract

This qualitative study explores linguistic styles and mis/communication as they relate to gendered performance in the context of Egyptian caricature. Within this context, seventy-four illustrations from The Piece of Paper by Gawish (2015) are subjected to discourse analysis. This type of caricature, as an example of performed speech, represents the perceptions of a group of Egyptian men, the cartoonist and his team, in depicting gendered daily-life interactions. The study investigates styles to examine the linguistic choices based on social groups such as women and men (Eckert and Rickford 2002: 26), and it explores gendered similarities as well as differences. The study focuses on social perceptions reflected in performed interactions for the significant relationship between perceptions and language practices in natural interactions (Tannen 1994: 139). It reveals the significance of the gendered use of the style of affective functions. Women are displayed as using more affective functions than men do. Women are shown to use more stylistic devices including asking questions, indirectness, verbal aggressiveness and repetition than men do. The image of miscommunication caused by the style of affective functions and its devices is clearly portrayed. Women are depicted as using physical aggressiveness against men, signifying the influence of affective functions and its devices on miscommunication. This study develops a deeper understanding of the overall picture of gender and language production in Egyptian Arabic.

Department

Applied Linguistics Department

Degree Name

MA in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language

Graduation Date

6-1-2018

Submission Date

July 2018

First Advisor

Taha, Zeinab

Committee Member 1

Bassiouney, Reem, Hassan, Mona

Extent

80 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

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. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

This piece of work that is the beginning of my journey as a young researcher is totally dedicated to my original source of inspiration; to each member in the Essam family including my parents, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews. I dedicate this thesis to the precious name of my father, to “Essam” whom I cannot give his full name to my future children, but I can document it one day in history, attempting to honor my dearest mother and father. This is the beginning of no ending…....

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