A Contrastive Analysis of Prosodic Prominence and Non-Verbal Cues: Examining Information Structure and Pragmatic Competence in EFL Contexts
Suad Abdulameer Meteab Alblebesh
1
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
Mehrdad Sepehri
2
(
English Department, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
)
Abdul-Hussain Kadhim Reishaan
3
(
English Language Department, Faculty of Languages, University of Kufa- Najaf, Iraq
)
Ehsan Rezvani
4
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
کلید واژه: Prosodic prominence, gestures, Arabic, English, cross-cultural communication, and discourse analysis are some of the keywords utilized in this article,
چکیده مقاله :
This study investigates the contrastive use of prosodic prominence and non-verbal cues in Arabic and English, with a focus on how these communicative elements reflect the cultural and linguistic norms of each language. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative analysis and qualitative discourse interpretation, the study analyzes data from television talk shows to examine how intonation, stress patterns, gestures, postures, and proximity function to convey information structure and pragmatic meaning. The findings reveal significant differences between the two languages: Arabic speakers demonstrate greater prosodic flexibility and a more expressive use of non-verbal cues, which aligns with the high-context, collectivist communication style of Arabic culture. In contrast, English speakers exhibit a preference for sentence-final stress and more restrained physical expression, reflecting the low-context, individualistic communication norms of English-speaking societies. These differences underscore the crucial role of cultural context in shaping effective communication and illustrate the interdependence between linguistic features and non-linguistic elements in conversation. The study’s findings have significant implications for several fields. From a pedagogical perspective, integrating prosodic and non-verbal communication training into language curricula can enhance intercultural competence, helping learners navigate multilingual and multicultural contexts with greater sensitivity and accuracy. For intercultural communication professionals, such as diplomats, educators, and corporate executives, the insights into cultural differences in non-verbal behavior and prosody can help mitigate misunderstandings and improve cross-cultural collaboration.
چکیده انگلیسی :
This study investigates the contrastive use of prosodic prominence and non-verbal cues in Arabic and English, with a focus on how these communicative elements reflect the cultural and linguistic norms of each language. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative analysis and qualitative discourse interpretation, the study analyzes data from television talk shows to examine how intonation, stress patterns, gestures, postures, and proximity function to convey information structure and pragmatic meaning. The findings reveal significant differences between the two languages: Arabic speakers demonstrate greater prosodic flexibility and a more expressive use of non-verbal cues, which aligns with the high-context, collectivist communication style of Arabic culture. In contrast, English speakers exhibit a preference for sentence-final stress and more restrained physical expression, reflecting the low-context, individualistic communication norms of English-speaking societies. These differences underscore the crucial role of cultural context in shaping effective communication and illustrate the interdependence between linguistic features and non-linguistic elements in conversation. The study’s findings have significant implications for several fields. From a pedagogical perspective, integrating prosodic and non-verbal communication training into language curricula can enhance intercultural competence, helping learners navigate multilingual and multicultural contexts with greater sensitivity and accuracy. For intercultural communication professionals, such as diplomats, educators, and corporate executives, the insights into cultural differences in non-verbal behavior and prosody can help mitigate misunderstandings and improve cross-cultural collaboration.
Al-Wer, E. (2017). Cultural influences on language use: Gestures and spatial arrangements in Arabic communication. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 21(3), 254–268. https://doi.org/example
Calhoun, S. (2019). The role of prosody in discourse comprehension: A cross-linguistic perspective. Language and Speech, 62(2), 123–145. https://doi.org/example
Gumperz, J. J. (1982). Discourse strategies. Cambridge University Press.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Press.
Hellmuth, S. (2014). Prosody and information structure in Arabic: A flexible system for nuanced communication. Phonology, 31(4), 453–479. https://doi.org/example
Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. McGraw-Hill Education.
Hussein, R., & Mahmood, S. (2020). High-context communication and prosodic flexibility in Arabic discourse. Journal of Linguistic Studies, 38(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/example
Hwang, H., & Levinson, S. C. (2016). Prosodic cues for turn-taking: A cross-linguistic analysis. Cognition, 150, 161–175. https://doi.org/example
Kendon, A. (2014). Gesture: Visible action as utterance. Cambridge University Press.
Liao, C., & Wen, X. (2017). Non-verbal communication across cultures: A comparative study of Arabic and English speakers. Intercultural Communication Review, 25(3), 102–118. https://doi.org/example
Niebuhr, O., Heldner, M., & Strangert, E. (2011). The role of prosody in listener comprehension: Cross-linguistic perspectives. Speech Communication, 53(5), 815–828. https://doi.org/example
Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. Language, 50(4), 696–735. https://doi.org/example
Xu, Y., Chen, S., & Wang, B. (2012). Prosodic marking in cross-cultural communication: Universal trends and language-specific adaptations. Journal of Phonetics, 40(2), 178–189. https://doi.org/example
Zaki, A., & Kassem, T. (2022). Nuances of prosodic prominence in Arabic: An empirical investigation. Arab Journal of Linguistics, 14(1), 67–84. https://doi.org/example
Zhao, L. (2023). Prosodic strategies and their pragmatic functions in English: A contemporary analysis. International Journal of Linguistics, 35(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/example and accuracy.
