The Jordanian Arabic discourse marker bas: A pragmatic analysis

Authors

  • Narjes Ennasser
  • Rimon Hijazin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13135/1825-263X/5892

Abstract

The present study aims at discussing the various pragmatic functions of the Arabic discourse marker (DM) bas in Jordanian Arabic (JA). The DM bas, which literally means “enough”, has over time accumulated a variety of contextual meanings, and has become one of the most commonly used discourse markers in the daily interactions of JA native speakers. In order to meet the purpose of this study, a corpus of 22 dyadic conversations by native speakers of JA was compiled. 605 instances of the DM bas were extracted from the data. An eclectic analytical methodology has been adopted as a theoretical framework in the analysis of the DM bas, particularly Fraser’s (2006a) grammatical-pragmatic approach. In pragmatically marked contexts, the results revealed that the DM bas can be considered multifunctional serving twelve different functions: Denying of expectation; making a repair; indicating insufficiency of information; returning to main topic; signaling topic shift; showing a threat; mitigating a face-threatening act (FTA); indicating a completion of cognitive process; and acting as a filler marker, directive marker, expressive marker, and modifier.

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Author Biographies

Narjes Ennasser

Dr. Narjes Ennasser is an Associate Professor at the University of Jordan. She received her education in France where she earned a Bachelor degree in French language and literature in 1981 from the University of Tours followed by a high diploma in translation (English-Arabic) from the University of Jordan in 1985 and a high diploma (French-English-Arabic) in 1987 from the ITI in Strasbourg/France, a master’s degree in 1988 and a PhD in French linguistics in 1991 from the University of Strasbourg II/France. Since then, she has been teaching at the department of French at the University of Jordan; she gives courses in syntax, writing, translation, lexicology and oral skills. She was the chairperson of the department in 2000 – 2002, 2012 -2014, and vice-dean 2016-2018, during which period she was Jordan’s representative to the AUF, the association of the French speaking universities. Her research interests comprise teaching French as a foreign language, translation between French, English and Arabic, comparative linguistics and intercultural issues. She lived ten years in France, benefitted from French scholarships to do research in France and attended several conferences in Jordan, Lebanon, Poland and Greece. She also participated in the supervision of the programs and examinations of French at the Ministry of Education in Jordan. She can be reached at ennasser@ju.edu.jo.

Rimon Hijazin

Rimon Hijazin is a PHD candidate at the University of Jordan. He has a BA in English language and literature, and an MA in translation studies. His main research interests are primarily in pragmatics, translation studies, critical discourse analysis, and paremiology. He can be reached at ray.khalil@yahoo.com.

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Published

2021-06-13

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2021): Kervan

Section

Articles

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