Birth Congratulation Messages on Facebook in Jordan: A Sociopragmatic Analysis

Abstract

This study examines online congratulation messages for childbirth as expressed in Facebook users’ comments on birth announcements in Jordan. The principal aim is to study the congratulatory strategies and their pragmatic functions. To this end, a total of 1206 comments on six birth announcements were analyzed within the framework of Mey’s (2001) pragmatic act theory. The analysis revealed that congratulation messages can be classified into seven distinct categories, with the congratulation act being the primary means of conveying congratulations. Other supportive strategies include expressing good wishes, expressing happiness, complimenting, using protection formulas, using non-verbal language, and welcoming the newborn. When these strategies are examined within social, cultural and contextual parameters, they perform various pragmatic acts such as congratulating, blessing, well-wishing, advising, praising, and welcoming. This study concludes that birth congratulations given on Facebook in Jordan are typically influenced by religious and socio-cultural norms and conventions. Keywords: Congratulation, Newborn, Context, Pragmatics, Strategy