The Address Forms of Spouses in Different Social Strata in Iran and Its Sociolinguistic

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate different terms that spouses apply in order to address each other in different social strata in Iran and to discuss what these patterns reflect about the power and solidarity relationships of spouses in the present society of Iran. To this end, using a social class questionnaire, 97 participants were stratified to upper-middle, middle and lower-middle classes and then the patterns used by them were specified. Analysing the data suggests that Iran's religious and patriarchal society play important roles in the way that spouses address each other. Furthermore, it suggests that with the increase of educated and working women, the relationship between spouses is moving towards solidarity; however, power has found new ways of manifestations.

Address Form Analysis in the Movie "Mortdecai"

“…Mardiha (2012) the results of the research indicate that both men and women use address forms of formality (Šoma) frequently in addressing the older people from both genders that shows age is more significant than gender in determining the pronouns in address system of Persian. Afzali (2011) the result of the research suggests that apparently the relationship between spouses in Iran is moving towards solidarity; however, the power relationship has found new forms of manifestations. Kuang, et.al (2012) the result of the study is that Malaysians of the three ethnic groups tend to use Malay address forms particularly when addressing Malay civil servants serving in these government agencies.…”

Principals’ Perceptions of the Influence of School Governing Bodies on Instructional Leadership: A South African Study

“…This determines what the speaker chooses to say to whom and in what circumstances (Al-Issa 2003, as cited in Ghanchi 2012. Therefore, when people from different backgrounds converse, they bring to the conversation certain culturally inherited elements, which influence the interaction (Kasper and Rose 2002;Afzali 2011). Dissimilar communication styles, expectations and interpretations are some of the elements, which affect their communication (Dorcheh and Baharlooie 2016: 152).…”

A Sociolinguistic Study of Husband-to-Wife Address Forms and Functions in Rural Jordanian Community

“…This very influence of culture on the use of linguistic forms has been stressed by Wierzbicka (2010) who has expressed that English, for example, is not culturally neutral; it is rather steeped in the Anglo culture. Stressing the influence of culture on the used AFs, Afzali (2011) has found that Islamic culture characteristics of the Iranian society mainly affect the way spouses use address terms toward each other. Afzali underlines the use of the title "haj" as a respect title.…”

“…Within the scope of studying AFs between spouses, and the potential variations among social classes, Afzali (2011) has investigated the different address terms applied between husbands and wives in Iran, and any indications of these terms to power and solidarity between spouses. Using a questionnaire, Afzali has collected data from 97 participants of different social classes.…”