Realizing Politeness via Impoliteness: The Use of “akhs” as a Positive Politeness Marker in Karaki Arabic

Abstract

This study is aimed at examining the contextually variable meanings of the word akhs in Karaki^[i] Arabic. The data of the study, which is based on authentic situations where the researcher was involved, was analyzed within the domain of politeness theory. Besides its main use as a swear word and as an abusive form of language that threatens the negative face of the addressee, akhs was found to be used as a tool to achieve relational work and politeness among associates and relatives. The usage of akhs as a positive signal of politeness was also found to be largely dependent on the dialogue parties' degree of familiarity, common background, and contextual features. Akhs could be used in some contexts as a tool to express camaraderie and as a device to evoke enthusiasm in the addressee, highlighting social solidarity and closeness and maintaining the social ties among friends and relatives.