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Undergraduate and postgraduate students’ emails to faculty members: an impoliteness perspective

  • Marah Ahmad Abu-Rumman

    Marah Ahmad Abu-Rumman obtained her MA in Language, Culture & Communication from English Language and Literature Department, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Her research interests lie in the areas on pragmatics, communication and discourse analysis.

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    , Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh

    Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh is Associate Professor of English language and linguistics at The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. He obtained his PhD in linguistics from Newcastle University, UK in June 2016. His research interests lie in the areas of morphology, lexical semantics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics and technology in language learning. He published research papers in Lingua, Folia Linguistica, Discourse and Interaction, Journal of Pragmatics, Topics in Linguistics, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Studia Linguistica, Language and Cognition, Canadian Journal of Linguistics, Applied Linguistics Review and others.

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    , Mohammed Al-Badawi

    Mohammed Al-Badawi is a dedicated researcher in linguistics at Zarqa University in Jordan, whose research expertise covers linguistics sub disciplines, with special focus on Stylistics, Discourse Analysis Pragmatics and Sociolinguistics. Dr. Al-Badawi has a wealth of experience in both academic instruction and administrative leadership. His career spans over a decade, during which he has made several publications in the field of linguistics. He is known for his expertise in syllabus development, innovative teaching methods, and effective communication. His commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the roles he assumed during his career path at the English Department.

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    and Yazeed Hammouri

    Yazeed Hammouri is Professor at the Department of European Languages in the School of Foreign Languages at The University of Jordan. Prof. Yazeed specializes in General Linguistics. His research has focused on general linguistics, cross-cultural studies and discourse analysis among others. He received his Ph.D. degree in General Linguistics from the University of Roma Tre, Italy. His scholarly research has appeared in international journals such as Studi Italiani di Linguistica Teorica ed Applicata, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, International Journal of Linguistics among others.

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Published/Copyright: June 25, 2024

Abstract

This study delves into the use of impoliteness strategies within emails sent by undergraduate and postgraduate students to their professors, aiming to discern the variance in their implementation based on (Culpeper and Hardaker’s. 2017. Impoliteness. In: Culpeper, Jonathan, Haugh, Michael and Daniel Kadar (eds.), The Palgrave handbook of linguistic (im) politeness, 199–225. Basingstoke: Palgrave) model. Data, comprising emails from University of Jordan students and semi-structured interviews, underwent analysis to identify impoliteness strategies and themes. Findings indicate a higher prevalence of impolite strategies among undergraduates, totaling 58 instances compared to 38 among postgraduates. Particularly, undergraduates exhibit a greater tendency toward positive impoliteness. Thematic analysis of interviews unveils three contributing factors: work experience, participation in writing skills courses, and familiarity with formality levels. Notably, undergraduates’ lack of work experience contrasts with postgraduates’, often impacting their email etiquette. Moreover, postgraduates’ extensive enrollment in writing courses during MA studies fosters a more formal approach in communication with professors. The study underscores implications for future research, emphasizing the need to explore these dynamics further. By comprehending the influences on students’ email behavior, institutions can devise tailored interventions to promote effective and respectful communication within academic setting.


Corresponding author: Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh, English Language and Literature Department, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Queen Rania St., 11942, Amman, Jordan, E-mail:

About the authors

Marah Ahmad Abu-Rumman

Marah Ahmad Abu-Rumman obtained her MA in Language, Culture & Communication from English Language and Literature Department, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Jordan. Her research interests lie in the areas on pragmatics, communication and discourse analysis.

Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh

Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh is Associate Professor of English language and linguistics at The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. He obtained his PhD in linguistics from Newcastle University, UK in June 2016. His research interests lie in the areas of morphology, lexical semantics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics and technology in language learning. He published research papers in Lingua, Folia Linguistica, Discourse and Interaction, Journal of Pragmatics, Topics in Linguistics, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Studia Linguistica, Language and Cognition, Canadian Journal of Linguistics, Applied Linguistics Review and others.

Mohammed Al-Badawi

Mohammed Al-Badawi is a dedicated researcher in linguistics at Zarqa University in Jordan, whose research expertise covers linguistics sub disciplines, with special focus on Stylistics, Discourse Analysis Pragmatics and Sociolinguistics. Dr. Al-Badawi has a wealth of experience in both academic instruction and administrative leadership. His career spans over a decade, during which he has made several publications in the field of linguistics. He is known for his expertise in syllabus development, innovative teaching methods, and effective communication. His commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the roles he assumed during his career path at the English Department.

Yazeed Hammouri

Yazeed Hammouri is Professor at the Department of European Languages in the School of Foreign Languages at The University of Jordan. Prof. Yazeed specializes in General Linguistics. His research has focused on general linguistics, cross-cultural studies and discourse analysis among others. He received his Ph.D. degree in General Linguistics from the University of Roma Tre, Italy. His scholarly research has appeared in international journals such as Studi Italiani di Linguistica Teorica ed Applicata, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, International Journal of Linguistics among others.

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Published Online: 2024-06-25
Published in Print: 2024-05-27

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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