The Speech Act of Complaining in Moroccan South-Eastern Amazigh Variety

A Dialogue Analytic Approach

Abstract

The current study is looking into the realization patterns of complaints being fulfilled in the Moroccan South-Eastern Amazigh variety via adopting a dialogue analytical approach. To get a better understanding of how the speech act of complaining works in Moroccan South-Eastern Amazigh, 60 participants were involved in four role-plays. The results revealed that the most chosen complaint strategies were directive acts and blaming (modified blame). The findings indicate that a considerable number of participants chose not to make the complaint to avoid embarrassment and causing damage. Moreover, the subjects overused the lexical downgrader /ṣaḥa/ ‘please’ alongside religious expressions. Participants as well appear to use more cooperative persuasion methods during complaints than confrontational ones to maintain harmony and solidarity.