Pragmatic Functions of Swearing Among Female Najdi Arabic-Speaking EFL Students

Abstract

This study investigates the use and possible pragmatic functions of swear words among 55 Saudi female undergraduate students from the Department of English Language and Literature at Qassim University. The data were collected using a questionnaire addressing the frequency of swearing, contexts of use, interlocutors’ influence, language choice, and the possible pragmatic functions of swearing. The participants reported mainly using swear words in informal, emotionally charged situations, such as when expressing anger, frustration, or joking with friends, while they avoid swearing in formal and religious contexts. Najdi Arabic, the participants’ first language, is the dominant language of swearing due to its greater emotional power. Some participants also reported frequently swearing in English, possibly reflecting media exposure and social expressiveness. While some participants reported consistently using swear words regardless of the interlocutor’s gender, others moderated their use in accordance with cultural politeness norms. The participants generally considered men’s swearing as harsher, more frequent, and more socially tolerated than women’s, which differs from previous research. The findings demonstrate that swearing is a culturally mediated practice through which Saudi female EFL students negotiate their identity, emotions, and social norms. The study concludes with a recommendation to conduct future studies on swearing, including participants of different ages and from different regions in Saudi Arabia, to compare their use of swear words.