Complaining strategies used by male and female EFL students

Abstract

This study examines the complaining strategies used by Algerian students. It investigates the influence of the participants' gender on their use of complaining strategies. The study also aims to find out if the social status of the interlocutor affects the participants' choice and use of complaining strategies. The population of this study consists of third year EFL (English as a foreign language) learners from the department of English at Bejaia university. The sample of the study consists of 12 males and 12 females from the same department. To collect data, the researchers used quantitative method through the use of a Discourse Completion Task (DCT). Data were analyzed in terms of semantic formulas and were categorized based on the classification of complaining strategies established by Trosborg (1994). The results of the study revealed that both male and female participants were similar when performing the complaints, and preferred the use of the strategy "expression of annoyance or disapproval" when performing their complaints. The findings also showed that the participants' gender did not have a significant effect in their use of complaining strategies. Furthermore, the study revealed that the social status of the interlocutor affects the participants' choice and use of complaining strategies.