Interpretation and Use of Implicature by Yarmouk University Students : A Socio-Pragmatic Study

Abstract

This present paper is a socio-pragmatic study of implicature in Jordan.  It examines the interpretation and use of Jordanian popular proverbs by Yarmouk University students.  It seeks to set any correlation between the variables of the study, namely, gender, age, region, and education as well as the interpretation and use of proverbs. The research instrument of the study is a questionnaire framed by the researcher.  A questionnaire is used to elicit information about the students' use and interpretation of implicature through proverbs.  The first part seeks personal information like age, sex, region (of living), and level of education.  The second part is divided into two sections: section (A) is concerned with the participants' interpretation of proverbs.  Section (B) is concerned with the subjects' use of proverbs (see Appendix).  The researcher has concluded the following : (1) Female respondents tend to interpret the given proverbs more than males do.  (2) Young respondents (22 years old or less) succeeded in interpreting the proverbs more than the elders.  Perhaps, this suggests an important sociological and cultural change (i.e. the new generation tends to use proverbs and rhetorical devices more than its predecessor).  (3) There is no significant difference between city residents and village dwellers in interpreting proverbs.  They almost responded similarly.  (4) There is no evident difference between the subjects (B.A. students and M.A. ones).  Perhaps, it is due to the closeness in age between them.