Compliments and Compliment Response Strategies in English in Ghana

Abstract

Many researchers have identified cultural differences in complimenting behaviour (Wolfson 1981, Herbert 1989, Chen 1993). A few studies have also explored the ways in which the first languages of second language learners affect the production of compliments and compliment responses in their second language. Very few of such studies however, involve African languages and major languages that are spoken around the world. This study reports an analysis of compliments and responses to compliments by selected speakers of English in Ghana. The analysis is based on a combination of participant observer schedules [field note-taking and audio-recording of authentic speech] as well as recall protocol questionnaire. The population for the study is drawn from speakers of English selected from a university in Ghana. Five hundred (500) respondents were involved in the data collection. The sample is made up of two hundred and forty males (240), and two hundred and sixty females (260). The findings of the study show that in making and responding to compliments, speakers of English in Ghana show positive transfer of complimenting strategies from Ghanaian languages and cultures into the English language spoken in Ghana. These transferred elements which are typical structures that are used to pay compliments in many Ghanaian languages give the English language that is spoken in Ghana its distinctive pragmatic features. This paper posits that on the basis of these distinctive pragmatic features, one can argue that there is a distinct variety of English that can be described as ‘Ghanaian English’.