A socio-pragmatic study of address terms in Kurdish

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the address terms in Kurdish language within the theory of politeness. It deals with the six major groups of terms of address. The most vital forms are identified through this study concerning each category, their social sense, and the factors that govern their usage. The number of participants were 100 Kurdish adults who were randomly selected form various public places. The main used methods for collecting data are questionnaire and interviewing participants. The reflection of the Kurdish terms of address on complex social relationship is highlighted through the results of the study between interlocutors. Various social factors have a great role in selecting a given term’s determination, for instance, gender, intimacy, formality, age, social status and familiarity between the interlocutor and the addressee. Each category of address terms are utilized by a specific group of users in various social domains.