Rhetorical Patterns of Interaction in TV Talk Shows (TVTSs) in the Arab World: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

<p>Television (TV) talk shows (TVTSs) are considered an essential genre in TV programming. As such, they have attracted the attention of many researchers and scholars across the world in the fields of linguistics, applied linguistics and a variety of other disciplines, as well as commentators and policymakers. TVTSs must also be considered an important TV genre because they can help shape the opinions and attitudes of the public and may thus be an important driver of social change. Media talk shows (TSs) offer one of many ways to understand how a particular culture or society is functioning or thinking. This type of programme has recently increased in popularity in the Arab world generally, and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) specifically, since the so-called Arab Spring. In fact, many Arabic media shows were considered driving forces of the Arab Spring, as it was widely covered on many Arabic media networks. Hence, understanding the nature of this type of programme and its discourse structures is important not only to understand the current culture and society of the KSA in terms of what is allowed and disallowed, but also to predict what direction the country may take in the future. Currently, little is known about this type of programme and its place in a country and society that is often regarded as conservative and closed.</p> <p>The primary purpose of this study was to determine the nature of the rhetorical patterns displayed in TVTS broadcasts in the KSA. The study considered generic structure, speech acts and politeness strategies used in Arabic TSs, specifically those in the KSA, thus contributing to expansion of the current body of knowledge regarding the expression of these concepts within and across cultures. The study investigated whether existing theories are borne out in the Saudi Arabian cultural context in response to claims that some of these theories are universally applicable. Qualitative and, to some extent, quantitative research methods were used to analyse data gathered during 36 hours of interactional media exchange. The data were transcribed, translated from Arabic to English and then analysed in light of the two principal theories employed: the genre analysis framework model formulated by Swales (1990) and the politeness strategies framework model proposed by Brown and Levinson (1987).</p> <p>Among the study’s significant findings were that Saudi TVTSs (SdTVTSs) appear to fit the Swales model well. This suggests that Saudi media (SM) spoken discourse seems to behave similarly to written texts. It was also found that SdTVTSs have a very clear and well-established generic structure, consisting of an opening, show proper and closing. Finally, the analysis results suggested that Brown and Levinson’s (1987) model is largely applicable to SM interactions and the use of specific speech acts, with some variations due to cultural or religious influences. The study concludes that the information and interactional goals of SdTVTSs strongly determine the degree of formality of speech events and the interpersonal relations between the participants (hosts, guests and, for some shows, callers-in).</p>