Rapport Management toward Expressing Sympathy in Persian

Abstract

The present study sets out to examine the realisation of the speech act of expressing sympathy in Persian, which, notwithstanding its significant communicative role, has not received the attention it deserves. More precisely, drawing on data collected through open role-plays and retrospective interviews, and using rapport management theory (Spencer-Oatey 2005), this study is an attempt to scrutinise Persian speakers’ sympathy expressions in a situation exhibit-ing solidarity between the interlocutors. Results show that by employing 12 distinct strategies, Persian speakers respect behavioural expectations through expressing involvement, empathy and respect in the context of sympa-thising. Also, they respect and mostly enhance their own and the interlocutor’s identity and respectability face. In addition, their interactional goals are strongly relational.