Gender Identity and Hyperbole Use in Saudi Arabic: A Production and Perception Study Exploring the Influence of Social Factors on Hyperbolic Expressions and Attitudes Towards their Use.

Abstract

Language is not merely a tool for communication but a mirror reflecting intricate human interactions, culture, social norms, and identity. While extensively studied in rhetorical and literary contexts, hyperbole has received relatively little attention in everyday contexts, particularly in Saudi Arabic. This study explores the influence of social factors—namely gender, age, and region—on the use of ten hyperboles frequently observed among Saudis. The research incorporates both production and perception approaches. In the production study, the frequency of hyperboles was examined over 9 hours and 24 minutes of natural speech collected from 24 Saudi influencers, stratified by age, gender, and region, on Snapchat. The perception study, conducted through an online survey, implicitly investigated Saudis’ perceptions and attitudes towards the use of hyperboles. The results of both studies were largely consistent. They demonstrated that gender is the strongest factor influencing the use of hyperboles, with Saudi females producing 71 hyperboles per hour compared to only 7 hyperboles per hour by males. The findings also revealed that the ten hyperboles carry varying degrees of femininity: six hyperboles were found to be highly feminine, while the others exhibited both feminine and masculine connotations. Two hyperboles also revealed a regional pattern, showing high salience in the speech of Najdi speakers. In the first section of the perception study, Saudis demonstrated heightened awareness of these expressions according to age, gender, and region. The study also uncovered a correlation between femininity, age, and formality: the more feminine a hyperbole, the younger and more informal it was perceived. In the second section, Saudis’ attitudes towards the use of hyperboles were generally positive. However, male respondents expressed slightly negative attitudes towards hyperboles when used by other men.