A Gender Pragmatic Analysis of Compliment Responses among BS Tourism Management Students in Visayas State University

Abstract

Research on compliments and compliment responses (CRs) has largely focused on cross-cultural perspectives. However, few studies have examined gender differences in CRs in the Philippine context, particularly in the Visayas region. Thus, this study aimed to identify the compliment response strategies employed by BS in Tourism Management students at Visayas State University, to determine gender-based differences across specific contexts, and to analyze the influence of genderlect on these CRs. Data were gathered using a Discourse Completion Task (DCT) adapted from Mascuñana, Patron, Caturay, and Duran (2019), and the responses were analyzed using Holmes’ (1986, 1988, 1993) CRs strategy framework, while Tannen’s (1990) genderlect theory guided the interpretation of gender norms. Findings revealed that Tourism students most frequently employed the ‘Accept’ strategy, followed by ‘Evade’, while ‘Reject’ was the least preferred, indicating differences at the micro-level. Additionally, gender-based analysis showed that female participants predominantly used ‘Accept’ strategies across topics such as appearance, character, ability, and possession, whereas male participants favored ‘Evade’ strategies. These differences somewhat align with Tannen’s genderlect theory, which suggests that female speakers tend to engage in ‘rapport talk’ by expressing agreement and emotional connection. In contrast, males tend to engage in ‘report talk,’ using conversation primarily to convey information and assert status when interacting with peers (friends or classmates). This suggests that male and female conversational styles may vary depending on the interaction's function, context, and social dynamics. This study provides insights into gendered communication patterns that tourism educators and professionals can use to enhance students’ soft skills in responding to compliments. It also contributes to a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of gendered communication, fostering effective interpersonal interactions in diverse social contexts, particularly during compliment exchanges.