A Study of Age and Gender Variables in Complaint Speech Act in Persian

In the present study, we are going to examine two variables of age and gender in “complaint speech act” in Persian. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of gender and age on the use of complaint speech act and ultimately its analysis in Persian language society. To this end, 21 Persian films, from family genres, were selected. Discourses containing complaint speech act were transcribed in Persian films and the age and gender variables were reviewed. Trosborg model was used for data analysis. He divided complaint speech act into 5 categories(hint, disapproval, accusation, blame and treat) and 7 sub categories (annoyance, ill consequence, direct accusation, indirect accusation, modified blame, blame (person), blame(behavior)). Statistical analysis was used to analyze gender and age effects, and the results were plotted at the tables and charts for a closer look. Statistical analysis showed that men use more complaint speech acts than women. Also, Men use direct complaints and women use indirect complaints more. In the Persian-speaking community, the young age group is the biggest user of the complaint. It seems as the age goes higher, the less willingness to use complaint acts occurs. It should be noted that the elderly and middle age groups use more direct complaints than child and young age groups. People use the most direct complaints and the least indirect complaints in conversations with younger people.