Exploring the Honorifics in Balti Linguistic Practices: An Analysis of Communicative Functions of Balti Linguistic Expressions in Different Contexts

Abstract

This research investigates the functions of Balti honorifics within various communicative contexts. The researcher has employed the Politeness Theory developed by Erving Goffman and Penelope Brown, (1978) as the primary theoretical framework to investigate and identify honorific words and phrases in the Balti language. The researcher has used different books in order to investigate the research questions. The researcher has devised semi-structured interviews to collect data from Balti language experts. The study reveals that Honorifics in Balti language are rooted in Balti cultural traditions and linguistic practices varying across different social contexts such as kinship, social status, age, sex, profession, rank, religious status, and social status. The findings of the current study highlighted that Balti language is one of the richest languages in terms of honorific expressions with different structural and semantic features. These honorifics encompass different linguistic, cultural and social implications playing significant roles by determining politeness and social hierarchies in the Balti community

Keywords: Balti, honorific linguistic practices, politeness theory and politeness strategies

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22014660