Pragmatic Strategies in Humanitarian Diplomacy | مجلة قضايا لغوية | Linguistic Issues Journal

##theme.Theme.article.main##

Ahmed Kaid Thabet Alshokhada
Marwah Hatem Khaleel
This study investigated the pivotal role of pragmatic strategies in humanitarian diplomacy, where effective communication is crucial for successful negotiations and mediations. The study examined the pragmatic strategies employed by humanitarian diplomats in conflict-affected and politically sensitive environments, aiming to understand how language quality and effectiveness impact their ability to access, negotiate, and mediate. Employing a qualitative descriptive-analytical methodology, the study conducted a pragmatic discourse analysis of purposively selected data, including official statements, negotiation briefings, and mediation discourse. The analysis revealed that humanitarian diplomats consistently utilize politeness strategies, indirectness, mitigation, and strategic ambiguity to manage interpersonal dynamics, alleviate tension, and achieve humanitarian objectives. The findings demonstrate that understanding pragmatics plays a strategic role in humanitarian diplomacy, highlighting the need for humanitarian practitioners to possess pragmatic competence. This study contributes to the advancement of linguistic studies in humanitarian contexts, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in achieving humanitarian goals.
Keywords: Pragmatics; Humanitarian Diplomacy; Negotiation; Mediation; Discourse Analysis.
1. Alemi, M., & Haeri, N. S. (2020). Robot assisted instruction of L2 pragmatics: Effects on young EFL learners' speech act performance. Language Learning & Technology, 24(2), 82–101. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/44727
2. Allott, N. (2010). Key terms in pragmatics. Continuum International Publishing Group.
3. Al-Smaihyeen, M. M., Rashid, R. A., Al-Ramahi, R. A., Al-Hanaqtah, M. F., Abualadas, O. A., & Al-Shamayleh, T. S. (2025). Forced displacement and rhetoric: A pragmatic analysis of presuppositions and speech acts in Trump’s discourse on the Gaza Strip. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(11), 3595–3605. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1511.12
4. Bai, H., Tang, J., & Wang, N. (2025). The pragmatic strategies of politeness principles and role balance of interpreters in Sino-U.S. diplomatic negotiations. Pacific International Journal, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.55014/pij.v8i4.842
5. Berridge, G. R. (2010). Diplomacy: Theory and practice. Palgrave.
6. Brown, P., & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language use. Cambridge University Press.
7. Clark, E. V. (2018). Conversation and language acquisition: A pragmatic approach. Language Learning and Development, 14(3), 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/15475441.2017.1340843
8. De Bartolo, A. M. (2014). Pragmatic strategies and negotiation of meaning in ELF talk. EL.LE, 3(3), 453-464.
9. Fairclough, N. (2015). Language and power (3rd ed.). Routledge.
10. Grice, P. (1989). Studies in the way of words. Harvard University Press.
11. Hussain, S. S. (2024). Testing EFL communication: Speech Act Theory and the Communicative Approach. Arab World English Journal, 15(1), 384–400. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol15no1.24
12. Jenkins, J., & Leung, C. (2019). From mythical standard to standard reality: The need for alternatives to standardized English language tests. Language Teaching, 52(1), 86–110. https://doi.org/10.1017/S02614448180000307
13. Kehal, M., & Beghoul, Y. (2018). Using a pragmatic approach to develop the English learners' pragmatic communicative strategies (Doctoral dissertation). Université Frères Mentouri-Constantine 1. http://depot.umc.edu.dz/handle/123456789/2622
14. Lum, G. (2012). The Negotiation Fieldbook. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.
15. Mulholland, J. (1991). The language of negotiation. Routledge.
16. Reisigl, M., & Wodak, R. (2001). Discourse and Discrimination: Rhetorics of Racism and Antisemitism. Routledge.
17. Saffah, M. D. (2022). The pragmatics of negotiation in peace treaties. The Islamic College University Journal, 2(67), 219–240. Retrieved from https://search.mandumah.com/Record/1316491
18. Schatzki, M., & Coffey, W. (1981). Negotiation: The art of getting what you want. Berkley.
19. Searle, I. R. (1969). Speech Acts: An Essay in the Phils.sophy of Lan8uage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
20. Sifakis, N. C. (2019). ELF awareness in English language teaching: Principles and processes. Applied Linguistics, 40(2), 288–306. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amx034
21. Xi, H., & Wang, P. (2024). An analysis of pragmatic stance in drug negotiation discourse concerning national medical insurance catalogue in China. Athens Journal of Health & Medical Sciences, 1(1), 43–56. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajhms.11-1-3
22. Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.
23. Al-Youbi, M. N. S. (2025). Pragmatics and its Role on Developing Linguistic Studies. Arts for Linguistic & Literary Studies, 7(2), 9-28. https://doi.org/10.53286/arts.v7i2.2404
24. Babiker, A. A. A.-B. M. (2024). The Speech Acts in Eid Greeting Discourse in Arab Countries from a Pragmatic Perspective. Arts for Linguistic & Literary Studies, 6(3), 57-74. https://doi.org/10.53286/arts.v6i3.2064
25. Maiwald, A. (2015). Power, Negotiation Type and Negotiation Tactics (Unpublished M.A. thesis). University of Twente.
26. Wasel, E. (2020). Speech Acts in the collection poems: Abgadeyat Al-Rroh "Alphabet of the Spirit", The Pioneers of Language and Masterpieces of Literature Journal, 1(1), 74-98.



This content is Open Access

ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in the texts published are the author’s own and do not necessarily express the views of the Editorial team of the Journal of Qaḍāyā luġawiyaẗ (Linguistic Issues)

The Authors assume all responsibility for the ideas expressed in the materials published

Authors warrant that the rights of third parties will not be violated and that the publisher will not be held legally responsible should there be any claims for compensation

 

 

Copyright © linguistic issues 2020-2026

Center for Scientific and Technical Research for the Development of the Arabic Language

Linguistic Research Unit and Arabic Language Issues in Algeria

National Road 49 Ghardaia Road, PO Box 07 Kasdi Merbah University; Postal Code 30063 Ouargla - Algeria

Tel/Fax:+21329719361     Mail:contact@qadaya-lugawiyat.dz      Website:https://www.qadaya-lugawiyat.dz