Resumen de Expectations and perceptions of politeness norms among Arabic learners and Moroccan native speakers

Said Hannouchi

• This study explored the expectations that Moroccan native speakers (n = 57) and beginning‐level learners of Arabic (n = 38) held of one another regarding conformity to Moroccan cultural norms. Questionnaires and interviews were used to unpack two assumptions that shape pedagogical practices: (1) that native speakers (NSs) expect nonnative speakers (NNSs) to conform to NSs’ politeness norms; and (2) that NNSs differ from NSs in their perceptions of politeness norms. Results showed that Moroccan participants hold both an expectation of and flexibility toward learners’ conformity to politeness norms and that NNSs may not differ notably from NSs in their perceptions of politeness. The study has implications for understanding the conceptualization and development of intercultural competence and teaching the Communities goal area.