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The Use of the Expression “Mriguel” in the Region of Gabes

®Asma Abbassi

The Higher Institute of Languages of Gabes

English Department

MA in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)

Course: Sociolinguistics

Course Instructor: Dr. Ameni Hlioui

December18, 2022
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1. Introduction

According to the Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, “Sociolinguistics is the study of the way

language is affected by differences in social class, region, sex, etc”. In other words, it is the

study of the relationship between language and society. People interact between each other

using language but this language differs from one person to another and it is affected by

many variables. In this context, the expression “Mriguel” is well-known in Tunisia and

especially in the region of Gabes. It is used to convey a message by the majority of people.

In this research, I create a questionnaire: I ask 100 people different question about the

previous expression. My research allows me to discover variations when using this

expression at many levels. So, this paper aims to analyze the results from using the

expression “Mriguel” in the region of Gabes, in terms of Age, Gender, and Meaning.

2. Body

2.1. Origins of the Expression Mriguel

The expression “Mriguel” is used in Tunisia since many years. It is borrowed from

the French language. The word is “règle” or “règlement” which means “rule” in

English. Its figurative meaning is that everything is okay and well-organized. This

expression is not from the standard Arabic and it is used in Tunisia in everyday life in

various occasions, and fields. In fact, it is used in the street, between friends, between

the family members, in schools, ect. There are no limits for using this expression. The

later expression progressed to be everywhere: There is even an internet application, a

Facebook page... called Mriguel. In this research, I observe that the majority of the

generations are familiar with this expression and they use it: From the teenagers to

people over 50 years old without exceptions.

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2.2. Variations

There are three main variations that distinguish the usage the expression “Mriguel in

the region of Gabes:

2.2.1. Age variation

According to the research, it is noticeable that there is a variation between

young and adults when using the expression “Mriguel”. Only 30 of my

interviewees whose age is over 50 use this expression. However, 50 of them use

this expression notably in their everyday life. Indeed, this distinction between the

two generations is due to their way of thinking. To elucidate, the minority of

adults believe that it is not formal to use those expressions in their life. Two of

them mention that “I don't use these frivolous phrases”. They are also so angry

from this language: they see it as a “language of street”. And the majority of them

see it as a normal way of expressing their point of view, and go for using it. In

contrast, all my young interviewees prefer the use of this expression in their life. A

young interviewee said” If you are not from Gabes let me clarify a something for

you: Here in Gabes whenever you go you will find the expression ‘Mriguel’ in

front of you, in any time, any topic, and place”. So, as it is mentioned in the data

age variation is very clear. And they do not think the same way concerning the use

of the expression “Mriguel”. To sum up, one can say that, Men in their 50 they

start using standard form and they don't use slang words, because they tend to

abide by social expectations. In contrast, young people like their own words as

they have challenging behaviors, and they prefer to deviate from the standard form

to be unique.
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Question Age
From 15 to 25 Over 50
Male Female Male Female
Do you use mriguel? 25 yes 25 yes 20 yes\5 no 10 yes\15 no

Table1: The Use of the Expression Mriguel According To Age in the Region of Gabes

2.2.2. Gender Variation

When reflecting on the use of the expression “Mriguel” in the region of Gabes, it is

remarkable that men use the latter word more than women. Corresponding to the data,

45 people of the interviewees that use the word “Mriguel” are men, but just 35 of

them are women. To explain, in everyday life men use vernacular forms more than

women: they concentrate on what to say more than how to say it. The essential thing

is to covey the meaning, no matter how. Besides, men do not think about protecting

their faces. Even if the expression is not in the suitable context, they have no problem.

In opposition to that, women think about protecting their faces. They pay attention to

what to say, and how to say it. When they feel that the expression is not accepted by

someone, or may threaten their prestige, they just skip it, especially old women. They

are so conservatives. One of the interviewee does not know even the word: She said

“Oh, my daughter I like to help you, but I do not know this word, I am sorry”. Thus,

men and women differentiate in their language, their use of vocabulary, especially the

expression which is not from the standard Arabic, like “Mriguel”.

Question Gender

Male female
Do you use the expression” 45 yes out 35 yes out of 50
Mriguel”? of 50
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Table2: the use of the Expression Mriguel according to Gender in the Region of Gabes

2.2.3. Meaning Variation

“Mriguel” is a single word, but it can create several meanings by itself. So, it is a

polysemic word. By adding prefixes or suffixes, and by repetition, the meaning can

be generated. According to this research, I found three different meanings of the latter

expression illustrated in the following table.

Question Positive Negative According to the

meaning meaning context
When do you use the 17 person 13 person out of 50 person out of
expression out of 80 80 80
“Mriguel”?

Table3: The Meanings Provided when Using the Expression Mriguel

2.2.3.1. The Positive Meaning

In this research, there are 17 of the interviewees claim that they use this expression

in a positive way. That is to say “Okay Good”, everything is okay and no problem. In

fact, when they agree with someone on a something they say “Okay Mriguel”. Before

the emergence of this expression, people used to say other expressions to express their

agreement about a topic. But, now they add this expression to their vocabulary list to

become a part of our Tunisian dialect and our culture.

2.2.3.2. The Negative Meaning

Only 13 person of the interviewees said that they use the expression “Mriguel”

when they are angry. Indeed, when they feel angry and like to stop talking, they just use

it. It is used by itself or by adding some words as prefixes, or suffixes. For example: \
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‫ \باهي مريقل‬which means (Okay stop talking). Or \‫ \ مريقل واضح‬which mean (Okay

everything is clear in my mind, no need for clarification, I do not like to speak). Or it is

used by the repetition of the expression \‫ \مريقل مريقل‬which has the same meaning of the

previous expressions. In the past, I hear many other expressions to express anger or

disagreement. But, now in many occasions, and many places, I hear these expressions

(related to the expression “Mriguel), and it becomes one of the most used words in

Gabes.

2.2.3.3. The Context Meaning.

The number of people, who use the expression “Mriguel” depending on the context,

is big in comparison to the previous ones. 50 people of the interviewees admit that they

use it in any context. In fact, they use this expression in depends on the context, their

feelings, and the situation provided. They have not a specific purpose or message.

Whenever they need it, they use it without reflection. When they feel angry, and

disagree with someone, they use it, when they feel happy, and agree with someone,

they also use it. In some cases, the receiver cannot understand its meaning, because it is

not clear. In this situation, one can concentrate on the intonation and the stress on the

word. By doing that, it will be very clear and understandable what is the message.

3. Conclusion

This paper highlights the main variations when using the expression “Mriguel” in

the region of Gabes. In fact, this expression starts as a strange pattern, but it still in

progress along many years. According to this research, adults use this expression less

than teenagers because the love the standard Arabic and do not prefer to use slang

words. However, young people enjoy using challenging expressions, and it becomes a

part of their everyday speech. Also, I remarked the gender variation: Men prefer to use
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vernacular forms more than women. Hence, the two age categories, and the two

genders differentiate when using the mentioned expression in the region of Gabes.

Generally speaking, the expressing “Mriguel” become a part of the Tunisian Arabic

without any doubt.

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References

Al Mayadeen Channel - ‫قناة الميادين‬. (2021, August 29). “ ‫ تعرفوا‬...‫ “ونفرح فيك” ودقلة‬ ”‫مريقل‬

‫[ إلى معاني هذه العبارات باللهجة التونسية‬Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aZXeNrbErY

Janet Holmes (1992, 16), An Introduction to Sociolinguistics: (n.d.). English Dept.

JKKNIU. https://jkkniu.weebly.com/blog/janet-holmes-1992-16an-introduction-

tosociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford

Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com.

(n.d.). https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/

sociolinguistics