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The 'How are you?' sequence in telephone openings in Arabic

This paper reports on one particular speech activity, viz. telephone openings, to conduct a cross-cultural comparison of how Arabs perform the ritual routines of the ‘How are you?’ sequence. Using conversation analysis (CA) as a methodology, this qualitative study is based on data collected from natural interaction between Arabs. In Arabic, the ‘How are you?’ sequence is canonically scripted to function as an inquiry about the well-being and latest news of the recipient of the call as well as his/her other immediate family members. However, these telephone openings are expanded to show differences in norms of behavior from the ones reported in the literature to mark cultural identity that is unique to this speech community.