Directive Language in Cultural Context: A Discourse Analysis of Al-Ahsa Traditional Proverbs

This study examines the role of directive language in Al-Ahsa traditional proverbs, investigating how imperatives and prohibitives encode cultural values, regulate social behavior, and reflect the collective ethos of this Saudi Arabian region. Combining Speech Act Theory (SAT), Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), the research analyzes 29 proverbs to uncover their sociolinguistic functions. Findings reveal a cultural equilibrium: 58.6% of proverbs employ imperatives advocating prudence, patience, rationality, and communal ethics, while 41.4% use prohibitives to enforce moderation, social boundaries, and epistemic humility. Metaphors rooted in Al-Ahsa’s environmental and material realities—such as journeys, clay, and furnaces—render abstract values tangible, naturalizing a worldview where individual agency is inseparable from collective welfare. The analysis demonstrates how directive language perpetuates hierarchical structures, critiques individualism, and negotiates evolving norms, as seen in proverbs challenging gender stigmatization. Methodologically, the integration of SAT, CDA, and CMT offers a novel framework for analyzing oral traditions, emphasizing the cultural specificity of metaphorical reasoning. This research contributes to cultural linguistics by illustrating how proverbs function as dynamic tools of social governance, balancing autonomy and restraint. It also highlights implications for cross-cultural communication, language education, and heritage preservation, advocating for the documentation of proverbs as vital repositories of cultural identity.