Compliment Responses across Gender: Moroccan EFL Learners as a Case Study

Compliment response is among the most common speech acts used in everyday conversations. Recipients’ responses to compliments differ depending on distinct social variables, including power, degree of intimacy, distance, culture and gender. The current study investigates Responses (henceforth, CRs) Moroccan male female EFL learners based four topics (ability, character, possession appearance). Thence, present paper aims explore frequent CR strategies by learners. Besides, it endeavors find out differences between two groups CRs. 50 from Sultan Moulay Slimane University took part study, epitomizing higher education population. In order attain required data for discourse completion test (DCT) was were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages) inferential (Independent T-test) Herbert’s (1989) classification Results revealed that at macro level are agreement strategies; however, micro appreciation token, praise upgrade return strategies, wherein females showed a great tendency towards use while males more inclined token strategy. Furthermore, results there consonance CRs level, whereas significant difference all situations except character.