A master’s thesis entitled “A social and communicative study of backbiting in selected American and British novels” was discussed at Ibn Rushd College of Education for Humanities by the researcher (Duaa Alawi Majeed) specializing in language on Thursday 10/24/2024 in the English Language Hall. The discussion committee consisted of Professor Dr. Manal Jassim Muhammad as Chairman, Assistant Professor Basma Khaled Angish from Al-Qadisiyah University, College of Education as a member, Assistant Professor Huda Abdul Ali as a member, and Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Fadhel Jameel as a member and supervisor.
This study aimed to bridge the gap by examining how gossip is used as a communicative tool in selected English and American novels, and how it reflects and shapes social interactions within these works. This study investigates the complex role that backbiting plays within the structure of literary discourse, while examining its multifaceted functions and effects.