Navigating Hierarchies and Culture: Exploring Greek University Students’ L2 Email Perceptions

This qualitative study investigates how Greek university students navigate the complex dynamics of their hierarchical student–faculty L2 email interactions. In doing so, it examines students’ perceptions and metapragmatic judgments of politeness and appropriateness byanalysing authentic emails exchanged in academic contexts. It uses interviews with Greek undergraduate students (advanced learners of English), and, through thematic analysis, it explores the extent and the way in which cultural values and sociopragmatic norms might impact the learners’ metapragmatic judgments regarding email writing. Thematic analysis revealed that the students draw on their own culturally embedded frameworks, shaped by Greek norms of politeness, respect and deference, to guide their email evaluations. They prioritise formality as an essential component of email politeness, linking it to professionalism, clarity and respect. Politeness and respect emerged as intertwined concepts, with students emphasising the importance of acknowledging power dynamics and expressing deference to authority figures through formal framing moves, email mechanics and email structure. Cultural values, particularly the Greek norm of heightened respect for authority and older individuals, deeply influenced learners’ perceptions regarding formal greetings, email mechanics and careful phrasing. Additionally, learners demonstrated a desire to tailor their communication style based on the recipient’s status, age and familiarity, attesting to their sociopragmatic awareness. The findings overall underscored the interplay between cultural values and learners’ pragmatic awareness, offering valuable implications for the teaching of email pragmatics and intercultural communication in academic contexts.