A Qualitative Study of the Role of Language in the Relationships between Conflicting Couples: An Approach Based on Grounded Theory

This study was conducted to qualitatively study the role of language in the relations between conflicting couples using grounded theory. To this end, the sample was selected using the purposive sampling method, and the data were collected through a semi-structured interview. To achieve theoretical saturation, seven couples from among the qualifying ones were studied. To obtain the factors, the data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin techniques, which included coding concepts and shaping the theory. The analysis of data in open coding led to coding the main factors, components, and sub-components. After analyzing the interview data, the following items were identified: the linguistic conflicts of couples as the nuclear category, the linguistic factors paving the way for marital conflicts and the linguistic consequences of marital conflicts as main categories, and the four concepts of second level coding derived from the first level concepts, i.e. the linguistic factors weakening marital relationship, the linguistic factors aggravating marital conflicts, the linguistic factors destroying marital relationship, and the linguistic factors threatening marital relationship. The results revealed that language plays an important role in reducing or increasing marital conflicts, and failure to control it causes a lot of conflicts and verbal violence among couples, and, consequently, it paves the way for emotional separation and eventually divorce.