ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education p-ISSN 2301-7554, e-ISSN 2541-3643

Volume 11, Issue 3, October 2023 https://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

PRAGMATIC ASPECTS OF SPEECH ACTS: A CROSS-LINGUISTIC

PERSPECTIVE
Rita Tanduk
Universitas Kristen Indonesia Toraja, Tana Toraja, Indonesia
Email: [email protected]

APA Citation: Tanduk, R. (2023). Pragmatic aspects of speech acts: A cross-linguistic perspective. English
Review: Journal of English Education, 11(3), 881-890.
https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i3.8762

Received: 09-06-2023 Accepted:24-08-2023 Published: 30-10-2023

Abstract: Effective intercultural communication is a cornerstone of today's globalized world, necessitating an
exploration of the pragmatic aspects of speech acts from a cross-linguistic perspective. This research delves
into the complex interplay between language, culture, and politeness strategies within the contexts of
Indonesian and Malay. Using a comprehensive datasets collected through observational field study in diverse
naturalistic settings, including workplaces, educational institutions, and everyday social contexts, research
examines the performance and interpretation of requests, apologies, compliments, and refusals. The findings
reveal a shared preference for indirect and polite language when making requests in both linguistic
communities, underlining the universality of politeness strategies. While Indonesian speakers tend to employ
explicit expressions of regret in apologies, Malay speakers adopt a more subtle approach. Compliments
showcase differences, with Indonesian speakers favoring direct expressions of admiration and Malay speakers
employing nuanced language. Refusals demonstrate stark contrasts, with Malay speakers utilizing indirect
strategies and Indonesian speakers opting for directness. This study contributes to the growing discourse on
cross-linguistic and cross-cultural pragmatics, emphasizing the importance of considering both linguistic
diversity and cultural norms in understanding intercultural communication. This research, grounded in real-
world interactions, calls for continued exploration of trans-cultural threads in speech act usage and offers
valuable insights for enhancing intercultural competence. While acknowledging the study's limitations,
researcher invites future research endeavors to delve deeper into the intricate world of speech acts and
intercultural communication
Keywords: intercultural communication; pragmatics; politeness strategies; speech act.

INTRODUCTION theory, initially pioneered by philosophers like

Language is a remarkable tool, a vessel through Searle (1969) and Austin (1962), illuminates this
which human beings convey not just information, phenomenon by highlighting that language is a
but also their intentions, emotions, and social means to do things, not just say things.
dynamics (Al-Athwary, 2022; Gunawan & Consider a simple scenario: You enter a
Tjitrakusuma, 2021; Xiao & Lee, 2022). Within the crowded cafe, approach the counter, and say, "I'd
vast realm of linguistic communication, speech like a cappuccino, please." In this utterance, you
acts stand as crucial building blocks, enabling us to have not only conveyed your desire for a
make requests, give orders, make promises, cappuccino but have also performed a speech act -
apologize, compliment, refuse, and perform making a request. The barista, understanding your
numerous other actions that shape our interactions intention, is likely to fulfill your request. This
and relationships (Silitonga & Pasaribu, 2021; exemplifies the power of speech acts in our daily
Utami et al., 2021; Wijayanto et al., 2013). The lives, where our words shape the actions and
study of speech acts is not merely a linguistic responses of those around us.
endeavor but a gateway to understanding the Speech acts encompass various categories,
intricate web of human sociality, intercultural including directives (requests, orders),
communication, and the role of culture in shaping commissives (promises, offers), expressive
how we use and interpret language (Adzim et al., (apologies, congratulations), assertive (statements,
2019; Prayitno et al., 2019; Rizka et al., 2020). claims), and verdicts (judgments, assessments)
Language, as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (Altikriti, 2011; Risselada, 2019; Santoso et al.,
(2009) famously stated, is not just a reflection of 2014). The diversity of speech acts reflects the
the world but a tool for creating it. Indeed, when multifaceted nature of human communication,
we utter words, we do more than convey where individuals navigate complex social
information; we perform actions. Speech acts interactions through language (Hidayati et al.,

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Pragmatic aspects of speech acts: A cross-linguistic perspective

2021; Fudholi et al., 2023; Lili, 2018). learned, shared, and patterned." It infuses every
Understanding how these speech acts function, facet of our lives, including language and
both linguistically and pragmatically, is essential communication. In the context of speech acts,
for effective communication and for avoiding culture plays a pivotal role in shaping the
misunderstandings in multicultural settings performance and interpretation of these linguistic
(Altikriti, 2011; Upton, 2021; Akmal et al., 2022). actions.
To delve into the pragmatic aspects of speech Different cultures have distinct norms and
acts, we enter the realm of pragmatics, a branch of values governing communication. These cultural
linguistics that transcends the boundaries of syntax norms influence the choice of speech acts, the
and semantics. Pragmatics explores the way degree of directness or indirectness, the use of
language is used in context, considering not only politeness strategies, and the interpretation of
the literal meaning of words but also the implied meaning (Blitvich & Sifianou, 2017; Haugh &
meanings, implicatures, and the influence of Watanabe, 2017; Kádár & Zhang, 2019). For
context and culture on interpretation (Fatmaja & instance, in some cultures, a refusal may be
Saragih, 2021; Aufa, 2011; Mualimin, 2021). expressed politely through indirect language, while
In the context of speech acts, pragmatics plays in others, directness may be preferred. These
a pivotal role. Pragmatic aspects include the social variations reflect deeper cultural values related to
and cultural factors that influence how speech acts politeness, face-saving, and social harmony
are performed and interpreted (Mœschler, 1992; Furthermore, culture molds our perception of
Mualimin, 2021; Ifantidou, 2013). For instance, politeness and impoliteness (Haugh & Watanabe,
consider the act of refusing an invitation. In one 2017; Kádár, 2011; Mapson, 2019). What is
culture, a direct "No" may be seen as considered polite in one culture may be perceived
straightforward and honest, while in another, it as overly formal or insincere in another. These
could be considered impolite or offensive. These cultural perceptions of politeness guide how we
cultural nuances are integral to understanding how interpret speech acts and determine whether an
speech acts function in a given linguistic and utterance is deemed respectful or rude.
cultural context. The interplay between culture and speech acts
Furthermore, speech acts are not static entities is not only fascinating but also pivotal for
but dynamic processes, influenced by the understanding the dynamics of cross-cultural
relationship between interlocutors, the context of communication. As our world becomes
the conversation, and the broader cultural norms increasingly interconnected, individuals and
that shape communication (Archer et al., 2021; De organizations must navigate a multicultural
Castro, 2022; Ekoro & Gunn, 2021). Pragmatics landscape where communication norms and
allows us to explore these dynamic elements, expectations vary widely. Understanding how
shedding light on why people choose particular culture shapes speech act pragmatics is a step
speech acts in specific situations and how they toward enhancing intercultural communication and
navigate the delicate balance between clarity and fostering mutual understanding.
politeness in communication (Ifantidou, 2013; In the paper titled "Speech Act Theory and
Tanduk et al., 2021). Gricean Pragmatics: A Review," authored by
As the researcher embark on this research (Ekoro & Gunn, 2021) the paper’s exploration of
journey, researcher take a step beyond the confines pragmatic strategies, speech act theory, and the
of a single language and culture. The focus of this pragmatic dimensions of language use enriches our
research is on the cross-linguistic perspective, a understanding of how language serves as a medium
lens that widens researcher’s view to encompass for expressing intentions, actions, and social
the rich tapestry of human linguistic diversity. conventions. Through the judicious selection of
Every language, with its unique grammar, examples and a thorough analysis of J. L. Austin's
vocabulary, and cultural underpinnings, offers a speech act framework, the authors offer valuable
distinct lens through which speech acts are insights that resonate with both scholars and
performed and interpreted (Tajeddin & practitioners in the field of linguistics and
Bagherkazemi, 2021; Mualimin, 2021). In essence, pragmatics. Their work serves as a testament to the
the researcher seek to answer the fundamental enduring relevance and complexity of language as
question: How do different languages shape the a tool for expressing intentions, actions, and social
performance and interpretation of speech acts? conventions.
Culture, as anthropologist, Hall (1976) Meanwhile, Wang & Wu (2021) provide a
eloquently put it, is "communication that is comprehensive exploration of the distinctions

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Volume 11, Issue 3, October 2023 https://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

between cross-cultural and intercultural disparities between Indonesian and Malay.

pragmatics. Cross-cultural pragmatics involves the Qualitative research offered the flexibility and
comparative analysis of language use across depth required to explore the nuances of
different cultures, encompassing aspects such as communication patterns, allowing for a
speech acts and behavior patterns, to identify both comprehensive understanding of how language
differences and commonalities (Archer et al., 2021; functions within diverse cultural and linguistic
Maruf, 2018). In contrast, intercultural pragmatics contexts (Bhakoo et al., 2020; Köhler et al., 2019;
focuses on the dynamics of communication among Rabel, 2018). This approach aligned with the
individuals from diverse linguistic and cultural study's aim to uncover specific patterns and
backgrounds who use a shared language. This variations in speech act usage and to examine the
distinction highlights the role of context and shared influence of culture on speech act performance and
language in shaping communication dynamics, interpretation.
offering valuable insights for scholars and The participants in this research consisted of
practitioners in the field of intercultural individuals proficient in both Indonesian and
communication. Malay, representing a range of cultural
This study is meticulously crafted to address the backgrounds and experiences. To ensure diversity,
research question through an extensive qualitative participants from different age groups, educational
examination of how individuals from diverse backgrounds, and professions were recruited. The
linguistic and cultural backgrounds, with a specific inclusion of participants with varying degrees of
focus on Indonesian and Malay, utilize speech acts exposure to intercultural communication enabled a
in their communicative exchanges. By rigorously comprehensive exploration of cross-linguistic and
analyzing authentic language data and conducting cross-cultural disparities.
interviews with participants representing these The study was conducted in naturalistic settings
distinct cultures, this research endeavors to unearth where participants engaged in real-life
specific patterns and variations in the utilization of communicative interactions. This included
speech acts between Indonesian and Malay. workplace environments, educational institutions,
Anticipations are set high for these findings to and everyday social contexts where
shine a light on the substantial influence of culture communication naturally occurred. These settings
on both the execution and interpretation of speech provided an authentic backdrop for observing and
acts within the context of these languages. analyzing speech acts as they naturally unfolded.
Furthermore, this research sets out to delve into The data was collected through Observational
the potential implications stemming from these Field Study. This study was designed to unfold in
cross-linguistic and cross-cultural disparities in naturalistic settings, encompassing workplace
speech act pragmatics for the realm of effective environments, educational institutions, and
intercultural communication. The study keenly everyday social contexts. These diverse settings
anticipates illuminating the challenges and provided authentic backdrops for observing and
opportunities that emerge from these distinctions, analyzing speech acts as they naturally occurred.
including the intricate dynamics of potential This approach prioritized authenticity, allowing us
miscommunication and misunderstandings that to immerse ourselves in real-life communicative
may arise. In its essence, this research aspires to interactions rather than controlled experiments. As
contribute significantly to a richer understanding observers of these real-life interactions, our focus
of how culture shapes the very fabric of was on witnessing speech acts in action, including
communication. It seeks to provide invaluable requests, offers, refusals, compliments, and more,
insights that can serve as guiding beacons, within the unique dynamics of each context. By
directing strategies to enhance intercultural studying speech acts in their natural habitats,
communication and cultivating intercultural untethered from scripted scenarios, we aimed to
competence across a diverse spectrum of domains, gain profound insights into how culture, context,
encompassing the realms of business, diplomacy, and language intersected in the performance of
and everyday social interactions. speech acts in intercultural communication. This
holistic data collection strategy was instrumental in
METHOD providing a comprehensive view of speech act
The research design employed in this study was a usage across diverse, real-world settings.
qualitative approach, which was deemed most The data analysis process was deeply rooted in
suitable for investigating the pragmatic aspects of the rich and authentic datasets gathered through
speech acts and cross-linguistic, cross-cultural Observational Field Study. This study unfolded in

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Pragmatic aspects of speech acts: A cross-linguistic perspective

naturalistic settings, offering a dynamic landscape Table 1. The speech act of requests in Indonesian
that included workplace environments, educational and Malay
institutions, and everyday social contexts. These Indonesian Malay
diverse and genuine settings served as the “Permisi, boleh saya “Boleh saya masuk
backdrop for observing and analyzing speech acts minta izin masuk?” sebentar, jika tak
in their most organic form. menggangu?”
It prioritized authenticity in the data collection “Mohon maaf, boleh “Bolehkah saya
tumpangkan saya ke bersama –sama ke
approach, foregoing controlled experiments in
sana?” destinasi itu?”
favor of immersing ourselves in real-life
“saya mohon izin, boleh “Bolehkah saya
communicative interactions. This decision allowed minta tolong ini?” meminta bantuan and di
us to be witnesses to the unfolding of speech acts sini?”
as they naturally occurred within their respective “Maafkan saya, “Boleh tak, saya
contexts. This authenticity was essential as it bolehkan anda tolong perlukan pertolongan
enabled us to explore speech acts in their purest dengan ini?” anda?”
form, devoid of artificial constraints or scripted “Boleh saya minta “Adakah anda bolehkan
scenarios. sedikit waktumu?” saya beberapa minit
The focus during the Observational Field Study saja?”
was on capturing speech acts in action. The data “Saya mohon bantuan, “Bolehkan anda
meticulously observed and documented various boleh tolong ini?” memberikan bantuan
dengan ini?”
types of speech acts, including requests, offers,
refusals, compliments, and more. What made this The data above provided further solidify the
approach particularly insightful was our ability to striking pattern of employing indirect and polite
witness how these speech acts played out within language among both Indonesian and Malay
the unique dynamics of each context. In these real- speakers when making requests. The recurring
life interactions that it could truly appreciate the usage of phrases such as "Mohon maaf" (I
influence of culture, context, and language on the apologize), "boleh" (may I), and "saya mohon" (I
performance and interpretation of speech acts. request) consistently appears in their requests. This
The data collection strategy aimed to provide a linguistic consistency across different individuals
holistic view of speech act usage across a wide and contexts highlights a shared cultural value
spectrum of real-world settings. By studying embedded in both linguistic communities—
speech acts within diverse and unscripted contexts, namely, the significance of upholding politeness
it sought to gain a profound understanding of how and steering clear of direct imposition in
culture, context, and language converged in the intercultural communication.
intricate dance of intercultural communication. These linguistic choices reflect deeply
ingrained cultural norms that prioritize courteous
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION and respectful interactions. The use of such
The results of this study encompassed a diverse mitigating phrases and polite markers
array of speech act types, each shedding light on demonstrates a mutual understanding among
the complexities of intercultural communication Indonesian and Malay speakers that maintaining
between Indonesian and Malay speakers. Among harmonious relationships and avoiding potential
the prominent speech act categories examined were discomfort or offense are essential aspects of
requests, apologies, compliments, and refusals, all effective communication. These norms extend
of which offered intriguing insights into linguistic beyond mere linguistic preferences; they signify a
and cultural nuances. broader cultural emphasis on social harmony and
interpersonal courtesy.
Requests: A politeness predilection In essence, these linguistic patterns serve as a
Participants from both linguistic backgrounds testament to the convergence of culture and
consistently demonstrated a preference for indirect language in shaping speech act strategies. They
strategies when making requests, which aligned highlight the shared values of politeness and
with cultural norms emphasizing politeness and respect that underpin intercultural communication
respect. The examples below provide further between Indonesian and Malay speakers, offering
insight into this linguistic trend, with a diverse valuable insights into the intricate interplay of
range of requests collected from both Indonesian language and culture in fostering effective and
and Malay. harmonious interactions.

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Volume 11, Issue 3, October 2023 https://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

Apologies: Cultural expressions of regret offered compliments, we observed nuanced

Data analysis delved deeper into the realm of variations in their linguistic expressions that
apologies, unveiling further cultural nuances in the reflected their cultural nuances. Below, we present
way Indonesian and Malay speakers express regret a dataset exemplifying this linguistic divergence,
in their speech acts. While both linguistic with compliments collected from both languages.
communities conveyed remorse, we observed
variations in linguistic expression that reflected Table 3. The speech act of compliments in
their cultural inclinations. Below, the researcher Indonesian and Malay
present a substantial dataset exemplifying this Indonesian Malay
linguistic divergence, with apologies collected “Permisi, boleh saya “Boleh saya masuk
from both languages. minta izin masuk?” sebentar, jika tak
menggangu?”
Table 2. The speech act of apologies in Indonesian “Mohon maaf, boleh “Bolehkah saya bersama
tumpangkan saya ke –sama ke destinasi itu?”
and Malay
sana?”
Indonesian Malay
“saya mohon izin, “Bolehkah saya meminta
“Mohon maaf, saya “Saya mohon maaf jika
boleh minta tolong bantuan and di sini?”
telah melakukan saya ada silap.”
ini?”
kesalahan.”
“Maafkan saya, “Boleh tak, saya
“Saya meminta maaf, ini “Jika saya telah
bolehkan anda tolong perlukan pertolongan
adalah kesalahan saya.” membuat kesilapan,
dengan ini?” anda?”
saya minta maaf.”
“Boleh saya minta “Adakah anda bolehkan
“Dengan rendah ahti “Saya minta maaf jika
sedikit waktumu?” saya beberapa minit
saya mohon maaf atas saya tidak berperasaan
saja?”
kelalaian ini?” baik.”
“Saya mohon bantuan, “Bolehkan anda
“Maafkan saya, saya “Saya minta maaf jika
boleh tolong ini?” memberikan bantuan
teah mengecewakan ada yang saya lakukan
dengan ini?”
anda.” yang kurang elok.”
“Saya dengan rendah “Jika ada kesalahan The data above vividly illustrate the nuanced
hati mohon maaf atas yang saya buat, saya approaches taken by Indonesian and Malay
tindakan saya.” memohon maaf.” speakers when offering compliments. While both
“Saya minta maaf, saya “Jika ada yang saya linguistic communities convey admiration,
merasa sangat katakan yang tidak baik, Indonesian compliments often feature
menyesal.” saya minta maaf.” straightforward phrases, whereas Malay
The data above illustrates that the nuanced compliments are often couched in phrases that
approaches taken by Indonesian and Malay introduce a subtle tone of humility. These linguistic
speakers when expressing apologies. While both distinctions highlight the intricate relationship
linguistic communities convey regret, Indonesian between language, culture, and expressions of
speakers often employ more explicit phrases like admiration.
"saya meminta maaf" (I apologize), while Malay This comprehensive dataset underscores the
speakers sometimes adopt a subtler approach, using cultural expressions of admiration in Indonesian
phrases like "saya minta maaf jika..." (I apologize and Malay, showcasing how language choices
if...). These linguistic distinctions highlight the reflect cultural norms and sensitivities. The
complex interplay between language and culture in variations in compliment expressions offer
the articulation of apologies. valuable insights into the complex interplay
This extensive datasets underscores the cultural between language, culture, and effective
expressions of regret in Indonesian and Malay, intercultural communication.
showcasing how language choices reflect cultural
norms and sensitivities. The variations in apology Refusals: Politeness strategies in cross-linguistic
expressions offer valuable insights into the intricate contexts
relationship between language, culture, and The results uncovered further cross-linguistic
effective intercultural communication. differences in the realm of refusals, shedding light
Compliments: Cultural expressions of admiration on how Indonesian and Malay speakers employ
The results delved into the realm of compliments, distinct strategies to convey refusal politely. These
revealing further intriguing differences in how linguistic disparities highlight the intricate
Indonesian and Malay speakers express relationship between language, culture, and the
admiration. While both linguistic communities expression of refusals. Below, I present a datasets

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Pragmatic aspects of speech acts: A cross-linguistic perspective

exemplifying this linguistic divergence, with the specific language spoken, individuals tend to
refusal examples collected from both languages. employ indirect linguistic choices when making
requests to mitigate potential threats to their
Table 4. The speech act of Refusals in Indonesian conversational partner's face or sense of social
and Malay identity. Our study, however, brings a unique
Indonesian Malay cross-linguistic perspective to this phenomenon.
“Maaf, saya tidak bisa “Saya rasa saya tak What sets in this study apart is the comparison
membantu.” boleh bantu sekarang.” between Indonesian and Malay, two languages
“Maaf, saya tidak bisa “Saya rasa saya tak from distinct linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
berkomitmen saat ini?” dapat mengikuti pada Despite the linguistic disparities between these
masa ini.”
languages, the study identified a striking
“Saya mohon maaf, saya “Saya rasa saya tak
commonality—the shared use of indirectness in
tidak sanggup.” mampu buat pada masa
ini.” speech acts. This implies the existence of a trans-
“Maaf, saya tidak bisa “Saya rasa saya tak cultural thread that emphasizes politeness and
melakukannya” mungkin buat respect in intercultural communication.
sekarang.” In essence, this research underscores that while
“Maaf, saya tidak bisa “Saya rasa saya tak linguistic diversity is evident, there are universal
melakukan itu.” boleh buat perkara itu.” principles of politeness and communication that
“Saya mohon maaf, saya “Saya rasa saya tidak traverse linguistic boundaries. These principles
tidak bisa membantu mampu untuk tolong highlight the significance of considering cultural
sekarang. ” pada masa ini.” norms and linguistic nuances in intercultural
These data underscore the nuanced approaches interactions, ultimately contributing to a more
taken by Indonesian and Malay speakers when profound understanding of the dynamics of
refusing requests. While both linguistic communication in diverse contexts.
communities convey refusal politely, Indonesian In term of Apologies as Cultural Expressions of
speakers tend to be more direct, using concise Regret. The distinctions observed in apologies
phrases like "maaf, saya tidak bisa" (sorry, I can't) between Indonesian and Malay speakers echo
without elaborate explanations. Malay speakers, on previous research on cultural expressions of regret
the other hand, frequently adopt indirect strategies, (Olshtain & Cohen, 1983). Indonesian speakers
introducing phrases that convey their inability to exhibited explicit phrases like "maafkan saya,"
fulfill the request politely. reflecting their cultural inclination toward
This expanded dataset illustrates the politeness straightforward expressions of remorse. In
strategies employed by speakers of Indonesian and contrast, Malay speakers occasionally used less
Malay when refusing requests. These linguistic direct language, such as "saya minta maaf jika ada
differences reflect cultural norms and the complex kesilapan," demonstrating a more subtle approach.
interplay between language and culture in the These findings align with theoretical frameworks
context of refusals, offering valuable insights for like Brown & Levinson, theory (2011) and Grice's
intercultural communication and competence. maxims (1975), which posit that language usage is
The findings regarding requests in both influenced by cultural norms. This study further
Indonesian and Malay resonate with established supports these theories by highlighting the
research that underscores the cultural inclination nuanced relationship between culture and
towards politeness in intercultural language in the articulation of apologies in
communication, as proposed by Brown and intercultural contexts.
Levinson's politeness theory (1987). In this study, Meanwhile in term of Compliments: Cultural
participants from both linguistic backgrounds Expressions of Admiration, the analysis of
consistently demonstrated a preference for indirect compliments in both languages revealed intriguing
strategies when making requests. This preference differences, reminiscent of studies on
reflects the cultural value placed on maintaining compliments and humility Indonesian
politeness and avoiding direct imposition, a compliments often featured straightforward
concept that has been widely observed in various phrases, while Malay speakers introduced a subtle
cultural and linguistic contexts. tone of humility into their expressions. These
These observations align with the work of nuances reflect cultural variations in expressing
Blum-Kulka et al. (1989), who argued that admiration and humility within speech acts.
indirectness in requests serves as a universal The theoretical underpinnings of these findings
politeness strategy. It suggests that, irrespective of can be linked to Levinson (1987) which posits that

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Volume 11, Issue 3, October 2023 https://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

politeness strategies are employed to mitigate communities. This echoes the universality of
face-threatening acts. In this context, the Malay politeness strategies in intercultural
speakers' use of more nuanced compliments can be communication, in line with Brown and
seen as an attempt to uphold politeness norms by Levinson's politeness theory. However, the
mitigating potential threats to the compliment research adds a unique dimension by highlighting
receiver's face. the commonality between Indonesian and Malay
Furthermore, in term of Refusals: Politeness speakers, transcending linguistic differences.
Strategies in Cross-Linguistic Contexts, this study Furthermore, the exploration of apologies
highlighted cross-linguistic differences in refusal revealed intriguing linguistic distinctions. While
strategies, with Malay speakers frequently Indonesian speakers leaned towards explicit
employing indirect strategies while Indonesian expressions of regret, Malay speakers employed
speakers were more direct. These observations more subtle language, reflecting the complexity of
align with previous studies on refusals (Beebe et cultural expressions of remorse.
al., 1990) and politeness strategies Levinson Compliments, too, unveiled differences, with
(1987), which suggest that politeness strategies Indonesian speakers favoring direct expressions of
can vary across cultures. admiration and Malay speakers adopting a
Theoretical frameworks such as Brown & nuanced approach. These observations
Levinson (2011) and Searle's speech act theory emphasized the role of language in shaping
(1969) provide insights into the cultural and cultural expressions of admiration.
linguistic nuances observed in this data. They Refusals demonstrated a stark cross-linguistic
emphasize the role of culture and language in contrast, with Malay speakers often utilizing
shaping speech acts, shedding light on the indirect strategies while Indonesian speakers
differences we observed in refusal strategies. favored a more direct approach. This finding
While this study provides valuable insights into underscored the intricacies of language and culture
the interplay between culture, language, and in the realm of refusals.
speech acts in intercultural communication, it is This research, conducted in naturalistic
not without limitations. One limitation is the focus settings, presented an authentic backdrop for
on Indonesian and Malay, which are just two of understanding speech act usage in intercultural
many languages spoken in diverse cultural communication. By observing speech acts as they
contexts. Future research could expand this naturally occurred in workplaces, educational
investigation to include a broader range of institutions, and everyday social contexts, the data
languages and cultures to provide a more gained valuable insights into the real-world
comprehensive understanding of intercultural dynamics of intercultural interactions.
communication. In sum, this study contributes to the growing
Additionally, this study primarily relied on body of literature on cross-linguistic and cross-
observational field study and interviews, which cultural aspects of speech act pragmatics. It
may have limitations in capturing all aspects of highlights the significance of considering both
speech act usage. Future research could linguistic diversity and cultural norms in
incorporate experimental methods or larger-scale understanding and enhancing intercultural
surveys to complement the qualitative data communication. The trans-cultural thread of
gathered in this study. politeness and respect that uncovered calls for
continued exploration in diverse linguistic and
CONCLUSION cultural contexts. As we conclude this research, we
This research has delved into the intricate world of acknowledge its limitations and encourage further
speech acts in intercultural communication, investigations by future researchers, aiming to
focusing on the fascinating interplay between deepen our understanding of the intricate world of
language, culture, and politeness strategies within speech acts and intercultural communication.
the contexts of Indonesian and Malay. Through a
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