Abstract: This study examines the sociopragmatic functions of ostensible commissive speech acts in Saudi spoken Arabic, focusing on invitations and offers. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined participant observation and recall interviews, we analyzed 58 naturally occurring instances through the lenses of speech act theory, politeness theory, and the joint pretense model. The findings reveal eight core communicative functions: signaling... [...] Read more

Abstract: Refusing is a common speech act; nonetheless people from different cultural backgrounds employ different refusal strategies. The present study compares refusal strategies used between native speakers of Javanese in Indonesia and native speakers of British English in the United Kingdom. Empirical data were elicited by means of discourse completion tasks. The findings showed that Javanese and British native speakers favoured indirect refusal... [...] Read more

Abstract: For a long time, Maluku civilization has been heterogeneous. It can be seen in differences in ethnicity, beliefs, language, and culture, creating conflicts. This research intends to identify and resolve conflicts utilizing local wisdom, particularly regional language, and cultural viewpoints. It is a descriptive qualitative study that adopts an ethnolinguistic perspective to analyze data. Data was collected through participatory observation... [...] Read more

Abstract: Previous research has focused on the implementation of Development Planning Deliberation (DPD) as a tool to improve development communication among stakeholders, but few have explored this issue in the context of democratization in rural economies. Success in DPD is often determined by the capacity and competence of human resources in the government sector, public service, administration, and socioeconomic empowerment. This study examines the... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study examines the use of suggestion speech acts in Instagram comments, with particular attention to how Saudi EFL users demonstrate pragmatic competence in digital communication. Drawing on Martínez Flor’s taxonomy of suggestion strategies, the study analyzes 103 suggestion-oriented comments selected from an initial dataset of 150 Instagram comments. A mixed-methods design was adopted: qualitative analysis was used to classify... [...] Read more

Abstract: China is a culturally diverse country with a significant population of ethnic minority groups. In recent years, the government has emphasized tourism as a strategic tool for fostering education and entrepreneurial awareness, particularly among Generation Z. This study aims to investigate the extent to which liberal arts courses influence students’ multicultural attitudes and entrepreneurial motivation in the tourism sector. The research... [...] Read more

Abstract: The primary objective of any Business English course is to equip learners with the communicative competence required for professional environments. Accordingly, this study aimed to design and evaluate a technology-enhanced educational intervention to improve Business English proficiency among undergraduate economics students. Employing an action research methodology, the study was supported by post-tests, student surveys, and descriptive... [...] Read more

Abstract: Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese ( N =250) rated 57 random proposed conversation topics on a five-point scale (i.e., very good, good, neutral, bad, very bad) to a same-culture, same-sex school friend. Five factors emerge and are characterized as:  Familial Biographical Data ,  Skeletons in the Family Closet ,  Small Talk Topics ,  Personal Information Topics , and  Intimate Relations Topics . For the... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate a semantic knowledge graph (KG) and web application that ethically and effectively represents the ethnographic diversity of 375 ethnic groups across Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. Addressing the limitations of conventional Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS), the project integrates semantic web technologies with community-informed data to capture complex relationships... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study examines how Vietnamese postgraduate students interpret (im)politeness during clinical consultations with doctors in English-speaking countries. Drawing on narrative reflective reports from 14 Vietnamese university academics who completed their doctoral studies in TESOL and Applied Linguistics abroad, the research analyzes participants’ retrospective accounts of critical medical encounters in which they evaluated native... [...] Read more