Expressive Speech Acts in Intercultural Communication in Nursing: A Case Study in Indonesia

Gabriel Fredi Daar; Ni Wayan Sukraini; Ni Luh Ketut Mas Indrawati; Ni Made Suryati; Ni Nyoman Suastini; Ida Ayu Made Puspani

doi:10.35516/Hum.2026.10340

Authors

Gabriel Fredi Daar Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng, Ruteng, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6367-7850 (unauthenticated)
Ni Wayan Sukraini Faculty of Cultural Studies, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7349-6671 (unauthenticated)
Ni Luh Ketut Mas Indrawati Faculty of Cultural Studies, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7791-7317 (unauthenticated)
Ni Made Suryati Faculty of Cultural Studies, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4581-2921 (unauthenticated)
Ni Nyoman Suastini Faculty of Cultural Studies, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1864-6040 (unauthenticated)
Ida Ayu Made Puspani Faculty of Cultural Studies, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0707-565X (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.10340

Keywords:

Expressive speech acts, intercultural communication, nursing services.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to determine how expressive speech acts are used in intercultural communication in nursing services communication. It’s necessary to discuss since intercultural communication skill has become one of the competencies that a professional nurse should possess in order to communicate effectively with people of different cultural backgrounds.

Results: The study found that speech acts of apology and speech acts of thanking are implemented differently from one culture to another. The speech act of apology is mostly

Methods:. The study was conducted qualitatively with a case study approach. It was conducted at the Nursing Department Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng and one International Hospital in Labuan Bajo Flores, Indonesia. Data were gained through interviews, FGD and observation. There were 18 Informants in the study, taken purposively. They were taken from different groups, including ten nurse students, four nursing lecturers, 2 English language teachers, one hospital director, and the nursing department head. used to refine the language used in patient communication. Furthermore, speech acts of thanking are rarely used in mental health nursing for certain reasons. Speech acts of compliment are used for two purposes; compliment for ability and compliment for appearance. The speech act of compliment supports and fosters the patient's healing process.

Conclusions: The study concluded that speech acts of thanking, compliment and apology are the three kinds of expressive speech acts used in intercultural communication in the context of nursing services in Flores, Indonesia. These speech acts are dominantly used based on the consideration that expressive speech acts in nursing services are oriented to promote illocutionary power that can help improve the patients health process.

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Expressive Speech Acts in Intercultural Communication in Nursing: A Case Study in Indonesia

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