DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/parole.v15i2.41-52

Evaluating Impoliteness in Refusals: A Cross-cultural Study on Pragmatic Perception between Javanese Learners of English and Native Speakers of English

Department of English Education, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Received: 19 Dec 2025; Revised: 1 Feb 2026; Accepted: 6 Feb 2026; Available online: 18 Feb 2026; Published: 2 Oct 2025.
Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 PAROLE: Journal of Linguistics and Education under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.

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Abstract
This research aimed to describe how Javanese Learners of English (JLE) perceive impoliteness in refusal speech acts compared to Native Speakers of English (NSE). This study employed a quantitative approach using a Written Discourse Completion Task (WDCT) instrument, which contained nine scenarios involving different social relationships. Forty JLEs and fifty-eight NSEs participated in this study. Each participant assessed the level of impoliteness using a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to examine differences in perception between the two groups. The results showed that JLE participants gave higher impoliteness scores in most situations, primarily when the refusal was expressed directly or challenged the social hierarchy. NSE participants gave higher scores when the refusal contained personal criticism or sarcastic tones. These findings suggest that a relationship-based approach to politeness characterizes JLE, whereas NSE is oriented toward an individual-based approach. The use of WDCT limited participants' emotional involvement; therefore, future research should utilize natural conversation data or simulated interactions to enhance emotional involvement.
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Keywords: impoliteness; refusal speech act; pragmatic comprehension; Javanese learners of English; cross-cultural pragmatics
Funding: Beasiswa Pendidikan Indonesia (BPI); Pusat Pembiayaan dan Asesmen Pendidikan Tinggi (PPAPT); Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek)

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Section: Research Article
Language : EN
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