Phatic Preferences in Everyday Communication: A Survey of Foreign Workers Learning Indonesian

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-394-8_39How to use a DOI?

Keywords

phatic; BIPA learners; foreign workers; Indonesian

Abstract

This study explores the preference for phatic expressions in everyday communication among foreign workers learning the Indonesian language. Why phatic expressions? Because they contain cultural elements that represent a particular utterance, they are important for BIPA (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers) learners to understand. Phatic expressions, as an essential element of social interaction, are often used to initiate, maintain, close, or ensure smooth communication. Although phatic expressions are universal, their selection can vary depending on the cultural and linguistic context in use. This research employs a qualitative method with in-depth interviews and participatory observations of 14 foreign workers from diverse backgrounds currently working in Indonesia. The results indicate that foreign workers tend to choose phatic expressions frequently heard from native speakers, such as “gimanaya ya,” “boleh dong,” “terima kasih ya,” “apa kabar?” and “selamat pagi.” However, they often struggle to adjust the use of these phatic expressions to the appropriate social context. The findings show that there are phatic expressions that are well-known, moderately known, and less known by BIPA learners. Additionally, there are mistakes in the use of phatic expressions by BIPA learners, including inappropriate timing, mismatch with the level of formality, misunderstanding of phatic meanings, failure to use phatic expressions, and excessive use of phatic expressions. These findings not only provide insights into the dynamics of cross-cultural interaction but also highlight the importance of a deeper understanding of the function of phatic expressions in language learning. The implications of this study can aid in developing more effective Indonesian language training programs for foreign workers, helping them avoid mistakes in everyday communication and preventing misunderstandings with native Indonesian speakers.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Sariah
AU  - Ade Mulyanah
AU  - Rini Widiastuti
AU  - Sang Ayu Putu Eny Parwati
AU  - Exti Budihastuti
AU  - Emma Maemunah
AU  - Ratnawati
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/19
TI  - Phatic Preferences in Everyday Communication: A Survey of Foreign Workers Learning Indonesian
BT  - Proceedings of The 5th International Conference on Linguistics and Cultural Studies 5 (ICLC-5 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 339
EP  - 348
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-394-8_39
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-394-8_39
ID  - 2025
ER  -