“NICE SHOES!”- “THANKS”/ “IT’S CHEAP”: COMPLIMENT RESPONSES, CULTURAL OR SOMETHING ELSE?

Abstract

This study explores the nature of compliment responses (CR) in two distinct speech communities: Indonesian and Australian speakers. Complimenting and responding to compliments vary across cultures, and this research focuses on how cultural and societal norms influence these responses. Drawing on Hofstede's cultural dimensions, the study examines differences in the way compliments are acknowledged or rejected in both communities, specifically on two types of compliments: possession and appearance. A Discourse Completion Task (DCT) was administered to 20 university students—10 from Indonesia and 10 from Australia—capturing their responses to compliments from classmates, close friends, and lecturers. The study finds that both communities predominantly use the "Accept" strategy, with Australian speakers utilizing this strategy more frequently than Indonesian speakers. However, Indonesian speakers show a higher use of "Reject" and "Evade" strategies. The study also highlights cultural nuances, with Indonesian responses varying based on the relationship to the compliment giver, while Australian responses are more influenced by the type of compliment. The findings suggest that the degree of "Face Threatening Acts" (FTA) varies between the two communities, with Indonesian responses often reflecting a higher level of "negative face" threat. The research provides insights into cross-cultural politeness strategies and complements previous studies on compliment responses. Limitations include the small sample size and focus on only two types of compliments. Future studies could further explore the role of gender and age in shaping CR patterns across different communities.