THE ROLE OF DIRECTNESS LEVEL AND SOCIAL FACTORS IN THE REALIZATION OF COMPLAINING SPEECH ACT: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

This paper presents a cross-cultural study investigating the role of directness level and social factors in the realization of the complaining speech act. Complaining is a common communicative behavior used to express dissatisfaction or negative emotions. The degree of directness and the influence of cultural and social factors on the expression of complaints vary across cultures. This study aims to examine the interplay between directness level, cultural backgrounds, and social factors in the complaining speech act. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods. A diverse sample of participants from multiple cultural backgrounds was selected to capture variations in complaining strategies across cultures. Data collection involved elicitation tasks, interviews, and surveys, enabling a comprehensive exploration of participants' perceptions, attitudes, and preferences in complaining situations. The implications of the findings have practical relevance for intercultural communication, language teaching, and multicultural settings. Understanding the dynamics of complaining speech acts can enhance cross-cultural understanding, facilitate effective communication, and promote intercultural competence