Pragmatics in Intercultural Communication: A Theoretical Review in the Gorontalo Contexts
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Abstract
Intercultural communication is a crucial phenomenon in the era of globalization, where encounters among individuals from different cultural backgrounds demand high pragmatic sensitivity. In this context, pragmatics serves to understand how meanings are constructed, negotiated, and potentially misunderstood when systems of value and communicative norms differ. This article examines the relationship between major pragmatic theories particularly politeness theory, speech act theory, and conversational implicature and communicative practices among the Gorontalo people, rooted in the principle of “adat bersendikan syara’, syara’ bersendikan Kitabullah”. Local values such as motombilu opi-opiyo (speaking carefully) and modaha hurumati lo leembo'a (preserving communal honor) shape communication norms emphasizing social harmony and respect for hierarchy. Through a conceptual literature approach and ethnopragmatic reflection, this study demonstrates that Western pragmatic theories can be enriched through integration with local cultural values. These findings expand the cross-cultural horizon of pragmatics and offer a communication model grounded in the collective ethics of the Indonesian cultural context.
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References
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