Language as a Tool for Care: Unraveling the Directive Speech Acts in Nursing Communication

Authors

  • Gabriel Fredi Daar Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6367-7850
  • Fransiskus Jemadi Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng, Indonesia
  • Tobias Gunas Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18592/let.v15i2.17893

Keywords:

directive speech acts, language, nursing communication

Abstract

This study aims to explore types of directive speech acts used in nurse-patient communication and understand why particular speech acts are used within this context. The research was carried out at Nursing Department, Universitas Katolik Indonesian Santu Paulus Ruteng, Flores. The study involved 20 participants, 18 nursing students with hospital internship experience and two nursing lecturers. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and documents, then analysed using the interactive model by Miles et al. (2014). The results show that requesting speech acts are typically delivered in indirect and polite forms to maintain respect and patient autonomy. Recommending and advising speech acts are employed to encourage patients and families to make informed decisions regarding treatment and health behavior. These speech acts are crucial in fostering cooperation without imposing authority. It aligns with the principles of patient-centered care. Meanwhile, directing speech acts are used for both clinical instructions and logistical guidance within the hospital. It aims to show clarity and precision as an essential aspect for safety and efficiency. The study highlights that nurses tend to avoid direct commanding speech acts, opting instead for more polite and empathetic expressions. This approach supports the psychological comfort of patients while achieving effective communication. The appropriate and polite use of directive speech acts is essential in achieving successful health outcomes and enhancing the quality of nursing communication.

References

Abels, M., Kilale, A., & Vogt, P. (2021). Speech acts addressed to Hadza infants in Tanzania: Cross-cultural comparison, speaker age, and camp livelihood. First Language, 41(3), 294–313. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142723720972000

Al-Khatib, A. R., & Al-Khanji, R. R. (2022). A Socio-Pragmatic Analysis of the Speech Act of Advice in Selected Qur’anic Verses. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 12(6), 1157–1165. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1206.15

Alemi, M., & Khanlarzadeh, N. (2016). Pragmatic assessment of request speech act of Iranian EFL learners by non-native English speaking teachers. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 4(2), 19–34.

Anin, L. K., & Novitasari, F. N. (2015). the Analysis of Illocutionary Acts. Journal of Illocutionary Acts, 6(1st), 117–129. https://jurnal.unars.ac.id/artikel/2017-04-44-70-Jurnal Nine Pioneer 6.pdf

Arani, S. S. (2012). A study of directive speech acts used by Iranian nursery school children: The impact of context on children’s linguistic choices. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 1(5), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.7575/ijalel.v.1n.5p.163

Austin, J. L. (1962). How to Do Things with Words. In Oxford University Press (Vol. 23, p. 58). https://doi.org/10.2307/3326622

Ayman, U., & Kemal Kaya, A. (Eds). (2020). Promotion and Marketing Communications. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.83011

Azhari, A. S., Priono, -, & Nuriadi, -. (2018). Speech Acts of Classroom Interaction. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Culture, 4(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.21744/ijllc.v4i2.639

Bailey, S. (2004). Communicating with Vulnerable Children- a Guide for Practitioners. Psychiatric Bulletin, 28(11), 429–430. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1192/pb.28.11.429-a

Barzani, H. H. S. (2023). Production of advice speech act by non-native speakers of English: The case of Kurdish EFL learners. Arab World English Journal, 14(4), 66–79. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no4.4

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. In Cambridge University Press (Vol. 22, Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.2307/3587263

Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design; Choosing Among Five Approaches. In SAGE (Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9299.00177

Daar, G. F. (2023). The sociopragmatic study of speech acts in Go’et Ira in the We’e Mbaru cultural rite. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(2), 1084–1102. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v10i2.26545

Daar, G. F., Beratha, N. L. S., Suastra, I. M., & Sukarini, N. W. (2023). The off-record politeness strategy and cultural values of the Belis negotiation speech event: A Sociopragmatic study. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(3), 612–622. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v12i3.48746

Edward, E., & Hutahaean, S. (2018). Analisis Tindak Tutur Pidato Presiden Jokowi Pada APEC 2014 Di Cina. Jurnal Ilmu Budaya, 15(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.31849/jib.v15i1.2028

Halliday, M. A. K. (1978). Language as Social Semiotic: The Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning. Edward Arnold.

Hawley, S. T., & Morris, A. M. (2017). Cultural challenges to engaging patients in shared decision making. Patient Education and Counseling, 100(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.07.008

Holmes, J. (2013). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics 4th Edition. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.2307/416511

Hosni, H. R. (2020). Advice giving in Egyptian Arabic and American English: A cross-linguistic, cross-cultural study. Journal of Pragmatics, 155, 193–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2019.11.001

Hussein Hakeem Barzani, S. (2023). Production of Advice Speech Act by Non-Native Speakers of English: The Case of Kurdish EFL Learners. Arab World English Journal, 14(4), 66–79. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol14no4.4

Limberg, H. (2015). Principles for pragmatics teaching: Apologies in the EFL classroom. ELT Journal, 69(3), 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccv012

Miles, M. B., Huberman, M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publication. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.30.25.33.s40

Musriyono, A. A., & Saptono, S. (2018). Pragmatic Functions of Perlocutionary Act in F-3 Leveled Reading Book. Journal of Primary Education, 7(3), 348–355.

Pratama, D., Markhamah, Sabardila, A., & Wahyudi, A. B. (2022). Types of directive speech acts and prophetic values on Instagram account @Qomikin. Proceedings of the International Conference of Learning on Advance Education (ICOLAE 2021), 662(Icolae 2021), 671–676. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220503.066

Rhee, S. (2023). Politeness and impoliteness in social network service communication in Korea. Russian Journal of Linguistics, 27(1), 39–66. https://doi.org/10.22363/2687-0088-32031

Sari, D. N., & Utomo, A. P. Y. (2020). Directive speech act in President Joko Widodo’s speech related to handling coronavirus (Covid-19) in Indonesia (Pragmatic review). Journal of Social Studies (JSS), 16(1), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.21831/jss.v16i1.32072

Searle, J. R. (1979). Studies in the Theory of Speech Acts. Cambridge University Press.

Semiun, A. (2014). The Functions of Politeness Marker “IO” in Manggarai Language: Kempo Speech. Liceo Journal of Higher Education Research, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.7828/ljher.v9i1.411

Shappeck, M. (2004). Pragmatics: An Introduction (review). In Language (Vol. 80, Issue 1, pp. 183–184). https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.2004.0045

Sukarno. (2018). Politeness strategies, linguistic markers and social contexts in delivering requests in Javanese. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7(3), 659–667. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v7i3.9816

Suryanovika, C., & Julhijah, N. (2018). Directive Speech Acts and Hedges Presented by Female Main Characters of Jane Austen’s Novels. Lingua Cultura, 12(4), 345. https://doi.org/10.21512/lc.v12i4.4118

Taguchi, N. (2011). Teaching Pragmatics: Trends and Issues. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 31, 289–310. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1017/S0267190511000018

Terada, K., Okazoe, M., & Gratch, J. (2021). Effect of politeness strategies in dialogue on negotiation outcomes. Proceedings of the 21st ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2021, 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1145/3472306.3478336

Weigand, E. (2016). The Dialogic Principle Revisited: Speech Acts and Mental States. Culture and Society (Issue september, pp. 209–232). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12616-6

Widyastuti, W., & Sartika, E. (2023). Directive Speech Acts in Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. Journal of Pragmatics Research, 5(1), 59–84. https://doi.org/10.18326/jopr.v5i1.59-84

Wilson, L. D. (2023). Investigating the coverage of speech acts in Hong Kong ELT textbooks. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 20(1), 50–73. https://doi.org/10.56040/lmdw2014

Yazdanfar, S., & Bonyadi, A. (2016). Request Strategies in Everyday Interactions of Persian and English Speakers. SAGE Open, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016679473

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316779194.021

Yuniati, A., Fadhillah, S., & Annury, M. N. (2018). Directive Speech Acts in The Movie “The Message” By Moustapha Akkad. Vision: Journal for Language and Foreign Language Learning, 7(2), 80–95. https://doi.org/10.21580/vjv7i22803

Downloads

Published

2025-12-27

How to Cite

Daar, G. F., Jemadi, F. ., & Gunas, T. (2025). Language as a Tool for Care: Unraveling the Directive Speech Acts in Nursing Communication. LET: Linguistics, Literature and English Teaching Journal, 15(2), 310–332. https://doi.org/10.18592/let.v15i2.17893

Issue

Section

Articles