Direct and Indirect Compliment Responses: A Descriptive Qualitative Study among Indonesians and Americans

Abstract: Indonesians and Americans have the strategies to respond compliment which came from different culture. The aims of this research were addressing types disclosing direct indirect response used by compliments. data consist English Indonesian. was analyzed using qualitative method. Discourse Completion Test (DCT) questionnaire know differences between given Americans. result showed that (1) responded category Holmes (1986) classification responses (CRs) are three (accept, reject evade) among tended accept, evade giving some reasons. While categories saying, "thank you" due express openness receiving appreciation interlocutor. (2) existence culture plays an important role in responding towards compliments simple answers Meanwhile, prefer with because they leaning on principle known as saving face politeness.