Directive Dominance in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Business Conversation: A Pragmatic Classroom Interaction Study

Nova Jayanti   Harahap; Usmala Dewi   Siregar; Meisa Fitri   Nasution; Iis   Aprianti; Abdurahman  Abdurahman

doi:10.31849/m6yhv167

Authors

Nova Jayanti Harahap Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia
Usmala Dewi Siregar Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.
Meisa Fitri Nasution Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.
Iis Aprianti Universitas Timor, Kefamenanu, Indonesia
Abdurahman Abdurahman Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31849/m6yhv167

Keywords:

Directive dominance, Speech acts, Pragmatic competence, EFL classroom, English for Specific Purposes

Abstract

Classroom interaction in professional English learning is not merely a medium of instruction but a crucial site where learners’ pragmatic competence is shaped, restricted, or expanded. However, previous studies on speech acts in EFL contexts have largely emphasized general classroom discourse, while limited attention has been given to Business Conversation classes in which management students are expected to perform context-sensitive professional functions such as negotiating, offering, agreeing, refusing, and committing. This study investigates the types, distribution, and communicative functions of speech acts in an EFL Business Conversation classroom involving 35 second-semester Management students. Using a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected through classroom observation, audio/video recording, and verbatim transcription of classroom interaction. The utterances were analyzed using Searle’s speech act taxonomy, covering assertive, directive, expressive, commissive, and declarative categories, followed by functional and contextual interpretation. The findings reveal that directive speech acts were dominant, representing 43.8% of the 210 analyzed utterances, followed by assertive (32.4%), expressive (13.3%), commissive (9.5%), and declarative (1%). This pattern indicates that classroom interaction remained strongly lecturer-controlled despite the use of communicative learning activities. The limited occurrence of commissive and expressive acts further suggests that students had insufficient opportunities to practice strategic and relational language functions required in business communication. The originality of this study lies in connecting pragmatic speech-act analysis with ESP-oriented Business Conversation pedagogy, offering empirical evidence for redesigning classroom interaction to support more authentic, student-centered, and professionally

Author Biographies

Nova Jayanti Harahap, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia

Nova Jaynati Harahap is an English lecturer at University of Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra, Indonesia. She completed her Master’s degree in Linguistics at University of North Sumatera. Her academic interests include pragmatics, discourse analysis, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), and business communication. Her research interests also include the implementation of communicative approaches in English language teaching to support students’ academic and professional communication skills.
Usmala Dewi Siregar, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.

Usmala Dewi is a lecturer in English language teaching and Business Conversation at University of Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra, Indonesia. She obtained her Master’s degree in Linguistics from University of North Sumatera. Her academic and research interests are centered on applied linguistics and pragmatics.
Meisa Fitri Nasution, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.

Meisa Fitri Nasution is an English lecturer whose academic background is in Applied Linguistics. She earned her Master’s degree from Universitas Negeri Medan. Her scholarly interests include language teaching methodology, applied pragmatics, classroom discourse, and English communication skills in higher education contexts.
Iis Aprianti, Universitas Timor, Kefamenanu, Indonesia

Iis Aprianti is a lecturer at Universitas Timor, Indonesia. She completed her Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at Universitas Negeri Medan. Her academic interests cover English language education, discourse analysis, pragmatics, and communicative interaction in EFL classrooms.
Abdurahman Abdurahman, Universitas Labuhanbatu, Labuhanbatu, Indonesia.

Abdurahman is an undergraduate student in the Management Study Program at Universitas Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra, Indonesia. His academic interests include business communication, interpersonal interaction, and the use of English in professional environments. He is also interested in exploring how communication skills can support managerial competence and workplace readiness among university students.

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