Studies in Learning and Teaching
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): August (Article in Progress)

Analysis of Politeness in Bilingual Indonesian–English Language Use in Elementary School Environments

Ricky Setiawan (Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia)
Wahyu Sukartiningsih (Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia)
Ulhaq Zuhdi (Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia)
Bambang Edi Siswanto (Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia)
Donne Jone Panizales Sodusta (Division of Professional Education, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Philippines)
Zeni Zakia Zamania (Department of Elementary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jul 2026

Abstract

In elementary schools, the use of Indonesian and English not only serves as communication but also reflects the norms of politeness in social interactions. This study aims to describe the practice of politeness principles in Indonesian and English, as well as to analyze the level of politeness based on Brown and Levinson's scale in learning interactions in bilingual elementary schools, an area that has not been previously explored. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data in the form of speech acts recorded during observations in the 5th grade of one of the elementary schools in Surabaya. Data were collected through listening, recording, and note-taking techniques. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis through the process of coding, categorization, and identification of language politeness patterns. Data validity was ensured through source triangulation, method triangulation, and member checking. The results showed that bilingual interactions were dominated by the directness and positive politeness strategies. Negative politeness and off-record strategies appear with limited frequency, especially when the level of stress is high or when teachers want to avoid direct criticism. These results suggest that politeness practices in bilingual classrooms are a balance between the need to foster a supportive learning atmosphere and hierarchical demands.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

SiLeT

Publisher

Subject

Education Other

Description

SiLeT: Studies in Learning and Teaching is an internationally recognized journal in the field of education (Learning and Teaching) and is published three times a year (in April, August, and December). The aim of this journal is to publish high-quality studies in the areas of learning, teaching, ...