No=Yes or Yes=No? Strategies in Responding to an Offer/Invitation Among Indonesians

The present article discusses strategies in refusing/accepting an offer/invitation. It draws on two studies involving Indonesians within the physical settings of Australia and Indonesia. Whilst the subjects in the first study were 11 Indonesians consisting of three East Javanese, four West Javanese, an Acehnese, a Papuan, and two Makassarese, those in the second study were 19 East Javanese. The analysis shows that an Indonesian hearer (H) tends to delay a refusal or acceptance until the second, third, or another offer/invitation is made and when a refusal or acceptance is made, which denotes a ‘face-threatening’ act, an Indonesian H tends to use mitigating strategies. White lies, with the characteristic of indirectness, are the main strategy used by Indonesians in responding to an offer/invitation. Directions for future research conclude the article.