Pragmatic Features in Market Interactions: A Case Study from Pasar Langsa

Abstract

This study investigates the pragmatic features that emerge in everyday interactions between sellers and buyers at Pasar Langsa, a traditional market in Aceh, Indonesia. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through direct observation and semi-structured interviews with selected participants. The analysis focused on identifying speech acts, politeness strategies, and context-dependent expressions commonly used in transactional exchanges. Findings indicate that pragmatic choices are strongly shaped by cultural values, social hierarchies, and situational demands within the market environment. Sellers often employ indirectness and honorific expressions to maintain harmony, while buyers rely on negotiation strategies that balance assertiveness with politeness. These patterns highlight how pragmatic competence operates dynamically in real-life communication outside formal educational settings. Beyond documenting local linguistic practices, this study provides pedagogical implications: insights from market interactions can serve as authentic materials for teaching pragmatics in English language classrooms. Incorporating such contextual data into learning modules allows students to better understand the link between language use, culture, and communication strategies. This research thus contributes both to the documentation of localized pragmatic features and to the development of contextually grounded teaching resources for language education.