Group Communication in Work-related Instant Messaging (IM): Request Strategies Among Adult Malay Speakers of English.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Group Communication in Work-related Instant Messaging (IM): Request Strategies Among Adult Malay Speakers of English.
Authors:	NOOR, PETANI MOHD¹ petanimohdnoor@gmail.com, ABU BAKAR, KESUMAWATI¹, AMZAH, NORMALIS¹, MAROS, MARLYNA¹
Source:	3L: Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies. Mar2026, Vol. 32 Issue 1, p314-332. 19p.
Subject Terms:	Communication strategies, Business communication, Instant messaging, Telematics, English language, Malay language, Intergroup communication
Geographic Terms:	Malaysia
Abstract:	A large majority of Malaysia's 34.9 million online users are active online communication participants, making offline communication progressively obsolete. This high penetration figure allows online communication apps to be unlocked countless times a day, as thousands of text messages are sent regularly by online users. Nevertheless, unlike offline communication, online communication, like instant messaging (IM), does not normally transmit non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, touches, or voices as they are primarily text-based. As a result, it takes more time and effort for users to understand one another in order to make up for the lack of non-verbal cues. Our study focused on analysing material and non-material want requests used by adult Malay speakers of English in IM contexts related to work. We categorised these requests into directness, conventional indirectness, and non-conventional indirectness, employing a modified version of Hassall's (1999) analytical framework for request classifications. The results disclosed that participants preferred directness more than indirectness when making requests. The direct strategy within the imperative sub-strategy was favoured the most when non-material want requests (such as asking other participants to join online meetings) were performed. Nevertheless, when material want requests (like wanting to buy food containers) were carried out, the direct strategy under the want statement sub-strategy emerged as the most preferred method. Our research revealed that in IM, where non-verbal cues were insufficient, directness was predominantly adopted to convey certainty, clarity, and efficacy, implying directness as non-imposed. Hence, it is suggested to make work-related IM requests directly, as it allows speakers to present requests clearly, which subsequently creates quality relationships and maintains productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of 3L: Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies is the property of 3L: Language, Linguistics, Literature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	A large majority of Malaysia's 34.9 million online users are active online communication participants, making offline communication progressively obsolete. This high penetration figure allows online communication apps to be unlocked countless times a day, as thousands of text messages are sent regularly by online users. Nevertheless, unlike offline communication, online communication, like instant messaging (IM), does not normally transmit non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, touches, or voices as they are primarily text-based. As a result, it takes more time and effort for users to understand one another in order to make up for the lack of non-verbal cues. Our study focused on analysing material and non-material want requests used by adult Malay speakers of English in IM contexts related to work. We categorised these requests into directness, conventional indirectness, and non-conventional indirectness, employing a modified version of Hassall's (1999) analytical framework for request classifications. The results disclosed that participants preferred directness more than indirectness when making requests. The direct strategy within the imperative sub-strategy was favoured the most when non-material want requests (such as asking other participants to join online meetings) were performed. Nevertheless, when material want requests (like wanting to buy food containers) were carried out, the direct strategy under the want statement sub-strategy emerged as the most preferred method. Our research revealed that in IM, where non-verbal cues were insufficient, directness was predominantly adopted to convey certainty, clarity, and efficacy, implying directness as non-imposed. Hence, it is suggested to make work-related IM requests directly, as it allows speakers to present requests clearly, which subsequently creates quality relationships and maintains productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	01285157
DOI:	10.17576/3L-2026-3201-20