Abstract
Effective communication relies not only on linguistic knowledge but also on pragmatic competence—the ability to perform speech acts appropriately across contexts and generations. This study examines complaint strategies among young and older speakers in two distinct cultures, exploring how age and cultural background influence the expression and mitigation of complaints. Drawing on cross-generational and cross-cultural pragmatics, the research investigates differences in linguistic forms, politeness strategies, and levels of directness employed by each group. Data were collected through discourse completion tasks, interviews, and authentic conversational analysis to identify patterns of variation in complaint behavior. Findings reveal that younger speakers tend to use more indirect and mitigated strategies influenced by globalized communication norms, while older speakers often favor more direct, culturally traditional expressions of dissatisfaction. The study highlights generational shifts in pragmatic behavior and underscores the need to consider age-related factors in intercultural communication research.
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