Intercultural Communication Adaptation Between Sundanese and Buginese Lecturers in Palu City

This study aims to analyze the adaptation processes and inhibiting factors in the intercultural communication between Sundanese and Buginese ethnic lecturers at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Tadulako University. A qualitative method was employed, utilizing interviews and field observations for data collection. Informants were selected through purposive sampling, involving four participants. The findings reveal two distinct phases in the adaptation process of Sundanese lecturers engaging with their Buginese counterparts: the arrival phase and the integration phase. The arrival phase marks the initial presence of Sundanese lecturers in the faculty, during which they begin to observe, learn, and interact with Buginese colleagues. The integration phase is characterized by more active adaptation, including linguistic, culinary, and behavioral assimilation into the Buginese cultural environment. The primary communication barrier encountered during these phases is the difference in speech intonation patterns Sundanese tend to communicate in a softer tone, whereas Buginese speakers often use a more neutral or high-pitched tone, which may create tension or misunderstandings during the adaptation process.