外语论文

Abstract: \"pragmatic failure” was first proposed by an English

Key words: pragmatics; language pragmatics; social pragmatic failure in trans-cultural communication

一Definition and classification of pragmatic failure

Pragmatic failure by United Kingdom linguist Thomas and cross-cultural pragmatic failure in 1983 in the first proposed in the article. She thought that if obedient people perceive words and the speaker wishes to express the meaning or significance that should be obedient people perceive different pragmatic failure. Native language and its harm are caused by misunderstanding between the foreign language learners, destruction of the communication between people, and harmonious interpersonal relationships became strained. Thomas of pragmatic failures rather than pragmatic errors, is \"because such errors are not from syntax errors and other aspects of the problem of the language itself, is not a grammar error and cause the inarticulate; this kind of pragmatic failure in the main due to manner of speaking is nothing wrong, or does not conform to the habits of expression, or put it out\".

Thomas the pragmatic failures is divided into two categories: language and pragmatic failures in social pragmatic failure. The former involves language itself, associated with the interference of mother tongue in foreign language learning, this kind of pragmatic failures remain at the language level, which can be corrected and avoided by teaching. Social pragmatic failure is caused because of the different cultural backgrounds, which involved the stresses; that shouldn't be told; interpersonal distance and value. It belongs to the pragmatic failure of deep 二 pragmatic failure of language

People use language is always context with appropriate European and strive to accurately express words of intent. When an English for English learners say does not meet the English language of this people, misuse of the English expression; or don't know the correct English expression, nest the mother tongue language into English when, language pragmatic failure can occur. Language is because people on the structure of language and pragmatic failures caused by different interpretations of, and sentence structure and connotations of words, and other language features. (1) Two levels of language and pragmatic failure

Semantics research of cognitive significance is the statement of significance, is not affected by the context of meaning. Pragmatic study on significance, but it is in the study of the significance of the words, is can only be determined in the context of significance. Statement to determine how it should be understood in the context of application and pragmatics is the study of the content. Semantic rules can help us know that the cognitive meaning of the statement can help us to understand the principles of Pragmatics:

1. Words in the specific context and the significance of the coverage (speaker of the first level of meaning).

2. Speaking of \"implication\" (speaker of the second layer).

At the primary level, principles of pragmatics, particularly maxim of relevance

helps people understand the contextual meaning of words; in the second level, pragmatic principle enables people to understand the speaker's \"implication\criticism, praise, compassion, mercy, and so on.

when people wording improper, or using has ambiguity words, makes obedient people misunderstanding has talk people in specific conditions Xia of discourse significance and by means range, on will led to first level of language pragmatic errors; When the obedient people misunderstand the speaker to express the \"implication”, or talk people discourse of \"implication\" no expression clearly will appears second level of language pragmatic errors. These two dimensions of linguistic pragmatic errors are related to the language itself. Talking people think on the one hand they say obedient to fully understand and obedient people just misunderstand the intent of the speaker, the pragmatic judgment errors made. Example One: first language on the level of pragmatic failure

A(to a fellow passenger on a long –distance coach):“Ask the driver what time we get to Beijing.”

B(to driver):“Could you tell me when we get to the Beijing, please?

C(driver):“Don’t worry ,it’s a big city –I don’t think it’s possible to miss it!”

In this example, “when” the usage and meaning of the word is key to understanding the sentence. On one hand \"when\" can be pronoun, Means \"what time\". In addition, it can also be made subordinate conjunctions, Boot time clauses. Bus passenger who wants to understand Beijing's time, so passengers what B said, \"When\" as a pronoun refers to \"what time\ But the driver make the \"when\" as a subordinate conjunctions. Has no information to provide him with what he wanted Case II: second level of linguistic pragmatic errors A：“Is this coffee sugared?” B：“I don’t think so. Does it taste as if it is?”

In this example B thought A Just give the “ask”, he want to know if “coffee flavor”? But in fact A wanted to express implication is to“blame”, It means that “you forgot to put sugar in coffee as usual.” If B correct understanding A, He should apologize and to get the sugar. But it was clear that he had misunderstood the A’s“implication”. The two aspects are intimately connected. If the Hearer misunderstood the words of the speaker, suffered the first level of linguistic pragmatic errors, He is unable to understand the speaker's meaning. (二) Origin of Pragmatic Failures

Pragma-linguistic failure may come from two aspects: teaching-induced errors and Parma-linguistic transfer. Linguistic Pragmatic Tranter means Language policy from a first language to a second language or Inappropriate transfer of native language to the target language. Some in the native language and target language expressions, their words and Structure may be equivalence but the same meaning results in different explanations. Foreign language learners make the Mother tongue for a word or structure will cause on your form to a foreign language linguistic pragmatic errors.

Inappropriate language will lead to linguistic pragmatic failure. Teaching materials in the teaching of some inappropriate content and Incorrect teaching and training in the classroom will increase the likelihood of pragmatic failure.

For example: A:“How are you marry?”

B:“I am fine, Thank you. And you?”

People learn English must be very familiar with the sentence，It often appears in middle school textbooks. Teacher asked everyone in class to remember this sentence and teach students to use it to answer other greetings. For Western greetings, we always use the same words to answer. In fact, Westerners in everyday conversation, they do not always follow the sentence, they always complain when they greet their Chinese friends“How are you?”, Always get answered “I’m fine, thank you. And you?” Therefore, English learners should according to the pragmatic approach to the actual needs and choose the best answer or only one sentence is enough “I’m fine.” From the perspective of conversational implicative, Abuse full sentence violated the principles of cooperation \"quantity\" maxim, Ignore full sentences possible indirect expression of intention; it may be leads to bad communication effects. For example: A:“Have you bought hat?” B：“Yes, I have bought my hat.”

After this answer section repeating the question words, Is clearly a surplus of information, Due to the violation of cooperative principle, when people hear the words he wanted to know the meaning of its pragmatic meaning, Misconception that answers people are impatient.

The strategies of migrating from a first language to a second language is not appropriate is the important language causes of the pragmatic failure. For English learners in China it is point the strategies of Language strategies from Chinese to English not appropriate for migration. Speech act theory is that indirectly requested better than a direct request. There is difference between East and West. When you request Chinese people often use direct speech act policy but Westerners used to indirectly. When a request the Chinese people often say:“Please help me…..” If a literal

translation into English, this sentence is“Please help me to do….” This expression in the West sound impolite. Their sentence requests are often used is“Would you please….”

In the Chinese often use“of course” for asking to be sure. It is equivalent to“Yes ,indeed.” Or“Yes, certainly.”

For example: A:“Are you coming to my home?” B：“of course” In the English language

However,“of course” cannot be misused to positive, sometimes use“of course” and “Yes ,indeed.” The meaning is different. In the English language“of course” means that the speaker said we all understand. In communication if use it to answer the real question, its subtext can cause bad manners.

For example: A:“Is this hotel open on Saturday?”

B：“of course”

In this case, B’s answer in the West sound means“What a stupid question!

In English we can in a variety of forms of expression in Chinese meaning but the number of English learners can't each expression of different occasions, often appear the pragmatic failure.

For example: Lily:“Can you come to dinner with me tonight?”

We felt that a Chinese word“can”or “could” pragmatic equivalence in English

are “can” but When you invite someone the best appropriate is“Could you …..”“Would you like……”

Case II : Alice“Perhaps you could read through this by Friday .”

In this case use the“Perhaps you could….”, Indicates that the request is not appropriate. In fact, it does not mean that “requests” but that require the other party to accept, generally used for elders to younger, the teacher can speak to student:“Perhaps you could read through this by Friday .” But when you request mentor approval papers for students，It should be said that“Could you possible read through this by Friday?”

(三)Social pragmatic failure

If the linguistic pragmatic errors are due to language barriers, Social language errors are caused by different cultural background of both the talk as a result of differences in social norms. Social pragmatic failure is a significant cause of failure in cross-cultural communication. To reduce the social pragmatic failure, we should pay attention to the following two aspects of intercultural communication:“What to say” and “How to say” . (一) What to say

Eastern and Western cultural differences led to a pragmatic approach to language differences. Westerners focus on privacy and they believe that some taboos of the things that do not ask. Therefore to avoid in social terms failure in cross-cultural communication English learners must be attention to taboos

On the topic of which was free to talk in different cultures, there are a lot of differences. As Lakoff says:“Obviously some topics that people can talk about and others things none of your business”——[3]27. What is related to your content? Different country different cultures and different societies have different judgment. English people think in daily interaction directly ask someone's age, income, marital status and other information is a violation of privacy. Because those questions are not related to content, But in Chinese daily conversations these topics are often covered. The Chinese people have been a spirit of unity and fraternity a long time. People living near and they have a lot of opportunity to help each other. In China expressed some

concerns are being accepted .But In Western countries when people do not want to do anything or do not want to participate in some activities, would be deliberately vague, To avoid people asking questions.

For example: If a foreign friend said:“I’m going out.” Then don't ask where he went. If he said:“I have an appointment.” And if you ask what dating is not appropriate. Similarly, if a woman said:“I have a headache.” Others don't worry，Don't ask what uncomfortable, If she is so uncomfortable, she will tell you. Although we always stressed and some of the topics you should anodize, in cross-cultural communication some topics can be talked about and some of the topics you should avoid but it does not mean that we can only with English people talking about the weather, hobbies, and sports. Some English learners with Western people meet for the first time they usually talk about in the following issues of starting a conversation. “Where are you from?”,“Is this your first time to come to China?”,“How long have you been in China?” Or “What do you think of China?” These topics make you feel

boring. Some Westerners like personal style don't like programming they think you are not in good faith. Therefore, depending on the object we are talking the topic should be

change.

(二) How to say

Which is the right to talk, the East and West have different opinion?

In order to better communication people must follow some basic principles of pragmatics. Due to differences in culture between East and West

For example: They will respond differently in the East and West. When people praise you Chinese people always deny, their compliance is politeness principle. When an American praise for Chinese students:“You speak English fluently.” They will say:“No my English is poor.” Or “No not at all.” but Westerners on this occasion will be accepted. They will say:“Thank you for your compliment.” Or“Thank you ,I’ve a very good English teacher.” Their compliance with the guidelines is agreement maxim. If English learners can’t attention to the differences they will be pragmatic failure in cross-cultural communication.

Mistakes in social terms in the talking sense this is caused by different cultural background.