A Study Of Socio-Pragmatic Failure In Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication develops with human's history for a long time, but as a subject it only emerged several decades ago. Different ways of language and culture lead to communicative failure in intercultural communication. The pragmatic failure aroused many scholars' interests and a lot of researches have been conducted on this issue from different perspectives. According to Thomas, there are two types of pragmatic failure. One is pragma-linguistic failure and the other is socio-pragmatic failure. The former is language-specific. It can be taught as part of grammar. As the reflection of the deeper socio-cultural differences, the latter is a far more delicate matter. This thesis will focus on socio-pragmatic failure in intercultural communication between Chinese and Americans.This thesis attempts to make an analysis of the sources of socio-pragmatic failure and puts forward three effective strategies to avoid it. Language is a part of culture. In order to have a better understanding of socio-pragmatic failure, this thesis makes a contrast between cultures of America and China. Many scholars hold that geography, history and religion have their influence on its culture in varying degree. Differences in the above three aspects result in unlikeness in value system and in thought patterns between America and China. This is the deep reason for socio-pragmatic failure.Based on cultural differences, the thesis made further analysis of socio-pragmatic failure by application of Kasper's pragmatic transfer theory. He holds there are two types of pragmatic transfer based on the content of transfer. One is pragma-linguistic transfer and the other is socio-pragmatic transfer, and the latter is the foci of this thesis. Socio-pragmatic transfer may bring positive and negative effects on intercultural communication. By analysis of examples of socio-pragmatic failure in intercultural communication between China and America, the conclusion that negative socio-pragmatic transfer results in the failure is drawn. Three strategies have been proposed to avoid socio-pragmatic failure at the end of this thesis.This thesis is composed of five chapters ending with a conclusion.Chapter One proposes the significance, content and methodology of this research. A related study of this issue at home and abroad is provided as well.Chapter Two covers the definition and complexities of intercultural communication. The concept of pragmatic failure and its classification are presented in the following part.Chapter Three makes an analysis of geography, history, and religion between China and America at first. A following contrastive analysis of value system and thought patterns is presented. Macro cultural difference is the root of socio-pragmatic failure.Chapter Four conducts a study of socio-pragmatic failure by application of Kasper's pragmatic transfer theory. By analysis of a lot of examples, a detailed study of socio-pragmatic failure occurring in value system and thinking patterns is provided. The author holds negative socio-pragmatic transfer is a source of socio-pragmatic failure.Chapter Five proposes three effective strategies to avoid socio-pragmatic failure. At last, the conclusion is given and reconsideration of this thesis is provided.