The Identity Construction Of Pragmatic Transfer

Using Pragmatic Transfer Theory as the theoretical framework, the present paper aims to discuss the issue of identity construction in intercultural communication through purposeful use of pragmatic transfer. Two speech events, self-introduction and compliment, were used as a channel to get through to the attitude people hold toward the use of pragmatic transfer as a means of identity construction in intercultural communication and the feasibility of using it in actual communication.Analysis has revealed that most subjects believed that pragmatic transfer could be an effective way in constructing cultural identity in intercultural communication, and it would also be helpful in building a more equalitarian model of communication and let our communication partner to understand our own culture. The major hinder to the acceptance of using pragmatic transfer as a means of identity construction in intercultural communication was the risk of being interpreted as an inadequate user of the target language. It was believed that remedy strategies could be used to diminish the potential negative effect, but it would require more language competence to handle the remedy strategies.The significance of using pragmatic transfer as an effective way of identity construction is it helps to build a more equal intercultural communication model in which both communication partners should try to understand and respect each other’s cultural and language use traditions...