Abstract: This essay focuses on analyzing pragmatic failures in cross-cultural communication. It contains the definition of pragmatic failure and classification of pragmatic failure in cross-cultural communication. The two categories are pragmalinguistic failure and sociopragmatic failure. The description of the two terms are also given. The essay cites some examples to describe the phenomenon of pragmatic failure and analyze the causes. The analysis is carried out from the following aspects: the influence of the cultural background, negative transfer, insufficient or improper teaching. At last, the essay offers some suggestions on overcoming pragmatic failure. 

Key Words : pragmalinguistic failure; sociopragmatic failure; negative transfer; causes of pragmatic failure; tactics

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review... 1

3. Classification of Pragmatic Failure.. . 2

  3.1 Pragmalinguistic Failure

  3.2 Sociopragmatic Failure

4. Causes of Pragmatic Failure . .4

4.1 The influence of cultural differences

   4.1.1 Mode of thinking

   4.1.2 Different social values

   4.1.3 Different social customs 

4.2 Negative transfer

4.3 Insufficient or improper teaching

4.4 Stereotyping or over-generalization

4.5 Weak context awareness

4.6 Different non-verbal behaviors

5.Strategies for overcoming pragmatic failure..  10

5.1 The application of pragmatic strategies

5.2 Cultivating learners’ communicative competence

5.3 Increasing empathy

6. Conclusion  11

Bibliography  .12

Acknowledgements  ..13