Paper Keywords: cross-cultural communication; Speech act; pragmatic failure
I. Introduction
We live in a world of words. We do it almost all the time? Speech act? The speech acts implemented are also varied. It's hard to imagine what our world would be like without speech acts. Austin and Searle's speech act theory has made great contributions to the investigation and study of language. To some extent, their speech act theory is sentence-centered. Speech acts will lead to differences in cultural patterns, regions, values, traditions and ways of thinking, which will bring difficulties to communication. It is very important for us to recognize these differences and improve our communication. When communicating with people in English-speaking countries, we always unconsciously use our own cultural norms, social norms and social language rules to judge and explain other people's speech acts. Therefore, pragmatic failure is inevitable.
Second, the theoretical framework of speech acts
Austin and Searle's speech act theory has made outstanding contributions to the development of language research. According to Austin's explanation, the speech act of discourse is realized simultaneously by three sub-acts: illocutionary act? Yact), illocutionary act (iuoctionaryact) ~ perlocutionaryac 0. Generally speaking, illocutionary acts refer to all meaningful words spoken by voice: illocutionary acts involve the speaker's intention, such as judgment, doubt, order, description, explanation, apology, thanks and congratulations. Speech act refers to the effect that the speaker has on the listener to make the listener happy, excited, angry, afraid and convinced. Urge each other to do something or give up the original plan, etc. It achieves the effect of speaking, that is, illocutionary act. In other words, illocutionary act is to express literal meaning by speaking. Illocutionary act is to express the speaker's intention through literal meaning. If the speaker's intention can be properly understood by the listener. It may bring results or changes, which is illocutionary act. However, the speaker's intention may not be understood by the listener, so the desired result did not happen. Communication will fail at this time.
Third, cultural differences and pragmatic failure
The study of pragmatic failure began with JennyThomas, who first put forward the word pragmatic failure in the article "Cross-cultural Pragmatic Failure" published in 1983, especially referring to the lack of understanding or improper response of pragmatic meaning by both parties in cross-cultural communication. It doesn't refer to the mistakes in language use in general diction and sentence-making, but refers to the mistakes that communication can't achieve the expected results due to improper speech, improper way of speaking and unaccustomed expression. This pragmatic failure is caused by the transfer of pragmatic rules, that is, when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other, they directly translate the words in their own language into the target language, regardless of the communicative norms that these words should follow. Therefore, the force of speech act has lost its function in different cultures. The speaker's illocutionary act cannot be fully understood by the listener, which leads to ambiguity and ambiguity. Speech act can't be completed satisfactorily. Make the expression intention and effect of speech act contradictory.
4. Pragmatic failures caused by cultural differences in specific speech acts.
People's speech acts in actual communication will be different due to differences in culture, region, region, occupation, gender and even individuals, which will bring considerable difficulties to communication. Cultural differences such as greetings, requests and compliments are more prominent in those stylized speech acts.
Pragmatic failure in greeting speech act
Greetings are very important in interpersonal communication. It is often the beginning of verbal communication. Whether it is used properly sometimes directly affects the smooth completion of the communication process, and an untimely greeting sometimes directly leads to the failure of communication. In different cultural backgrounds, the use and function of greetings are quite different. When people in China greet others, the content is not necessarily the speaker's real intention. We often hear? Have you had a meal It doesn't mean that the speaker really cares whether you are hungry or full. The illocutionary act is just greeting and greeting each other. In China, it is polite to show concern and enthusiasm for others. Even when we meet for the first time, we will ask each other about their age, marital status, children's situation, occupation, income and so on. They think asking each other some information can shorten their social distance. Let's look at the following dialogue:
Me: How old are you?
Hometown: nineteen.
Me: How many years have you participated in the revolution?
Hometown: One year.
Me: How did you join the revolution?
Fellow countryman: When the army retreated to the north, I followed myself.
Me: Who else is at home?
Villager: My mother, father, brother and sister, and an aunt also live in my house.
(Ru Zhijuan's "Lily")
This doesn't seem to be a conversation. It's like interrogation or auditing. But in China culture, this is a sign of concern and love, not a rude speech act. But for English speakers, if someone asks them such questions in this way in daily life, they will feel that the other person is rudely interfering in their privacy. Because westerners greet each other when they meet, it doesn't involve substantive content. Generally, they always say some purely polite greetings. Foreigners who don't know the culture and customs of China won't think this is a greeting letter for communication. Greetings? This original? The implication? You will lose, for example, ask the other person: Haveyoueaten, et The other person may think that this is not a simple greeting, but mistakenly think that you are inviting him. When an American from China meets an American he or she knows, he or she may blurt it out? Whereareyougoing If an American doesn't understand China's pragmatic habits, he mistakenly thinks that he is exploring his whereabouts. Pragmatic failures occur from time to time, so his or her answer to this question is likely to be:? What do you care? .
(2) Pragmatic failure in compliment speech act
Compliment is also a polite speech act. It is a positive speech evaluation behavior of the speaker's advantages or advantages to the listener. It is frequently used in people's daily communication.
According to the survey by Herbert, James and wolfson, the main function of compliments in English is to express gratitude and coordinate the relationship between the two parties? Consistency? In other words, flatterers regard it as a means to reconcile social relations and enhance mutual affection or friendship. In the cultural environment of China, compliments do not seem to be a powerful coordination? Consistency? Jia Yuxin's survey shows that only 5% people think that compliments are mainly used to complete the day. The functions of compliments in Chinese mainly focus on: (1) making the other person feel good; (2) appreciation; (3) using others. Therefore, in order to determine the function of compliments, we must analyze them according to the cultural context and the relationship between the two sides in actual communication. Secondly, the topic of compliment is different. In western culture, it can be said that it is very common for men to praise women's looks, figure and clothes, but it is basically taboo in China's traditional culture. Although there have been some changes in the situation, similar praise for women's appearance has gradually increased, but it is still limited by various factors in specific circumstances. What about American men who have studied Chinese? Are you a sexy girl? This kind of words to compliment the girls he met, especially for the first time. I'm afraid this girl will be disgusted with that boy. There is no flattering effect. However, for Americans, this seems to be nothing inappropriate. In this case? Compliment? The strength has been weakened. America likes it better? Change? 、? The difference? Therefore, any change or new idea may be praised: What does China's traditional culture emphasize? Convergence? So some changes and differences, compared with American culture, are less praised.
(C) Pragmatic failure of speech act of request
Request is a speech act and a common communicative act in all societies and groups, which is characterized by the listener's freedom to accept or reject the request. However, due to the differences between English and Chinese in cultural values, ways of thinking and etiquette norms. The speech act of request will also change with different languages and cultures. However, if we use our own social norms to implement our request behavior and explain other people's requests to English speakers, it is likely that the request language will lose its power of request, or we will not correctly understand other people's request intentions, resulting in pragmatic failures.
In western society, euphemism is usually used, even if the upper level demands the lower level and the young level. Please. To show politeness; The request of the same level or lower level to the superior is more euphemistic. By contrast, do people in China carry it out? Request? Is the statement of behavior too much for westerners? Direct? . Or is it too much? Indirect? . For China people? Direct request? British and American people may think it is too abrupt and think it is impolite; What about China people? Hint? Style? Ask and answer requests? General plan. Westerners may be at a loss again. Do you think their circuitous statements or lengthy explanations will make the words useless? Request? The power of. Let's look at the following dialogue. Think about why the result of the conversation didn't achieve the expected effect.
(China police (a) Goestohisbirtishupeiror (b) and Sksforaleavetotakehistigrifriendtohospim1. )
A: Sir?
Yes, what is this?
A: Mr. My Girlfirendisnotverywell1.
So?
She logged into the hospital 1, sir.
What do you want?
A: Thursday, sir.
B:Bloodyhel 1。 Dude, what do you want?
A: Nothing, sir.
As we know, the illocutionary acts in the above dialogue are correct in morphology and syntax. What is the pragmatic meaning of illocutionary act? CanvOUalowmet0leave's illocutionary act should be the boss's permission or refusal to the subordinate's request. It is not difficult to see from the above conversation that illocutionary acts are not understood, which fails to produce the expected effect on illocutionary acts. The reason for this error is that the speaker mistakenly thinks that Chinese and English words with the same literal meaning have the same function, so he only pays attention to the form or meaning of the words, ignoring that the receiver can't accurately grasp the meaning because of different cultures.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) conclusion
Due to cultural differences, several speech acts will encounter obstacles in communication, and the speaker's intention cannot be correctly understood by the listener. This paper enlightens learners that when learning a new language, they should deeply understand the social and cultural background knowledge of the language and compare it with their mother tongue, understand the similarities and differences and respect the differences. Pay attention to cultivate sensitivity to social and cultural differences of language. Avoid pragmatic failure and communication failure caused by pragmatic transfer, ensure the appropriateness and politeness of words in speech acts, and thus improve our foreign language communication ability.