Abstract Nowadays, economic globalization facilitates communication between different countries。 However, pragmatic failure often breaks down communication。 Therefore, it is of great significance to study pragmatic failure, which is helpful to the smooth running of communication and accelerating the process of globalization。87224
This study, based on the data of the Spoken English Corpus of Chinese Learners (SECCL), and Jenny Thomas’s pragmatic failure theory, explores the types and possible causes of pragmatic failure of Chinese learners of English in their oral communication。 Accordingly, suggestions are provided on how to overcome pragmatic failure with the expectation of improving pragmatic competence of Chinese English learners。
The study shows there are two types of pragmatic failure of Chinese learners of English: pragmalinguistic failure and sociopragmatic failure。 Chinese learners’ lack of knowledge towards target culture and the interference of native language lead to such failure。 The analysis suggests that better understanding the connotation of English and Chinese words and making full use of multi-resources to enrich target culture might be effective ways to overcome pragmatic failure。 It is expected that the study could make Chinese English learners aware of pragmatic failure, thus taking initiatives to improve pragmatic competence, so as to improve their cross-cultural communicative competence。
Keywords: pragmatic failure; Spoken English Corpus of Chinese Learners (SECCL); cross-cultural communication; Chinese English Learners
中国英语学习者语言交际中语用失误研究
—基于中国英语学习者的口语语料库
Contents
Abstract in English I
Abstract in Chinese III
I。Introduction 1
II。 Literature Review 3
2。1 The Definition of Pragmatic Failure 3
2。2 The Types of Pragmatic Failure 4
2。2。1 Pragmalinguistic Failure 4
2。2。2 Sociopragmatic Failure 5
2。3 Studies of Pragmatic Failure at Home and Abroad 6
2。3。1 Studies of Pragmatic Failure Abroad 6
2。3。2 Studies of Pragmatic Failure at Home 7
III。 Methodology of Present Study 9
3。1 Research Questions 9
3。2 Subject of the Study 9
3。3 Research Method 9
IV。 Results and Analysis of Pragmatic Failure in Corpus 11
4。1 Summary of Pragmatic Failure in Corpus 11
4。1。1 Pragmalinguistic failure in corpus 11
4。1。2 Sociopragmatic failure in corpus 13
4。2 Causes of Pragmatic Failure 14
4。2。1 The Interference of Native Language 14
4。2。2 Lack of Knowledge Towards Target Culture 15
4。3 Suggestions to Overcome Pragmatic Failure 16
4。3。1 Measures to Overcome Negative Transfer 16
4。3。2 Measures to Cultivate Cross-cultural Knowledge 17
V。 Conclusions 19
Bibliography 21
A Study of Pragmatic Failure in Chinese English Learners’ Language Communication
—Based on the Spoken English Corpus of Chinese Learners
摘要当今经济全球化发展迅速,国家之间的交流愈加频繁。然而语用失误常常导致交流不能顺利进行。因此研究语用失误十分必要,它有利于确保交流的顺利进行,加快全球化进程。
本研究借助托马斯提出的语用失误理论,基于中国英语学习者的口语语料库分析中国英语学习者口语交流中语用失误的类型、原因,并提出减少语用失误、提高语用能力的方法。
研究分析发现,中国英语学习者的语用失误主要分为两大类:语用语言失误和社交语用失误。分析表明中国英语学习者对目标语言文化背景知识的缺乏以及母语负迁移是造成语用失误的原因。本文认为,深入理解中英文词语隐含意义,充分利用多种媒介了解英语国家文化,可以有效的减少语用失误。希望本文的研究结果能够帮助中国的英语学习者正确认识语用失误,从而主动提高语用能力,进而提高跨文化交际能力。