Abstract

   Pragmatic failure is a common phenomenon in the course of cross-cultural communication. It can be divided into two types: pragmalinguistic failure and sociopragmatic failure. This paper, by analyzing some cases of pragmatic failure in cross-cultural communication, first discusses the manifestations and characteristics of these two kinds of pragmatic failure from the perspective of pragmatics. It then makes an in-depth exploration on the five causes of pragmatic failure: mode of thinking, value orientation and moral ethics, customs and religious belief, negative transfer of mother tongue, and classroom English teaching. As the study has demonstrated, in order to effectively cope with pragmatic failures, English learners should consolidate their language knowledge and competence, enhance cross-cultural awareness and constantly develop their cross-cultural communicative competence.
 
Key words: cross-cultural communication, pragmatic failure, cause analysis, cultural differences, countermeasures.

摘 要

  语用失误是跨文化交际中的一种常见现象,可分为语言语用失误和社交语用失误两类。本文首先从语用学的角度，通过分析跨文化交际中语用失误的一些案例，讨论了两种语用失误的表现和特点，然后深入分析了造成语用失误的五个原因，分别是：思维方式的差异，价值取向与道德观念的差异，民俗习惯和宗教信仰的差异，母语负迁移以及英语课堂教学因素的影响。本研究表明，要有效克服语用失误，英语学习者应该加强自身语言知识和能力的培养，增强跨文化意识，不断提高其跨文化交际能力。
 
关键词：跨文化交际；语用失误；原因分析；文化差异；应对策略

1. Introduction
   In cross-cultural communication, due to differences in language and cultural background, people may subconsciously use the ways of thinking and communication of their own country to express themselves or understand the others’ meanings. Thus, pragmatic failures arise.