Cross-cultural pragmatic failure : misunderstanding in verbal communication between speakers of Arabic & English
This thesis discusses the most frequent cases of misunderstanding in verbal communication between speakers of Arabic and English. It draws on Sperber and Wilson's (1986a) Relevance Theory as a general pragmatic framework in order to account for the success or failure of cross-cultural communication. Relevance Theory is discussed in some detail, but is not followed slavishly; rather it is at times criticized for its inadequacy in cross-cultural contexts (Chapters 1, 4 & 8). The inadequacy of the code model in verbal communication between Arabs and Britons is studied in detail (Chapters 2, 3, 5). Cultural mismatch between the two language communities under study is evaluated to account for cross-cultural pragmatic failure (Chapters 6 & 7). The fmdings in this thesis show that linguistic well-formedness is important in cross-cultural communication, but cultural codes and socio-cognitive principles impede the addressee's understanding of the speaker's intent far more. Details of the linguistic factors playing an important role in causing misunderstanding in crosscultural communication reveal that lexical-semantic errors are the most frequent in the English of Arab speakers. However, in terms of the degree of deviation,
Shammas, Nafez Antonius
Studies in the Creative Arts and Writing not elsewhere classified ; Arabic ; English ; Language ; Culture
Cross-cultural pragmatic failure : misunderstanding in verbal communication between speakers of Arabic & English. This thesis discusses the most frequent cases of misunderstanding in verbal communication between speakers of Arabic and English. It draws on Sperber and Wilson's (1986a) Relevance Theory as a general pragmatic framework in order to account for the success or failure of cross-cultural communication. Relevance Theory is discussed in some detail, but is not followed slavishly; rather it is at times criticized for its inadequacy in cross-cultural contexts (Chapters 1, 4 & 8). The inadequacy of the code model in verbal communication between Arabs and Britons is studied in detail (Chapters 2, 3, 5). Cultural mismatch between the two language communities under study is evaluated to account for cross-cultural pragmatic failure (Chapters 6 & 7). The fmdings in this thesis show that linguistic well-formedness is important in cross-cultural communication, but cultural codes and socio-cognitive principles impede the addressee's understanding of the speaker's intent far more. Details of the linguistic factors playing an important role in causing misunderstanding in crosscultural communication reveal that lexical-semantic errors are the most frequent in the English of Arab speakers. However, in terms of the degree of deviation,
cross_cultural pragmatic failure misunderstanding verbal_communication speaker arabic_english discus frequent case misunderstand verbal_communication speaker arabic_english draw sperber_wilson relevance_theory general pragmatic_framework order account success_failure cross_cultural communication relevance_theory discuss_detail follow rather time criticize inadequacy cross_cultural context inadequacy code model verbal_communication arabs britons study_detail cultural mismatch two_language communities study evaluate account cross_cultural pragmatic failure show linguistic well formedness important cross_cultural communication cultural code socio_cognitive principle impede addressee speaker intent far more linguistic_factor play_important_role cause misunderstand communication reveal lexical_semantic error frequent english arab speaker however term degree deviation