Pragmatic Failures in Written and Spoken English Among Iraqi Learner

Nareeman Jabbar Rasheed and Huda H. Khalil
University of Baghdad

Abstract

English plays an incredibly important role in cross-cultural interaction as a communication medium. Communication is the primary function of language, and pragmatic competence is an integral aspect of communication skills. Yet, because of lack of realistic understanding, English learners can hardly avoid pragmatic failure to commit cross-cultural communication. A pragmatic failure establishes obstacles for cross-cultural communication effectiveness. Because pragmatic deficiencies correlate rather strongly to the absence of pragmatic competence, in order to develop better communication skills, further exposure to pragmatic and cultural awareness should be included in English language instruction. It is believed that it is necessary to acquire the background details on communication and take the dialogue item as a whole instead of dissecting the phrase or message by letter, thereby rendering the text understandable in the specific sense. This research aims to identify and analyse the frequently poorly used texts among EFL students in a state university in Iraq, as well as the primary sources that contribute to the pragmatic failures among the students.


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