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sociopragmatic failure

Thomas borrows the term sociopragmatic failure from Leech (1983:10-11). Sociopragmatic failure is that of non-native speakers caused by the need to adjust their systems of beliefs to the culture of the language being learned. In other words, sociopragmatic failure may arise from “concerning the size of imposition, cost/benefit, social distance, and relative rights and obligations” (Thomas, 1983:103-104). Thomas presents “free” and “non-free” goods as an example of sociopragmatic failure. In Russia, to request a cigarette is free. However, if a Russian who speaks English demands a cigarette to a native English speaker in an inappropriate situation, it can be “wrongly encoded the amount of politeness s/he intended (covert grammatical or pragmalinguistic failure) or seriously misjudged the size of imposition (sociopragmatic failure)” (1983:105).

Thomas also presents “taboos” as an example of sociopragmatic failure (1983:105). The following conversation given by Montgomery shows an example of a taboo. In the following conversation, Sara, a native English speaker has just arrived in Korea, her host country. Laura, Korean, is helping Sara unpack her clothes

(4) Laura: What nice things you have!

Sara: Thank you. It took me a long time to pack!

Laura: But your clothes are so tiny. You are too thin! How much do

you weigh?

Sara: Uh, well ... I m not sure.

Laura: Not sure! You re about 52 or 54 kilos, aren t you?

Sara: Uhm well ....

Laura: My scale is right in the bathroom there. Let s weigh you now.

Sara: Uhm thank you, really, that s OK. I? (2001:A75)

Koreans ask friends or acquaintances questions to age, weight, religion, height in ordinary conversation, and in the above Laura asks Sara her weight. However, in the western culture it is a taboo to ask a question to age, weight, and so on. Like this, taboo can cause sociopragmatical failure.

According to Thomas, “pragmatic principles, such as politeness, conflict with other, deeply held values, such as truthfulness or sincerity” (1983:106) can lead to sociopragmatic failure. An example of socipragmatic failure cited by Montgomery includes the use of “No thank you” by an American woman in the conversation with a Korean man.

(5) A: It s Friday night. Nice music, isn t it? ... Why don t you dance with me? (Korean speaker of English)

B: No, thank you. I don t like this music. (native speaker)

A: (After 10 minutes, when “the Unchained Melody” is on . . .) It is very romantic song. Would you like dance with me?

B: Uhm, I don t feel like dancing right now.

A: (After few minutes later) How about drink? You will feel better. Go ahead! Have some drink. And then, let s dance.

B: Umm..... Please, leave me alone! (2001:A76)

This conversation shows an example of the sociopragmatic failure. When American woman said “No, thank you”, it means she really doesn t want to dance with him. She already made a obvious decision and has no expectation. But the Korean man thinks about it in a totally different way because he believes different way of idiomatic expression like when lady say “No.” In Korea, gentlemen usually should offer his interest until he gets the positive reaction from lady. They believe that is the polite manner for lady. This situation is an example of sociopragmatic failure caused by misjudgement about “value judgement” (Thomas, 1983:106).

Wolfson also makes a similar insistence. She pays attention to the potential difficulty in second language learning and communication created by differences between L1 and L2 conventions for rules of speaking. The rules of speaking which Wolfson claims include culture specific and largely unconscious. She cites an interesting cross-cultural example of the different rules for the occurrence of apologies given by Godard (cited by Wolfson, 1983) in her analysis of telephone call beginnings in the United States and France. When the telephone rings and the answerer says “Hello” together, “it is mandatory for a French caller to apologize for disturbing the answerer” while “no such apologies are required in the United States unless the call is made at a time known to be inappropriate” (Wolfson, 1983:70). In this situation, a French thinks it is rude unless he or she apologizes. Reversely, if an American calls, say “Hello” with a French answerer simultaneously and then doesn t say an apology, the French will think the American is impolite. This example shows the sociopragmatic failure.