Pragmatic Failure of Politeness in Cross-munication.doc

Pragmatic Failure of Politeness in Cross-munication
Abstract: Abstract: Politeness, as an observable social phenomenon, is a reflection of specific cultural values in the language. This paper focuses on the pragmatic failure of politeness due to its improper use in the cross-cultural interactions in the hope to raise our awareness of cultural differences in politeness and to promote the cross-munication.
Key Words: politeness; pragmatic failure; cultural differences; cross-munication
I Introduction
Politeness is an observable universal social phenomenon and plays a significant role in munication: it contributes to establish, maintain or consolidate harmonious interpersonal relationships and facilitate social interactions. Meanwhile, politeness is a reflection of specific cultural values in the language. Thus, while admitting the universality of politeness, we must realize its cultural characteristics. Otherwise, we may well suffer munication and great trouble in cross-munication. In its broad sense, cross-munication occurs whenever people of different cultural e into contact with each other.
Because of cultural differences, misunderstandings may arise, although the language used munication may be faultless. The same words or expressions may not mean the same thing to different peoples. “Because of cultural differences, a serious question may cause amusement or lau