Preview

English Language and Compliment

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3983 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
English Language and Compliment
Abstract
This study aims at finding out differences between Persian and English speakers’ patterns (macro and micro) of responding to compliments and observed some dissimilarity between them while accepting, rejecting and evading a compliment. This study also indicates whether Persian learners of English produce target- like compliments and compliment responses in English and whether pragmatic transfer can occur. Discourse completion tests (DCTs) were used to study the strategies employed when complimenting and responding to compliments by Intermediate learners of English. Findings suggest that Persian (L1) expressions and strategies were sometimes transferred to English (L2).

Introduction Learning a foreign language is a life-time procedure which requires years of constant practice. It is by no means a straightforward process which can be mastered quickly, because there are always new areas, aspects, and registers for the learner to master. Communicating with speakers of other languages is a complex behaviour that requires both linguistic and pragmatic competence. Whether we speak in a first or second language, we are influenced by sociocultural norms and constraints that affect the way we communicate.
The aim of modern teaching language is to enable the learners to communicate in the target language, as a result create an efficient interaction between interlocutors. However, the objectives of teaching and learning English have not been satisfactorily met. Consequently, most of EFL learners who are learning English in Iran are not able to use the English language for the purpose of communication. Many intermediate Iranian learners of English as a foreign language have problems as they try to use the English language for the purpose of communication. Communicative action not only includes participation, engaging, and sustaining interaction but also speech acts. Learners tend to have difficulty understanding the intended meaning communicated by



References: Bharuthram, Sh. (2003) “Politeness Phenomena in the Hindu sector of the South African Indian English speaking community” Journal of Pragmatics. 35(2).1523-1544. Brown,H.D.(2000) Costinentt, S with Byrd, B (1994). Spectrum. New York, Pearson Education, Longman. Grossi Vittoria (2009). Teaching pragmatic competence: compliments and compliment responses in the ESL classroom. Macquarie University, 24, 53-62 Heidari, M Holmes, J., & Brown, D. (1987). Teachers and students learning about compliments. TESOL Quarterly, 21(3), 523–546. Holmes,J.(1992). An introduction to Sociolinguistics. New York, NY: Longman. Holmes, J (1998). Paying compliments: A sex-preferential politeness strategy. Journal of Pragmatics, 12, 445-465. Ockenden, M, Jones, T (1982). Around Town (Situational Conversation Practice). New York, Longman Inc. Oka, H. (2004). A non-native approach to ELT: Universal or Asian? Asian EFL journal, 6, 1-8. Schackne , S. (2002). Language teaching research: In the literature, but not always in the classroom. Journal of Language and Linguistics, 1, 1-11. Sharifian. F (2008). Cultural schemas in L1 and L2 compliment responses: A study of Persian-speaking learners of English. Journal of Politeness Research, 4, 55_80 Wardaugh, R

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The way in which people communicate is as varied as the languages spoken throughout the world. People cannot just exchange a few words, there must be an understanding and acceptance of these variations or there will be a breakdown in the communication process. This is shown in the interactions between men and women, people of different cultures and even when exposed to a new environment.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Pillow Method

    • 9634 Words
    • 39 Pages

    Holmes, J. (1989). Sex differences and apologies: One aspect of communicative competence. Applied Linguistics, 10: 194 213.…

    • 9634 Words
    • 39 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    An understanding of interpersonal communication is an essential element when attempting to form good relationships. Interpersonal communication lies at the junction of our cultural understanding. Consequently, each of these components influences one another in more ways we can imagine. Language is perhaps the most pertinent tool in communications, we may infer to the semantics of each dictionary in the language to understand language as a component on its own. But this is neither the only nor the foremost element of importance in communication due to the complex process by which culture and communication influence each other. Certain cultural etiquettes can regulate the appropriate expression for the language. Real life observations of people who get in trouble for not following the appropriate etiquettes can indicate how something is said and may weigh more importance than what is being said (Herrington, n.d.).…

    • 1877 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Welcome to the Jungle

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In today’s world, it is very important to learn and understand more than one language, as it will help you with new opportunities in the future. Learning more than one language is very important to help you communicate with people from other…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Role-Play

    • 2388 Words
    • 10 Pages

    References: D. A. Wilkins. (1976). Notional Syllabuses. London, OUP. Fraser, B., E. Rintell, & J. Walters. (1980). An Approach to Conducting Research on the Acquisition of Pragmatic Competence in a Second Language. In D. Larsen-Freeman (Ed.), Discourse Analysis in Second Language Research (pp. 75-91). Rowley, MA: Newbury House. H. G. Widdowson. (1984). Explorations in Applied Linguistics. London: OUP. Harmer, J. (1991). The Practice of English Language Teaching. Longman. Johnson, K & K. (1981). Morrow. Communication in the Classroom. Longman.…

    • 2388 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    * Holmes, J. 2006. Politeness strategies as linguistic variables Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics, p. 684.…

    • 1825 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Mill on the Floss

    • 108512 Words
    • 435 Pages

    Designed for beginners, this best-selling textbook provides a lively introduction to the study of language. Starting from the basics, it provides a solid foundation in all of the essential topics, and introduces the analysis of the key elements of language – sounds, words, structures and meanings. A wide range of fascinating questions are explored, such as how conversation works, how children learn language, why women and men speak differently, and how language varies between regions and social groups. This third edition has been extensively revised to include new sections on important contemporary issues in language study, including language and culture, African American English, gestures and slang. A comprehensive glossary provides useful explanations of technical terms, and each chapter contains a range of new study questions and research tasks, with suggested answers. Unrivalled in its popularity, The Study of Language is quite simply the best introduction to the field available today.          has taught Linguistics at the Universities of Edinburgh, Hawai’i, Louisiana State and Minnesota. He is the author of Discourse Analysis (with Gillian Brown, 1983), Teaching the Spoken Language (with Gillian Brown, 1983), Pragmatics (1996) and Explaining English Grammar (1998).…

    • 108512 Words
    • 435 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In pragmatics role, the compliments and the compliment responses become one of the sub unit in speech event and also relates to politeness. Compliments and compliment responses can be also expressives, one of speech act classification.…

    • 1929 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: 1. Brown, P., & Levinson, S. D. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.…

    • 2816 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Despite the efforts being made our students have still not developed the necessary skills required through they have the knowledge of the language but they are unable to express interact verbally. The education system as continued to improve the structural. Part of the language, however the more natural and communicative aspect of languages has been ignored. But now, for this purpose qualified trained teachers were appointed and English textbooks were prepared by the Punjab textbook board Lahore.…

    • 4719 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    1. Introduction Foreign language (FL) learners may come across various communication problems when their interlanguage (henceforth, IL) is deficient and lacks the necessary resources. In order to best convey their messages and remain in the conversation until their communication goal is reached, EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners…

    • 6260 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Despite the significant role of politeness in communicative situations, Brown and Levinson (1987) contend that, beside politeness, every communicative act is fraught with perilous face-threatening acts (Kasper, 1990). Moreover, they claim that considering other aspects of “face” may allow a broader view of the facts that can help to avoid the polarity splitting the concept into Positive and Negative politeness (Bargiela-Chiappini, 2003). This proclamation has won the support of various writers such as Ellis, (2008); Harris, (2003) and Kasper, (1990) since it provides a practical ground for demarcating between inter and intra-cultural gradations of social realities (see Bremner, 2006).…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Linguistic Politeness in Great Britain. Thus, it is necessary, not only to look back at the…

    • 4383 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Study Preference

    • 3168 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Nowadays, communication and cross- communication have become a vital part in the life of people all over the world. Through language people communicate and exchange their material and spiritual values, making the culture knowledge of one another richer and more diversified. However, it can not be denied that each nation’s language lies in itself similar and different cultural concepts on many fields of life such as humane values, ways of thinking, behaviors standard, religious beliefs, customs and traditions, social conventions, etc. therefore, it could be difficult for foreign language learners to communicate successfully with native speakers if they have poor understanding of the language itself and the language in relation with culture.…

    • 3168 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    DEVELOPING LANGUAGE SKILLS

    • 3228 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Richards, Jack., “Methodology in language teaching: an anthology of current practice”, Cambridge University Press, 2002.…

    • 3228 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays