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HUNGARIAN-ENGLISH PRAGMATIC CONTRASTS
10.10.6 What pragmatic behaviour
is expected from foreigners?
According to Thomas (1995), foreign students are not expected to be too in¬
formal. They are expected to be hypercorrect and to speak a superstandard
English both grammatically and pragmatically. Swearing is not expected. A
‘reduced personality’ is expected: foreigners are allowed only banal and con¬
ventional opinions. Kasper (1997) also notes that native speakers do not expect
a 100% native pragmatic behaviour from language learners - indeed, they may
slightly resent it: after all, non-native speakers are outsiders. Perhaps a slight
deviation from native norms is useful, indicating that the speaker is not a
member of the native speech community.
The teacher’s job is not to enforce native speaker standards of behaviour,
but to prevent the learner from being unintentionally rude and to point out the
consequences of certain types of linguistic behaviour (Thomas 1983).
10.11 TASKS
1. WHAT SPEECH ACTS DO THESE UTTERANCES PERFORM?
I now pronounce you married.
I name this ship Enterprise.
You are under arrest.
I promise that I shall be there.
I declare the meeting open.
Would you like some tea?
Stand to attention!
I declare the meeting open.
This is my house.
Love one another. (Cf. I give you a new command. Love one another. — The New
Testament)
Do not drink so much. I advise you not to drink so much.
It will give you a headache. I warn you that it will give you a headache.
2. STUDY THIS CONVERSATION AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:
B: That looks very nice, put it on and let’s have a look at you.
A: I don’t like the two buttons, I didn’t know it had two buttons, I thought
it had three.
C: Well, it’s the style of the coat, Ken.
B: Lovely, lovely.
A: Does it look nice?
B: Yeah, yeah.
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