Intercultural Pragmatic Failures in English as a Lingua Franca: A Corpus-Based Study

Abstract

Background: English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) refers to the use of English between speakers of different mother tongues as a common means of communication. In ELF interactions, communicative efficiency and pragmatics often take precedence over strict adherence to native-speaker norms. However, using English in intercultural settings poses pragmatic challenges – what might be intended as polite or clear in one culture can be misinterpreted in another. These intercultural pragmatic failures can lead to miscommunication or unintended rudeness.

Aim: This study investigates common types of intercultural pragmatic failure (e.g. misinterpretations, perceived impoliteness) among ELF users, using a corpus-based approach. We seek to identify recurrent problem areas in ELF pragmatic usage and understand their causes.

Method: We conducted a discourse analysis of a corpus of spoken ELF interactions (e.g. academic discussions, business meetings) involving non-native English speakers from diverse first-language backgrounds. Using the Vienna-Oxford International Corpus of English (VOICE) and other ELF corpora, we coded instances of misunderstanding or communicative breakdown. Analytical frameworks from speech act theory (Searle, 1969), politeness theory (Brown & Levinson, 1987), and cross-cultural pragmatics (House, 2003) informed our coding of illocutionary “misfires,” inappropriate directness, failed politeness, and turn-taking issues.

Findings: Several frequent pragmatic failure types were identified. These include inappropriate speech act realizations (e.g. direct commands intended as suggestions), misused politeness strategies (e.g. missing hedges or honorifics), culturally divergent norms of directness (leading to perceptions of rudeness), and breakdowns in conversation flow (e.g. interruptions or lack of response due to unrecognized cues). Such failures often stem from negative transfer of native-language pragmatic norms or a lack of shared cultural context.

Conclusion: The results highlight a need for greater pragmatic awareness in ELF communication. While ELF speakers generally prioritize mutual understanding and often adapt to each other, misunderstandings still occur due to sociocultural differences. Raising ELF users’ awareness of intercultural pragmatic norms – and training them in accommodation strategies – could mitigate miscommunications. This has implications for intercultural communication training and language teaching, suggesting a shift beyond grammatical accuracy toward pragmatics in ELF contexts.