Re: comment -- PRAGMATICS

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Date Posted: 15:18:44 09/29/09 Tue
Author: Ana Carolina
Subject: Re: comment
In reply to: Vivian Linhalis 's message, "comment" on 07:31:56 09/27/09 Sun

Vivian, I have to disagree. I believe that even when Brazilians are learning to speak English, they must be willing to acquire some aspects of the culture, be it British, American, Australian or whatever. Acquiring the culture, even if subconsciously, is a pre-requisite for effectively acquiring the language.

That's not to say that some aspects of the language can't be learned and effectively used, but if the speaker isn't willing to "trascend his/her ego" to empathize with the native culture, he will forever sound like "a foreigner" speaking the language, using inappropriate or inaccurate expressions, intonation and vocabulary.

Perhaps it seems less important for us Brazilians learning English than say, the Japanese learning English because the cultural differences aren't as dramatic.

But even if we compare, for example, an American and an Englishman, either visiting the other's country there is a cultural barrier that must be crossed in order for effective communication to take place. There are cultural aspects that shape the language and social interactions of each, even when essentially speaking the same language and in order to truly communicate on the same level, they must be attentive to those differences and if necessity calls for it, they must be willing to "transcend their egos" in order to facilitate their social interactions in the foreign country.

>The first sentence of the ppt already called my
>attention before i even finish it. It says that "being
>communicative competent is more important than know
>how to use the linguintic components of a language". I
>think to be communicative competent one must know how
>to use the linguistic components of a language, if
>he/she does not, then there wont be communication. The
>difference is that some people are aware of these
>linguistic uses and others are not (kids, for example).
>
>Even learning a second language, sts will tend to come
>back to their native language. The example of the
>Jananese people learning English was really good. I
>think its not necessary for sts to know about
>American culture if they are learning English. Its not
>necessary, but it`s extremely important. It`s
>different.

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Replies:

Re: comment -- Luana Vieira, 05:37:20 09/30/09 Wed
Re: comment -- Felipe Valu, 19:18:07 10/13/09 Tue