This document discusses cross-cultural communication and pragmatic competence. It distinguishes between linguistic competence, involving grammar rules, and pragmatic competence, involving understanding implied meanings in different cultural contexts. When people from different cultures communicate, pragmatic failure can occur if they do not understand these implied meanings or cultural norms. The document presents various tools to aid cross-cultural communication, such as translators, written and audio-visual materials, and telephone interpreter services, which can help bridge differences in pragmatic competence between cultures.

1. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Pragmatic competence and pragmatic failure
in cross cultural communication:
usage of vehicular languages and standardised tools
Paolo Tentori - Novantiqua Multimedia

2. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Communication between two people who don’t share
a common linguistic or cultural background.
Linguistic competence
Decontextualized knowledge of
“intonation, syntax, semantic”.
Pragmatic competence
The ability to use language
“effectively in context”.

3. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Communication between two people who don’t share
a common linguistic or cultural background.
Linguistic competence
“Grammar”
Decontextualized
“formal system of language”.
Pragmatic competence
“Pragmatics”
The use of language
“in a goal-oriented speech
situation”.

4. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Communication between two people who don’t share
a common linguistic or cultural background.
Linguistic competence
“Grammar”
Prescriptive rules.
Pragmatic competence
“Pragmatics”
Probable rather then categorical
rules.
“The nature of pragmatic ambivalence is such that it is not possi-
ble to say that the pragmatic force of an utterance is ‘wrong’.
All we must avoid
is that it could fail to achieve the speaker’s goal.

5. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Communication between two people who don’t share
a common linguistic or cultural background.
Sentence meaning
One level “of meaning”.
Speaker meaning
Several level “of meaning”.

6. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Speaker’s intention
Pragmatic failure
Inability to understand
“what is meant by what is said”.
Pragmatic competence
Ability to understand
“what is meant by what is said”.

7. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Thomas J., Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Failure,
https://rodas5.us.es/file/a26cd06f-d80f-47b8-a5f0-fb23430aa5fc/1/thomas_failure_wimba_SCORM.zip/files/thomas_pragmatic_failure.pdf
Standardised translation
Linguistic propose
“Grammar”
Provided “from specialistes:
translators, cultural mediators”.
Pragmatic instruments
“Pragmatics”
Several level “of instruments:
written, audio, direct speech”.
Enel

8. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Webref: http://www.gr.ch/DE/themen/Integration/neuzugezogen/gesundheit/krankheit/Seiten/default.aspx
Cross cultural communication
Pragmatic instruments
“Flexibility”
in language processing
“Problem solving”
approach

9. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Pragmatic instruments
Telephone interpreter services
Webref: http://www.eurostreet.it
https://www.apss.tn.it/stranieri

10. Format-Trentino Ospedale San Camillo Trento © 2015 Novantiqua Multimedia
Cross cultural communication
Webref: Stathopoulou M. (2015). Cross-Language Mediation in Foreign Language Teaching and Testing, Bristol: Mul-
tilingual Matter
Interlingual Mediation
Recontextualisation
Simplification, condensation,
elaboration, refocusing.
Compatibility
Mediation strategy in order to
achieve a communicative goal.