Abstract: This thesis aims to study the four common pragmatic failures in cross-cultural nonverbal communication and find the fundamental cause of these failures. There are four kinds of pragmatic failures in nonverbal communication: failures in body language; failures in paralanguage; failures in object language; failures in environmental language. Furthermore, the thesis puts forward four solutions to avoid pragmatic failures: enhancing pragmatic capacity; avoiding cultural prejudice; cultivating cultural empathy and increasing cultural endurance. The paper concludes that in order to have a better and harmonious relationship with different cultures and refrain from acting falsely in nonverbal communication, more attention should be paid to the pragmatic failures in nonverbal communication to guarantee the smooth communication between different cultures. 

Key words: pragmatic failure; cross-culture; nonverbal communication; 

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. The Relevant Researches of Pragmatic Failures in Nonverbal Communication 2

2.1 Definition of Pragmatic Failure

2.2 Classification of Pragmatic Failure in Nonverbal Communication

  2.2.1 Pragmatic Failures in Body Language

  2.2.2 Pragmatic Failures in Paralanguage 

  2.2.3 Pragmatic Failures in Object Language 

  2.2.4 Pragmatic Failures in Environmental Language

2.3 Causes of pragmatic Failures in Nonverbal Communication

3. Proposals for Avoiding Pragmatic Failures in Nonverbal Communication 5

3.1 Enhancing Pragmatic Competence

3.2 Avoiding Cultural Prejudice

3.3 Cultivating Cultural Empathy

3.4 Increasing Cultural Endurance

4. Conclusion. 8

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements..12