The following examples are some typical examples for Sociopragmatic Failure。

    (1) Lily meets her American friend Emily in the classroom。

Emily: How nice your dress it is。

Lily: Thanks, my father bought it for me in Shanghai。 Do you like it?

Emily: Oh, yes, it looks beautiful and I really like the pretty color。

Lily: Well, if you really enjoy it, I will ask my father to buy one for you。

Emily: Oh!

    From the example, we can discover that the rules of compliment and its response between Chinese culture and American culture are different。 The compliment of one language could be understood as another meaning in another language because different language are form different cultural background, which often results in different comprehension and measurement of speech acts。

    (2) An American Mr。 Wilson, taught Oral English in a college in Beijing。 One day, Li Ming who one of his Chinese students, visited him and had a chat。

Mr。 Wilson: Last night, I went to a party and came back very late。 It’s why I have red eyes today。

Li: Oh, you should not go to bed so late because it’s not good for your health。

    In this example, Li Ming said that this with well intention, while Mr。 Wilson must felt very uneasy。 Chinese people often have the habit of showing concern for others。 They do this through inquiring a person’s personal matters and sometimes through using warning speeches as Li Ming did。 However, the native speakers of English think that these expressions as all intrusion to their inpidual freedom and privacy。来:自[优E尔L论W文W网www.chuibin.com +QQ752018766-

    (3) An American teacher, Dr。 Smith, made a lecture in China and the Chinese students often praise that “Dr。 Smith, you have made a wonderful lecture。” Because the different mode of thinking between the Western people and Chinese people lead up to the different forms of expression between English and Chinese。 Meanwhile the difference of these expression is also reflected in the different mode of thinking。 The academic report is realistic in the eyes of westerners, not used the words such as “wonderful, attractive” and so on。 Because those words violate qualitative standards。 Those words make that the hearer feel embarrassed and consider the speaker obviously is mocking me。 Therefore, it will be nice if the student uses the simple expression “I appreciate your lecture, Dr。 Smith。”