THE ROLE OF PRAGMATICS IN INTERCULTURALENGLISH COMMUNICATION

Abstract

This article examines the critical function of pragmatics in Englishmediated intercultural communication. As English increasingly serves as a lingua franca (ELF), successful interaction depends less on grammatical accuracy and more on "pragmatic competence"—the ability to navigate diverse sociolinguistic norms and speech acts. This study adopts a qualitative meta-analysis approach to identify common areas of pragmatic failure, such as politeness strategies, indirectness, and high-context versus low-context communication styles. The findings suggest that intercultural friction often arises from "pragmatic transfer," where speakers apply the social rules of their native language to English discourse. The study concludes that fostering pragmatic awareness is essential for minimizing cross-cultural misunderstandings and recommends integrating explicit pragmatic instruction into English Language Teaching (ELT) curricula.