Pragmatics and Language Learners: Is Culture really that Important?

 

When learning a new language some people focus on dominating the grammatical aspects of the target language. Some others might find that memorizing as much vocabulary is the most important part of the learning process. Some can even argue that sentence structure is the best way to approach the learning of a language and all of these are quite reasonable opinions and approaches. But as someone who has been learning English for almost 20 years, there is one aspect of that I have found extremely helpful in my learning journey and that is the cultural aspect of the language. Culture is rather influential when learning a language. Language is something that is alive; it morphs and evolves with the times and the people who speak it. That is why language learners must seek to grasp, not just linguistic knowledge and grammatical accuracy but also, the pragmatic knowledge in the target language.  This is known as Pragmatic Competence.

Learning only the linguistic knowledge cannot guarantee success in real life communications in the target language. Pragmatics is an essential part of the language which aims to use language appropriately based on the context. Many studies of communicative competence show that language learners cannot ignore the importance of pragmatics in the learning process, as well as the linguistic knowledge, both competences are necessary to be developed.

When communicating with non-native speakers, some communication breakdowns can easily occur. That is because they can understand the linguistic meaning only but not the pragmatic one, this is called: Pragmatic Failure. For native speakers a pronunciation error is more tolerable than a pragmatic one.  This can often lead to uncomfortable or even deadly situations, like the case of a Japanese student who was killed because he could not know the pragmatic meaning of the term “Freeze!”

Let’s look at three other examples where pragmatic failure took place.

Example #1 – An Indonesian student in an English class could seem rude or impolite when accepting praise from the native speaker teacher if they don’t know how to properly express modesty based on the pragmatic meaning.  The professor could say, “You have to be very proud of your English, your competence of English has increased significantly” and because the student does not want to show off his proud feelings (because of his Indonesian culture) he could answer, “No, I don’t think so”. Leaving the teacher confused and uncomfortable because he might think the student does not believe him or is accusing him of lying. Just because a sentence or phrase is grammatically correct does not mean is pragmatically correct.

Some teachers often focus on grammar and ignore pragmatic knowledge. It is important that students can be aware of using language in appropriate contexts. In addition, example #1 shows that language learners often tend to transfer their native language pragmatic tendencies to the target language.

Example #2 – An Indonesian student had an Australian friend who came to visit him with his family – his wife and daughter. The student tried to pay a compliment to the daughter by saying she looked healthy, but he phrased it as: “Your daughter is… she’s beautiful fat girl”. Of course, this did not sit well with his wife, who got angry about the comment, and the student was really confused by her reaction. He did not know that Western people get angry if someone comments on their bodies, because it is taboo or impolite.  

Some teachers assert that they do not need to teach the culture of target language. However, every language has a strong relationship with its culture. If teacher want their students to master a foreign language, they have to encourage them to understand the language culture and it should be equally part of the teaching and learning process, not just extracurricular.

Example #3 - Another Indonesian student had an Australian friend who called him on the phone. But because the student was busy in a class, he could not pick up the phone. Later on, when they met, the Indonesian student smiled and apologized to his friend. Unfortunately, his friend did not accept the apology and left angry because he thought the student was lying to him. What the Indonesian student did not know was that in the Australian culture, people do not believe an apology if the person is smiling – unlike the Indonesian culture, where this scenario is a habit.  

This example shows just how many students understand the target language influenced by their own beliefs and assumptions from their own culture. They have not had significant intercultural experiences in their lives, so they have difficulties conceptualizing the fact that many people socialize in different ways from their own culture.

So, how can students improve and work on the development of their pragmatic competence? For starters, surround themselves with target language media is a very good first step. Watching movies, TV shows, news broadcasts, podcasts, you name it can help students identify politeness strategies, indirectness, and social nuances. They can see different type of scenarios play out which allows them to observe how to adapt to different contexts and social dynamics. Watching interactions and pausing to interpret conversational, non-verbal cues, and why characters chose certain expressions.

During class, role-playing is another great technique to practice, adapting language to different contexts providing learners with a specific situation, for example: "Your boss is wrong", “your friend has bad news” or “your coworker invites you to hang out after work” - and asking them to construct the appropriate verbal response. Also, discussing cultural norms in a group setting, in order to understand why certain expressions are appropriate or inappropriate in different contexts, is another great technique to learn not just from the teacher but also from their peers.  

In conclusion, cultural influence is pivotal when learning a language. Knowing the context of certain phrasing or words based on their cultural background is crucial when trying to achieve pragmatic competence. Pragmatic competence can be achieve when the student can use grammatically incorrect sentences but in the correct context and be understood by the native speakers. This is because native speakers (English, for example) can accept these types of errors of language learners but they are often not tolerant of pragmatic errors. That is because if they do not understand pragmatic knowledge, they cannot communicate effectively which leads to a breakage in the communication process and hence, there is not really a connection.

 

A little Video about Pragmatic Competence

LiteraryTranslations: What Makes a Good Literary Translator?

 

Literary translation is a type of translation in which the source material is fiction. It includes books, articles, stories and other types of prose, poems, rhymes, haikus, etc. As you might imagine, the literary translation is not simply the act of literal translation. A good translator should be able to give the target text the same flavor and mood as the original. The message that the original author is conveying in its writing should be found in the translation as well. Here is where the job of the translator is of the utmost importance.

Let’s us look at some of the characteristics that every good literary translator need to take into consideration when translating literary work.

Fidelity to Original Text

The translation must reflect the meaning and style of the original text as faithfully as possible. This includes maintaining the author’s tone and intent, not just the words. Translators must have a great imagination giving that they should meet the narrative needs and appropriate language color to complete expressions of the core ideas of the original text.

The translator must find words in his own language that expresses almost with the same fidelity the meaning of some words of the original language. That is why when dealing with this matter there are some other features to be taken into account, for example: cultural adaptation, accuracy and clarity, consistency and language proficiency.

Naturalness of Expression

This characteristic ensures that the target text reads smoothly, using authentic idioms and grammatical structures that feel native rather than a translated. It balances faithfulness to the source with readability. It focuses on the aesthetic and flow to avoid awkward, rigid phrasing, allowing the text to feel contemporary or appropriately idiomatic to the target language.

Some factors to take into consideration when working this particular aspect of the literary translation are:

Modulation: it focuses on changing the viewpoint or category of thought to achieve naturalness.  

Domestication: makes the text conform to the target’s culture’s idioms and cultural references.

Aesthetic Selectivity: chooses words and structures that fit the expected literary standard of the target language.

Linguistic Extensions

Linguistic extension or amplification occurs when a translator adds elements that are not explicitly present in the source language to ensure the target text is grammatically correct and accurately conveys the intended meaning, tone, and cultural meaning. This involves adding, expanding, or adapting elements to match the target language grammar, idiom and reader expectations, departing from pure literal, word-for-word translations. The translator must decide, when an author deliberately uses ambiguous language, whether to retain it or use extension techniques to clarify it for the reader.

To properly apply this characteristic, there are some common techniques that can be useful like:

Amplification: Adding information, such as paraphrasing a cultural term to make it understandable.

Explicitation: Making implicit information from the source text explicit in the translation.

Annotation/Footnotes: A form of extension that allows the translator to explain complex socio-cultural references without altering the flow of the main text.

Historical or Cultural Context

To convey the source text’s intended meaning rather than just words, it is required to navigate deep historical, social and cultural contexts, such as: Traditions, Norms and Ideologies. Translators must bridge cultural gaps, often choosing between adapting content for the target audience (domestication) or preserving foreign elements (foreignization) to accurately reflect the original’s tone, setting and impact.

Understanding the political, social and economic landscape of the time the work was written is crucial to interpreting character’s motivations and the themes. A failure to consider this context can lead to misunderstanding, loss of literary significance or inaccurate, sanitized representation of the original.

As we can deduct, based on this research, a word – for – word translation cannot reflect the depth and meaning of a literary work. It is all about how the translator sees it, because a phrase can be read in different ways. That is why an experienced translator will be able to convey the skill and humor that the writer wanted to display in their work, while preserving their style and atmosphere.

Here are examples of translations that meet these high standards:

1.  Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (Dostoevsky/Tolstoy): Known for retaining the awkwardness or specific linguistic textures of the original Russian, maintaining a high level of fidelity to the author's voice while ensuring the prose works in English.
2. Gregory Rabassa (Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude): Famously captured the magical realism of the Spanish text, using linguistic extensions to make the Spanish sentence structure feel natural and colloquial in English.
3. Margaret Sayers Peden (Isabel Allende): Expertly translates Latin American Spanish, focusing on cultural context by retaining specific, idiomatic, or cultural references while ensuring the flow of language remains natural in English, says Translation Journal.

Literary Translation: Is it Important?

 

Cultural Diversity - Is It Really That Important?

 

INTRODUCTION

Our world nowadays can be considered a “multicultural world”, with so many people leaving their countries of origin for many different and varied reasons; a cultural “melting pot” is to be expected. There have been plenty of benefits from it from the culinary, educational, and artistic to the socioeconomic and religious. However, in recent years, there has been a backlash about this topic. The increasing xenophobia and racist movements have put a damper and endangered the very concept of “cultural diversity”.  

But what is “Cultural Diversity”? Cultural diversity refers to the presence of multiple cultural groups within a community, institution, or organization. It refers to the many ways in which the cultures of groups and societies find expression. These expressions are passed on within and among groups and societies. It can be seen in the variety of languages spoken, festivals celebrated, cuisines enjoyed, and values expressed. It is about appreciating that society is made up of many different groups with different interests, skills, talents and needs. It also means that you recognize that people in society can have differing religious beliefs and sexual orientations to you. But more than the visible symbols, diversity is about how people think, communicate, and solve problems in different ways.

 

DEVELOPMENT

As it seems, cultural diversity encompass different aspects of society. It is not just about race and ethnicity. Some of these dimensions are:

·         Gender plays a significant role in cultural diversity as it influences societal roles and expectations. Men and women often experience different opportunities and challenges based on their gender identity.

·         Age is another dimension that affects cultural diversity as each generation brings unique perspectives shaped by the historical context they grew up in.

·         Religion also contributes to cultural diversity by shaping values, customs, rituals, and moral frameworks within communities.

·         Language is an essential aspect too; it enables communication among individuals from diverse backgrounds while preserving unique linguistic heritage.

·         Socioeconomic status impacts access to resources such as education or healthcare which can influence an individual’s experiences within society.

·         Sexual orientation adds yet another layer of complexity to cultural diversity as LGBTQ+ individuals face specific challenges related to acceptance and inclusion.

·         Ability encompasses physical or mental disabilities which significantly impact how individuals navigate society.

By acknowledging these various dimensions of cultural diversity beyond ethnicity and race, we can see the benefits in the most important aspects of our daily life, such as in our classrooms and workplace.

When talking about cultural diversity in our classrooms we talk about something more than just a variety of cultural backgrounds represented in them. When students from different cultural backgrounds, such as different socioeconomic backgrounds, religion beliefs or any kind of disability share their perspectives, it exposes everyone to an understanding of various subjects and issues that they might not have otherwise. Students learn to appreciate and respect differences, creating a sense of community and understanding. It also encourages students to think outside the box. Students learn to question their assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints, which is crucial to achieve academic and personal growth. Teachers also play a role in this environment. When they create space for every voice, they build confidence and inclusion. The result is not only better academic performance but also stronger human connections.

While the benefits are many, cultural diversity can also present certain challenges in the classroom. Starting with, different languages can pose a significant challenge in a culturally diverse classroom. Another example, some misunderstandings can occur when students are not aware of or sensitive to certain sexual orientations or to disabilities, which can lead to bullying and harassing. This is when having a diverse and inclusive curriculum that reflects diverse cultures and perspectives is crucial. Including literature, history, and examples from various cultures ensures that all students feel represented and valued. Creating safe spaces for open dialogue can encourage students to share their thoughts and learn from each other’s experiences. Because after all representation matters.

We can also find many benefits in having diversity in our workplace and we are not just talking about “race” or “diversity hires” to fill a quota. Cultural diversity is a must if you want employees and organizations to succeed. In a McKinsey report, companies that focus on diversity are 39% more likely to perform better if they have a lot of ethnic diversity compared to those with less diversity.

Having employees from different cultural backgrounds can enhance creativity and innovation within teams. Diverse perspectives lead to a broader range of ideas being brought to the table, ultimately driving growth and success. When companies include developing awareness and understanding of different customs, beliefs, and practices and educating individuals with this knowledge, companies are promoting respect for differences while fostering collaboration among team members. Cultural awareness is no longer a soft skill but a professional strength.

Having a team that is as diverse as the customers you are trying to reach is also a big win. An employee from Tokyo, for example, might have a better idea of what will fly off the shelves there. Or having women on your team designing female running shoes, for example, could give you better insight into what your target audience actually wants from your products.

However, managing cultural diversity comes with its own set of challenges. Communication styles may vary across cultures, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. For example, employees from collectivist cultures may be more likely to avoid conflict, while employees from individualist cultures may be more likely to speak up when they have a problem. Additionally, differing work ethics and values may require careful navigation to ensure everyone feels respected and valued. There is always the constant possibility of harassment and discrimination (Ageism, Racism, and Sexism) from certain co-workers against employees from underrepresented groups. That is why it is important to have a clear policy in place that prohibits these in the workplace. It is important to reiterate that “diversity hires” for the sake of diversity are not only unethical, but it can also backfire and create tension in the workplace if your team feels like an unqualified person was hired just to meet a quota.

IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY

As previously stated, cultural diversity is something that is of great importance in our society at large. Having a better understanding between different cultures, beliefs and life experiences can help make our world a more stable, peaceful place and can help us develop as a society and grow as individuals. Cultural diversity is not only experienced within a single country or region, but it extends far beyond borders. Now more than ever, being tolerant and appreciative of each other’s culture is a priority to build respect and camaraderie among people, in every important facet of our lives. It can also be a growing experience, it can make us more empathic towards situations that otherwise we could never be able to partake in our own lives, such as a disability, genre or sexual orientation. It is more than just embracing differences; it is about recognizing the value that each individual brings to the table and what we can learn from them.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, by exposing ourselves to different cultures, we gain a better understanding of others’ beliefs, traditions, and values. This helps build bridges between communities and reduces prejudice, racism, bullying or discrimination based on stereotypes.

Cultural diversity also enhances economic growth. In an interconnected world, businesses thrive by tapping into diverse markets and adapting their products or services accordingly. Companies that embrace multiculturalism are better equipped to understand customers’ needs globally.

Furthermore, cultural diversity enriches education by providing students with opportunities to learn from various perspectives. Exposure to different cultures broadens students’ horizons and prepares them for an increasingly interconnected workforce.

Embracing cultural diversity in a globalized world leads us towards building inclusive societies where everyone feels valued and respected for who they are. So let’s celebrate our differences as strengths rather than barriers!

Do you S.C.A.M.P.E.R? - The Best Ideation Method

 

The SCAMPER method is a creative brainstorming method that helps you generate new ideas by reworking old ones.

Each letter in SCAMPER represents a prompt: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. These seven actions help you challenge assumptions, find alternative solutions, and reshape ideas into something more original. This acronym can be used to explore problems from seven different perspectives, either individually or holistically as a whole. Basically, it encourages you to be creative and think outside the box, plus continuing to do so once you have come up with a ‘solution’.

This acronym is a question checklist to prompt ideas. This technique is based on the premise that any product/service/experience can be subjected to an innovation process by asking the following questions:

 

(S) Substitute – what else can we use instead of reverting to this usual idea?

The notion of substitution is about asking what elements of a product or process can be replaced without diminishing its value.

(C) Combine – Which ideas can be combined?

Combining involves merging elements of two or more products or processes to create something new or to enhance functionality. Form more novel ideas by combining a variety of disparate thoughts.

(A) Adapt – what circumstances have changed?

Adaptation asks us to consider how elements of one product or process can be adjusted or repurposed to serve another function.

(M) Modify/minify/magnify – What can be exaggerated, minimized, or altered in our current model to meet emerging needs or trends?

Modification encourages tweaking elements to improve a product or process, focusing on change in form, shape, or attributes.

(P) Put to another use – In what unconventional ways can our product, service, or process be used, and how can we promote these alternative uses?

This element involves thinking about how a product or process could be repurposed or used in a context for which it wasn't originally intended.

(E) Eliminate – What would happen if…?

Elimination focuses on simplifying by removing unnecessary or less effective elements – or even elements that might SEEM important.

(R) Reverse – basically what happens if we think of this backwards?

This principle suggests looking at the opposite of what you currently do, or rearranging components to see if a better solution emerges. Inversion thinking is another key critical thinking skill, which is well worth practicing.

 

Who invented the SCAMPER technique?

The SCAMPER technique is an ideation model developed by Bob Eberle in the early 1970s as a tool for teaching students/children to think creatively and solve problems.  He designed SCAMPER to facilitate easy recall of the different strategies one can employ to think creatively.

Eberle was inspired by the checklist in Alex Osborn's earlier work from his book "Applied Imagination". Osborn is known as the father of brainstorming techniques and one of the founding partners of the advertising agency BBDO. Osborn's work on developing creative problem-solving processes laid the foundation for many subsequent models, including SCAMPER.

SCAMPER was also influenced by techniques created by Frank E. Williams and his colleagues to encourage creative-imaginative expression in children.

So, using Osborn's questions, along with insights from Williams and his team's work, Eberle designed and created this technique which he described for the first time in his 1971 book "SCAMPER: Games for Imagination Development"

 

Practical Applications:

The SCAMPER model is widely used in various fields, including education, business, engineering, and design, to help individuals and teams generate innovative ideas and solutions by examining existing products or problems through seven different lenses. Its simplicity and effectiveness in stimulating creativity and innovation have made it a popular tool for brainstorming sessions and creative workshops.

You can use SCAMPER anytime you need fresh ideas. Follow these four steps to make the most of your SCAMPER session:

1. Set up your session

Start with a clear creative challenge or writing problem. Ask a specific question, like “How can I make this opening more engaging?” or “How might I revise this article for a new audience?” Write your question at the top of your document or whiteboard to stay focused.

2. Generate ideas across all seven prompts

Move through each letter of SCAMPER one by one. Focus on idea quantity over perfection. This means letting your ideas flow freely and capturing everything that comes to mind. Brainstorming tools can help structure your SCAMPER session.

Take a look at these examples of ideas that could come out of a SCAMPER session:

Substitute an anecdote with a surprising statistic, or eliminate filler to strengthen a weak introduction.

To improve a dull product description, try combining the benefits into one line or give them another use by turning them into social media content.

 3. Evaluate and refine your best ideas

Once you have a list of ideas, narrow it down. Cluster similar ideas and choose the ones that best fit your goals for the work. Merge complementary concepts to get the most out of them.

Example: Combine a new headline from Adapt with a restructured section from Modify.

 4. Repeat and reflect

SCAMPER works best when it’s iterative. After your first round, revisit promising ideas with new prompts. In other words, SCAMPER your SCAMPER results.

Example: If your first round focused on Substitute and Combine, run another using Reverse and Adapt.

TRY AND AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES:

·         Treating it as a checklist. The prompts are flexible, not fixed.

·         Overusing one prompt. Variety encourages deeper thinking.

·         Stopping at the first idea. Push beyond obvious answers.

·         Editing too early. Evaluate after brainstorming, not during.

·         Forgetting to document. Write down every idea.

·         Skipping repeat rounds. Revisiting SCAMPER after a break can reveal new insights.

SCAMPER Examples:

Creative Writing:

Scenario: A fiction writer outlines a short story that feels predictable. She doesn’t want to abandon the idea, so she explores ways to make the plot more suspenseful.

Adapt: Set a traditional tale in a modern context. This forces the writer to consider how modern sensibilities and technology would alter the original story’s plot points and ending.

Reverse: Change the ending to surprise readers. What if the opposite of the original ending happened?

Eliminate: Remove an unnecessary character. By streamlining the cast, the writer can develop the key characters further. This makes the characters feel more relatable, allowing readers to connect with them more easily.

Result: A tighter, more engaging narrative that feels original.

 

Problem Solving:

Scenario: Customer queries are taking too long to answer

Substitute: Replace email responses with a chatbot for common queries.

Combine: Combine AI with human oversight for faster, more accurate responses.

Adapt: Use strategies from fast-food chains to streamline query processing.

Modify: Modify the query process with prioritization algorithms for efficiency.

Put to another use: Use resolved queries as a knowledge base for customer self-service.

Eliminate: Eliminate redundant steps in the query resolution process.

Reverse the process: Let customers rate answers and guide the service improvements.

 

Project Development:

Scenario: Marketing campaign for chocolate cookies

Substitute: Substitute traditional advertising with user-generated content competitions.

Combine: Combine with a popular online game for a themed marketing campaign.

Adapt: Adapt storytelling techniques from cinema for engaging ads.

Modify: Modify the flavor profiles of the cookies in the campaign for uniqueness.

Put to another use: Put the cookies to use in recipes, promoting them as versatile ingredients.

Eliminate: Eliminate the use of artificial ingredients in the cookies.

Reverse: Reverse the roles: let customers create the campaign, with the best one winning a prize.

SCAMPER benefits anyone who writes, plans, or problem-solves for a living. It makes creativity practical and repeatable, helping you find fresh approaches to familiar work. Through this, you develop a natural ability to see things from multiple points of view, giving you the opportunity to challenge your own bias and identify flaws in your reasoning.

Audio sharing my perspective on the importance of idea generation/organizing techniques in the creative process

The 5 Steps of the Writing Process.

 

Link to the audio explaining the writing process: https://voca.ro/19VtcLKVDg8n

Put it in Writing

To begin to understand what makes writers and writing "good", we need to ask the larger question: What is writing?