Pragmatic transfer in making apology in English by Vietnamese learners at Hue University

Tóm tắt

Abstract: This study aims to investigate pragmatic transfer among Vietnamese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). It examines the speech act of apologizing in American English and Vietnamese focusing on pragmatic transfer. A discourse completion task (DCT) was used to elicit apology responses from four groups of participants: 18 native speakers of American English (Es), 20 native speakers of Vietnamese (Vs), 20 Vietnamese elementary learners of English (VEEs) and 20 Vietnamese advanced learners of English (VEAs). It was found that pragmatic transfer was operative in the performance of Vietnamese EFL learners. VEEs exhibited more negative pragmatic transfer than VEAs, particularly in Concern and Forbearance strategies. In addition, language proficiency was found to affect the operation of pragmatic transfer of Vietnamese learners.