Jenny Thomas is a significant figure in the field of pragmatics, particularly known for her contributions to the understanding of **pragmatic failure**. Her seminal work, notably the 1983 article "Cross-cultural Pragmatic Failure," laid the groundwork for analyzing how misunderstandings occur in communication across different cultures.
## Key Concepts of Jenny Thomas's Pragmatics
### **Pragmatic Failure**
- **Definition**: Thomas defines pragmatic failure as "the inability to comprehend what is intended by what is spoken" [1]. This concept highlights the challenges that arise when speakers and listeners come from different cultural backgrounds, leading to misinterpretations of meaning.
- **Types**: She categorizes pragmatic failures into two main types:
- **Pragma-linguistic failure**: This occurs when there are misunderstandings about the pragmatic force of an utterance, often due to different linguistic contexts.
- **Socio-pragmatic failure**: This type arises from differing beliefs about social norms, rights, and expectations in communication [3][4].
### **Negotiation of Meaning**
Thomas emphasizes that pragmatics involves the negotiation of meaning between speakers and listeners. This process is influenced by the context of the utterance and the social dynamics at play during communication [2]. She argues that without an understanding of pragmatics, communication would lack depth, as it focuses on implied meanings rather than just literal interpretations.
### **Dynamic Nature of Communication**
In her book *Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics*, Thomas explores how meaning is not static but dynamic, shaped by the interactions between speakers and hearers. She considers various social and psychological factors that influence how utterances are generated and interpreted [5][6]. This perspective encourages a more nuanced understanding of language use in real-life contexts.
### **Implications for Language Learning**
Thomas's work has significant implications for language education, particularly in teaching English as a second language. By understanding pragmatic failure, educators can better prepare students to navigate cross-cultural communications effectively, enhancing their pragmatic competence [1][3].
In summary, Jenny Thomas's contributions to pragmatics focus on the complexities of communication across cultures, emphasizing the importance of context and the dynamic nature of meaning. Her insights into pragmatic failure provide valuable frameworks for both theoretical exploration and practical application in language learning and intercultural communication.
Citations:
[1] https://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/ideas/article/download/2785/1824/9218
[2] https://www.uoanbar.edu.iq/eStoreImages/Bank/444.pdf
[3] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1203607.pdf
[4] https://repository.uir.ac.id/4335/5/bab2.pdf
[6] https://books.google.co.id/books?id=82hZAQAACAAJ&hl=id&cad=4
[7] https://www.jstor.org/stable/44486902
[8] https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/Jenny-A.-Thomas/2115544168
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