Abstract:This paper explains the concept of “pragmatic competence” and classifies the pragmatic failure. Pragmatic failure comes about as the inability to understand what is meant by what is said. Pragmatic failure is an area of cross-cultural communication breakdown. It occurs on many occasions when the hearer comprehends the force of the speaker’s words as other than the speaker said he or she should understand. It studies and discusses three types of pragmatic failure: pragmalinguistic failure, sociopragmatic failure and pragmabehavioral failure. English is becoming a global language. In English teaching, it is necessary to pay more attention to develop students’ pragmatic competence.

Key words： pragmatic failure; pragmatic competence; cross-cultural communication; culture

摘要:本论文解释和论述语用失误的含义和种类，在跨文化交际中由于听话人不理解说话人的语用意义，没有做出恰当的反应，从而产生语用失误。中英交际也不例外。本论文涉及到的语用失误有三种：语言－语用失误，社交－语用失误和行为－语用失误。英语全球化趋势日趋明显，在外语教学中应重视培养学生的语用能力。

关键词：语用失误；语用能力；跨文化交际；文化