CROSS-CULTURAL AND PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT — THE KEY TO DEEP LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Keywords:
pragmatic competence, cross-cultural competence, CEFR, speech etiquette, context, irony, communication strategies.Abstract
This thesis scientifically substantiates that at advanced language proficiency levels (B2–C2), grammatical or lexical knowledge alone is insufficient. Learners must also acquire cross-cultural and pragmatic competences—such as understanding cultural norms, social etiquette, and context-appropriate speech—as emphasized by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which specifically highlights “the ability to use language effectively” in language teaching⁴. The paper analyzes concepts such as “conversational ethics,” “adjusting communication to the interlocutor’s status,” and “the use of irony and hedging expressions,” and proposes practical teaching methodologies. As a result, learners become capable of using the language effectively not only in the classroom but also in real-life situations.
