Ethnographic studies of the ‘rules of speaking’ which characterize particular communities have shed much light on the ways in which speech acts are realized in particular speech communities. For example, researchers have examined the use of invitations, requests, apologies, and refusals among middle-class, mainly White, Americans. While the research on speech acts has offered a wealth of descriptive information on how people in particular communities use language in everyday settings, its application to second/foreign language pedagogy remains controversial. Should ESL/ EFL teachers include the study of speech acts in particular and intercultural pragmatics in general in their classrooms? How? When? What considerations should teachers have when introducing speech acts and pragmatics in class? Support your ideas with examples when necessary.
