The Transfer of Persian Language Speech Acts into English Language

Abstract

This paper investigates socio-pragmatic transfer of speech acts from Persian language into English language. The researcher
compares the data gathered from Persian speakers of English and American native English in five different service situations. Persian
speakers of English have different semantic interpretations from native American speakers, they conform to different sociolinguistic
norms. So when Persian speakers want to speak English they consider their own cultural and social norms and transfer them in to
English. Misunderstanding and break downs in conversations are due to this socio-pragmatic transfer. Adhering to different speaking
rules and models of accepted behavior can cause different cultural perceptions about the L2 speakers, some of which are not true
perceptions of course. So we should be careful about false cultural perceptions naming stereotypes without having knowledge about L2
speakers' cultural and social backgrounds.