Using Novels as Pedagogical Tools for Teaching Cross-Cultural Competence to English Language Students: Focus on Speech Acts

Abstract

This study discusses the importance of developing cross-cultural competence among students of English language. It is argued that novels written in different contexts can be used as pedagogical material to teach students how the use of speech acts vary from one cultural context to another cultural context. Understanding this difference can help encourage mutual understanding and mutual respect between interlocutors coming from different cultural contexts. Data collected through purposive sampling from novels written in a range of contexts were qualitatively analysed to demonstrate how cross-cultural competence can be developed among students of English using culturally appropriate literary dialogues as pedagogical tools. It is suggested that dialogue-based language input of speech acts taken from novels can help students of English understand the importance of socio-cultural context in which speech acts are embedded.