Interactional Strategies in South Asian Languages: Their Implications for Teaching English Internationally

Abstract

Examination of interactional strategies in several South Asian langs shows that the norms that effect politeness in South Asian langs are very different from those that operate in native Eng. The implications of these differences for the teaching of Eng in South Asia are explored in the context of the relationship between lang & "grammar of culture." It is claimed that communicative competence can only be achieved when there is a fit between lang & grammar of culture. This must be kept in mind when Eng is taught internationally because in countries in which Eng has been institutionalized speakers have adapted Eng to fit in with their grammar of culture. These speakers of Eng have communicative competence in their variety of Eng, & the need for them to develop native-like competence is debatable. HA.