Could pragmatic ability develop through universal pragmatic knowledge?

Abstract

Pragmatics discusses the disparity between what someone intends to communicate and what someone actually says. This paper intends to see whether or not, L2 pragmatic ability could develop in classroom setting without instructions in Pragmatics. Learners gain knowledge because some pragmatic knowledge is universal and maybe transferred from learners’ L1 such as speech acts, sequencing, turn taking, and others. The paper intends to see strategies of apology across ethno linguistically distant speech community that is apology speech acts shown in English TV Series Friends and Indonesian TV Series Office Boy. The finding shows that strategies of apology in English and Indonesian are alike comprising IFID, Responsibility, Explanation, Repair, Forbearance, Addressed, Phatic, and Interjection.This explains the universal trait that is the transferof L1 apology to L2 apology. However, as each culture is unique, particular linguistic feature is important. English Apology uses Forbearance more. Indonesian apology usesAddressed more.It can be concluded that English and Indonesian are alike in pragmatic aspect as apology speech acts. However, students also need knowledge of linguistic features that each culture carries.Learners acquire linguistic means and non-linguistic knowledge of other culture to perform apologizing