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Standpoint Theory In The Film 'The Last Samurai'

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One of the theories that is evident in the movie ‘The Last Samurai’ is the standpoint theory. It explains that social groups shape people’s knowledge, individual experiences, behaviours and communication which happen because they belong to a single group. Standpoint theory brings into view a framework that enables the understanding of power systems. The theory also presents how social groups affect individuals’ lives. When people have a common interest because their common grouping, it means that they would have the same thinking and reasoning. The Last Samurai has presented many cross cultural communication between the characters in the movie. The problem in the dialogue below results in communication breakdown happening due to socio-pragmatic …show more content…

Algren should have uttered an expression of apology instead of appreciation. Long (2010) states that in place of gratitude expressions Japanese regularly use apology expressions. This phenomenon is explained by Coulman (as cited in Long, …show more content…

(2007). Communication across cultures: mutual understanding in a global world. Cambridge University Press. • Ellis, R. (2008). The study of second language acquisition (2nd edn.). Oxford University Press. • Fryer, M., “A cross cultural pragmatic investigation: Discussion using the film The Last Samurai,” http://repository.tokaigakuen-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/11334/400/1/kiyo_w019_08.pdf • Ide, R. (1998). 'Sorry for your kindness': Japanese interactional rituals in public discourse. Journal of Pragmatics, 29, 509-529 • Long, C. (2010). Apology in Japanese gratitude situations: The negotiation of interlocutor role relations. Journal of Pragmatics, 42, 1060-1075. • Thomas, J. (1983). Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics, 4 (2), 91-111. • Thomas, J. (1995). Meaning in interaction: an introduction to pragmatics. London: Longman. • Wierzbicka, A. (2003). Cross-cultural pragmatics: The semantics of human interaction. Berlin: Mouton de

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