4 - The Nature of Cross-Cultural Pragmatic Data and Their Analysis

Summary

Chapter 4 provides a summary of the datatypes studied in cross-cultural pragmatics and the fundamental methodologies used in the field. First, we systematically discuss different types of data, by arguing that the conventional categories of ‘naturally occurring’ and ‘elicited’ data are equally important for cross-cultural pragmatic research. The relationship between these two categories is particularly important to discuss: while using elicited data has been subject to major criticisms in the field of pragmatics, we promote an inclusive cross-cultural pragmatics approach, which should not exclude any datatype. Following our overview of datatypes, we summarise qualitative and quantitative approaches frequented in the field. The chapter explains in detail why it is pivotal for the cross-cultural pragmatician to attempt to combine qualitative and quantitative research if she wants to compare language use in a rigorous and replicable way.