Researchers in the area of second language acquisition (SLA), language education and cross-cultural communication have attempted to interpret communication problems of speakers with non English linguistic and cultural backgrounds in a broad cultural and educational context. In order to explain communication problems between native and non-native speakers and their communication breakdowns, "investigators must go beyond an analysis of the purely linguistic features of the interaction (phonology, morphology, syntax, and prosody), and consider as well its pragmatic and sociocultural dimensions" Gass & Varonis (1991, p. 121). Cultural studies in the area of SLA often result in the discussion of research methodologies to be employed - the quantitative based speech act research and qualitative methods of naturalistic inquiry.