THE PARADOX OF PERFECTION: HOW AI’S GRAMMATICAL PRECISION MASKS SOCIOPRAGMATIC FAILURES IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Abstract

This article examines how the structural impeccability of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) serves as a cognitive trap within the paradigm of second language acquisition. The authors argue that the syntactic-lexical precision of large language models masks profound sociopragmatic deficiencies, fostering a “fluency illusion” that precipitates the atrophy of metapragmatic judgment. Central to this study is the “paradox of perfection,” a phenomenon in which AI’s flawless syntax creates a profound halo effect, neutralizing a learner’s ability to recognize sociocultural inappropriateness. The research analyzes the risks of erosion of pragmatic sensitivity among students using AI for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) acquisition. It contends that over-reliance on algorithmically perfected outputs facilitates a state of “hidden pragmatic incompetence”. This condition is characterized by a high level of formal literacy paired with an inability to make independent sociopragmatic choices in real-world interactions. To mitigate these risks, the study proposes a fundamental shift in pedagogical focus: from utilizing AI as an authoritative source to employing it as an object of pragmatic deconstruction. The authors outline specific methodological strategies, such as contextual prompting and metapragmatic reflection, to restore human communicative authenticity in the digital age.