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This article reflects on the connection between intercultural pragmatics, discussing its main issues, topics of interest and ideas, and that of pragmatic competence, as applied to the process of acquiring and learning Spanish as a second language. The analysis focuses on the discussion on some pragmatic contrasts between English and Spanish. Contrastive analysis may show the differences and similarities between the two languages, since such contrasts show not only the two linguistic systems but also the speakers' preferences in their ways of speaking and organizing discourse. This kind of knowledge is essential to approach and fully understand the concept of pragmatic competence in learning Spanish a Second Language, identifying illocutionary, sociolinguistic and interactional competence and introducing knowledge on contextual and cultural values, as well as the speaker's pragmatic awareness and desire to follow them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]