Transcript pragmatics speech act

Speech Act
Speech act theory was proposed by John. L. Austin
and has been developed by J. R. Searle.
They believe that language is not only used to
inform or to describe things, it is often used to
“do things”, to perform acts.

“There is a policeman at the corner.”
 This could be a warning, an assurance, a
dare, a hint, or a reminder to go and take
your car out of the handicapped space you
are parked in.

When he was campaigning, Clinton said he would
not turn away any Haitian refugees.
When he became President, Clinton turned away
Haitian refugees.
Clinton said that the conditions had changed.
 Based on this, Daniel Schorr on National Public
Radio said, “Campaigning is not the same as
governing,” because the conditions are not the
same.
(Mey 127)

Locutionary aspect
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Illocutionary aspect
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Perlocutionary aspect

Illocutionary aspect
 five categories:
- representatives,
- directives,
- commissives,
- expressives and
- declarations.
Illocutionary Acts
David Crystal, quoting J.R. Searle, gives five categories: representatives,
directives, commissives, expressive and declarative.

Representative is a speech act that the
speaker asserts a proposition to be true,
using such verbs as: affirm, believe, conclude,
deny, report.

Example : I went to the Affandi’s painting exhibition. There
were about twenty painting on display. Some are very
classic and extraordinarily awesome.


Directive is a speech act that the speaker
tries to make the hearer do something, with
such words as: ask, beg, challenge,
command, dare, invite, insist, request.
Examples : I need/ want that car, Give me
your pen, Could you give me your pen,
please?, May I have some soda? Is there any
milk left?.


Commissive is a speech act that the speaker
commits himself (or herself) to a (future)
course of action, with words such as:
guarantee, pledge, promise, swear, vow,
undertake, refuses .
Examples : Maybe I can do that tomorrow,
Don’t worry, I’ll be there.


Expressive is a speech act that expresses on
the speaker's attitudes and emotions
towards the proposition, using such words
as: apologize, appreciate, congratulate,
deplore, detest, regret, thank, welcome.
Examples : I am very disappointed, What a
great day!!!, Oh … my that’s terrible.


Declarative is a speech act that the speaker
alters the external status or condition of an
object or situation, solely by making the
utterance.
Examples : Class dismissed (students get up
and leave), I now pronounce you husband
and wife, I name this ship...
•
Giving factual information
ex. The plane departs at 7:10.
•
Giving intellectual information
ex. These arguments are correct.
•
Exchange emotional attitudes
ex. I’m worried about my term papers.
•
Exchange moral attitudes
I appreciate your help.
•
Persuasion
Hand in your assignments.
•
Socializing
Hi, Larry, how are you?

Interrogatives (Hearer Knows Best)
example: Closed (yes-no), Loaded, Open
 Do you wear a seat belt?

Performatives (Affect world)
example: Agreement, Appointment, Baptism, Declaration of
Independence, Dedication, Marriage

Implicit perfomatives/primary perrfomatives
ex. Clean up this mess!
The work was done by Elaine and myself

Explicit performatives
ex. I hereby order you that you clean up this mess.
I hereby tell you that the work was done by Elaine and myself

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
Subject must be 1st person.
Verb must be active.
Verb must be non-durative.
Adverb must be “hereby.”
Sentence must be positive, not
negative.

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Sentence must be Imperative or
Declarative.
Verb must perform the act.
Must meet felicity conditions (authority,
etc.)
Must meet sincerity conditions (not a joke,
etc.)
Can be larger than a sentence (e.g. The
Declaration of Independence)
(Mey 107ff)

“Could you move over a bit?”

“Yes” (without moving is inappropriate)

Moving (without “Yes” is appropriate)

NOTE: “Could you move over a bit” is a
precondition to the actual speech act, “Move
over.”
(Mey 111)

Do you know what time it is?

Do you have the correct time?

Can you tell me how to get to the men’s room?
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Do you see the salt anywhere?

It’s cold in here.

Why can’t you shut up?
NOTE: These are preconditions
(Mey 126-127, 135)

I strongly suggest you shut your mouth.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to shut up.

I wonder if you really should do all that talking.

I wouldn’t say more, if I were you.

Remember the proverb, “Speech is silver….?”

How about if you just shut up?
(Mey 136)
DURING A JOB INTERVIEW:

“Would you like to tell us, Mr. Khan, why
you’ve applied to Middleton College?
This is known as “fishing for compliments.”
(Mey 213)
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I promise not to keep this promise.
Do not read this sign.
You did a great job, and I’m not being
polite.
(Mey 129, 177)

I beg your excellency to please accept these keys
to the city as a token of our humble submission to
your excellency (to commander of enemy troops
who have captured a city)

*I (hereby) promise to set fire to your house.

*I (hereby) warn you that you will be awarded the
Nobel Prize.
(Mey 130-131)
SILENCE AS A SPEECH ACT

MOTHER (Calling out the window to child in
yard): Joshua, what are you doing?

JOSHUA: Nothing…

MOTHER: WILL YOU STOP IT
IMMEDIATELY!

“What I like best is doing nothing…. It’s
when people call out at you just as you’re
going off to do it. ‘What are you going to
do, Christopher Robin?’ and you say, ‘Oh,
nothing,’ and then you go and do it.”
(Milne, The House on Pooh Corner Chapter 10)
STUDENT: I was going to talk to you about my
term paper, if it’s all right.
 PROFESSOR: SILENCE
 STUDENT: When do you think you’ll have it
marked then?

PROFESSOR: Miriam, I hope you brought the
book.
 MIRIAM: SILENCE
 PROFESSOR: Okay, but please remember it next
time.

(Blum-Kulka 176)