Expressive The Types of Illocutionary Act Performed by the Main Characters in Alan

The above dialogue happened at Zoe’s pet store. Stan suddenly appeared in front of her and it shocked her. He then apologized to Zoe and explained that he did not mean to scare her. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains the expression ‘I’m sorry’, it is identified as apologizing. Another example of apologizing can be seen in the following dialogue. The above dialogue occurred after Zoe told Stan the news about her pregnancy. Zoe looked at Stan who was still shocked and apologized to him. In reference to this context, since Zoe’s utterances are statements which consist of the expression ‘I’m sorry’, they are identified as apologizing. The following dialogue also contains apologizing performed by the main character. 4: 38 Zoe : What are you doing here? Stan : I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, or hurt your dog. Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker. Zoe : How’d you know I worked here? P: Zoe and Stan S: Hudson Pets, day IAS-5P13D-10bExCV 4: 39 Zoe : Because I’m freaking out, okay. I didn’t know what to do. I made this big decision to do and then I met you--- Stan : Well, what I am supposed to do now? This isn’t how it was supposed to be. This isn’t what--- Zoe : I’m sorry. I’m sorry, okay? P: Zoe and Stan S: Stan’s bathroom, night IAS-20P57D-50dExCV The above dialogue took place after Zoe informed Stan that she was pregnant by a donor insemination. Since he was shocked, Stan asserted to Zoe that she was pregnant with another person’s child. Realizing that his utterance made Zoe uncomfortable, Stan then apologized to her. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains the expression ‘I’m sorry’, it is identified as apologizing. 3 Stating Love Stating love is an act to express love towards someone or something. Conversation presented below contains the only two findings of stating love expressed by the main characters. 4: 40 Stan : I tell you I’m in love with you and you tell me you’re pregnant with some stranger’s child? Zoe : Don’t say it like that. You make it sound dirty. Stan : I’m sorry. I… I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say. What the fuck am I supposed to say? This is great fucking news? Congratulations? Why did you wait so long to tell me? P: Zoe and Stan S: Stan’s bathroom, night IAS-20P56D-49dExCV The above dialogue happened at Stan’s bathroom. Stan confessed to Zoe that he loved her. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains the expression ‘I love’, it is identified as stating love. Another example of stating love in the movie is presented as follows. The above dialogue took place after Zoe told Stan that she was pregnant. Since Stan was shocked, Zoe explained the reason why she did the insemination. After that, 4: 41 Stan : Well, let me go, because this is really embarrassing, and I just have to say it. Zoe : Okay. Stan : I’ve dated a lot of women. I mean, not tons, but a lot. And, the thing is, I’ve never been in love before. I’ve never told anyone I love them before. Because I just never felt it. But from the day we met, from the first time our backs accidentally touched in the subway, I feel this… Maybe this is too much to say right now but… I love you, Zoe. I really do. Stan finishes. He looks at her and smiles. Zoe just stares at him P: Zoe and Stan S: Stan’s room, night IAS-19P54D-41bExCV 4: 42 Zoe sits in the passenger seat with the key in the ignition. Stan leans against the car. They are both quiet. Zoe : I don’t know what to say. I guess I’d given up on meeting someone like you, and I did what I thought was best. But for what it’s worth, I love you, too. Stan says nothing, he runs his foot back and forth in the gravel P: Zoe and Stan S: Inside a car, in front of Stan’s farm, day IAS-21P58D-52cExCV she told Stan that she also loved him. In relation to this context, Zoe’s utterance belongs to stating love since it is a statement which contains the expression ‘I love’. 4 Thanking Thanking is an act to tell someone that the speaker is pleased and grateful for something they have done, or to be polite about it. The words that indicate thanking are ‘thank’ and ‘thank you’. Datum presented below is the only finding of thanking performed by the main character. The above dialogue took place when Zoe and Stan were about to separate after the cab argument. Before separating, Stan wished Zoe that her good things would continue. Zoe responded his wish by thanking him. In reference to this context, since Zoe’s utterance contains the expression ‘Thanks’, it is then identified as thanking. 5 Greeting Greeting is an act to give a sign, words of welcome, or pleasure when meeting somebody or receiving a guest. The words which indicate greeting are ‘Hello’, ‘Hey’, and ‘Hi’. Conversation presented below contains the only two findings of greeting performed by the main characters. 4: 43 Stan : So, why are you such in a good mood anyway? Zoe : Not that it’s any of your business, but good things are happening to me. Stan : That’s nice. I hope it continues. Zoe : Thanks. Well, have a nice life. Try not steal anymore cabs. P: Zoe and Stan S: Union Square Subway, day IAS-4P10D-8bExCV The above dialogue occurred in front of Zoe’s house when Stan picked her up to go on a date. Stan came to Zoe’s house to meet her after they did not meet for a while. Stan greeted her by saying ‘Hi’ and Zoe greeted him back by saying the same word. With regard to this context, Stan and Zoe’s utterances are categorized as greeting since they contain the expression ‘Hi’. “Hi” is an interjection used as a greeting when somebody meets or sees others. 6 Complimenting Complimenting is an act that shows someone’s admiration to others. Complimenting is intended to say something nice to someone in order to praise them. The example of complimenting performed by the main character is provided below. 4: 44 Zoe turns. They both stop. Unsure of whether to hug or what. They just stand there. Zoe : Hi. Stan : Hi. Zoe : You said that already P: Zoe and Stan S: Hudson Street, day IAS-22P68D-53aExCV and IAS-22P68D-53bExCV 4: 45 Zoe : Hi. Stan : Hi. Zoe : You said that already. Stan : You look great. P: Zoe and Stan S: Hudson Street, day IAS-22P68D-53dExCV The above dialogue happened in front of Zoe’s house. Stan was ready to ask her to go out. Stan complimented Zoe that her appearance looked great. With regard to this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains a compliment about Zoe’s appearance, it is identified as complimenting. The other complimenting performed by the main character is presented below. The above dialogue happened at Zoe’s house when she and Stan were getting ready for a date. Zoe was annoyed at the fact that she did not have anything to wear because of her big baby bump. Stan then comforted Zoe by complimenting her that she always looked great. In reference to this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains his compliment about Zoe’s appearance, it is identified as complimenting. 7 Stating Condolence Stating condolence is an act to express sympathy and sadness for the family or close friends of someone who has died. Datum presented below is the only finding of stating condolence employed by the main character. 4: 46 Zoe : This sucks. Stan : Honey, whatever you wear is fine. Zoe : I don’t have anything to wear. That’s the problem. Stan : You always look great. I’ve never seen you not look great. P: Zoe and Stan S: Zoe’s apartment, night IAS-27P75D-59dExCV The above dialogue happened when Zoe was telling Stan about her family. She told him that her parents had passed away when she was young. Stan then expressed his condolence by saying ‘I’m so sorry’. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterance is a statement which contains the expression ‘I’m so sorry’, it is identified as stating condolence. 8 Stating Annoyance Stating annoyance is an act to express the feeling or state of being annoyed. Datum presented below is the only finding of stating annoyance performed by the main character. 4: 47 Stan : How about your family? Zoe : It’s just me and my grandmother. She lives in a retirement community in Queens. My parents died when I was young. Stan : I’m so sorry. P: Zoe and Stan S: Gray’s Papaya Hot Dogs, night IAS-8P25D-20cExCV 4: 48 Another dress flies out Zoe : This sucks Stan : Honey, whatever you wear is fine. Zoe : I don’t have anything to wear, that’s the problem. P: Zoe and Stan S: Zoe’s apartment, night IAS-27P75D-59aExCV The above dialogue happened when Zoe and Stan were getting ready for a date. Since she was pregnant, Zoe could not find any dress that fitted her body. She expressed her annoyance by uttering the expression ‘This sucks’. Stating annoyance expresses anger, frustration, or displeasure towards someone or something. In the dialogue above, since Zoe’s utterance is an exclamation which contains her annoyance, it is identified as stating annoyance.

e. Commissive

Commissive act is the type of speech act that speakers use to commit themselves to some future action. It expresses speaker’s intention. Based on the analysis, there are 12 occurrences of commissive act found in the movie. The illocutionary forces of commissive act found in the findings are promising, offering, and guaranteeing. The discussion of each force is presented below. 1 Promising Promising is an act to commit the speaker to do or to be something in the future. An example of promising performed by the main character can be seen in the following dialogue. 4: 49 Stan : Hey, I was thinking, id you don’t have any plans this weekend, maybe you’d like to come up to the farm and get away for a few days. Zoe : I’ll call you tomorrow. Something’s not agreeing with me. P: Zoe and Stan S: Perry Street, night IAS-12P36D-25dCoCP The above dialogue happened in the front of Zoe’s house after she and Stan had their first dinner. Stan asked whether Zoe would like to visit his farm in the weekend or not. Zoe then answered by saying ‘I’ll call you tomorrow’ in which she committed herself to a future action. With regard to this context, since Zoe’s utterance is a statement which contains the modal ‘will’, it is then identified as promising. Another example of promising by the main character is presented below. The above dialogue took place when Stan accompanied Zoe going to Lori’s apartment to witness her birth delivery. Since Zoe did not want Stan to join her, she asked him to go home and then promised him that she would meet him there. With regard to this context, since Zoe’s utterance is a statement which contains the modal ‘will’, it is identified as promising. The following dialogue contains another promising performed by the main character. 4: 50 Stan : I’m confused. Why did you say you would come witness this birth in the first place? Zoe : I don’t know. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I was trying to get back in their good graces. Go home. I’ll meet you there. I don’t want them to see you anyway. Stan : It’s four in the morning. I’m not letting you walk home alone. P: Zoe and Stan S: Lori’s apartment building lobby IAS-30P84D-63eCoCP The above dialogue occurred in front of the lobby of Lori’s apartment. Since he did not let her walk home alone, Stan accompanied Zoe to witness Lori’s water birth delivery. Zoe then promised to him that she would just pop in and leave. In reference to this context, since Zoe’s utterance is a statement which consists of the modal ‘will’, therefore it is identified as promising. 2 Offering Offering is an act to show or express willingness or intention to do or give something. Offering something to somebody also means to put forward something to be considered, so it can then be either accepted or refused. There are only two occurrences of offering performed by the main characters. The first offering is presented as follows. 4: 51 Stan : It’s four in the morning. I’m not letting you walk home alone. Zoe : Fine. I’ll just pop in, show my face and leave. Ten minutes, tops. P: Zoe and Stan S: Lori’s apartment building lobby IAS-30P84D-64dCoCP 4: 52 Stan : Can I just give you my card? Here, take my card. I’m not a freak, really. I sell cheese. Zoe : Cheese? Stan : Yeah. My family has a goat farm. We make cheese. You like cheese? P: Zoe and Stan S: Hudson Pets, night IAS-5P14D-13bCoCV The above dialogue happened when Stan visited Zoe’s pet store. Stan assured Zoe that he was not a stalker by offering her to take his name card. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterance is an imperative sentence which contains an offer to take his name card, it is identified as offering. The other offering is presented below. The above dialogue took place in front of Zoe’s house. Before separating, Stan offered her to visit his house and his goat farm if she did not have plans in the weekend. In regard with this context, since Stan’s utterances are statements which contain an offer to visit his goat farm, they are identified as offering. 3 Guaranteeing Guaranteeing is an act to promise that something will happen or exist. Datum presented below is the only finding of guaranteeing performed by the main character in the movie. 4: 53 Zoe : All right. I have to go to bed now. I’ll call you, okay? Stan : Okay. Hey, I was thinking, if you don’t have any plans this weekend, maybe you’d like to come up to the farm and get away for a few days. Zoe : I’ll call you tomorrow. Something’s not agreeing with me. P: Zoe and Stan S: Hudson Pets, night IAS-12P36D-25cCoCV