Classification of Speech Acts

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2. Classification of Speech Acts

Searle in Mey, 1993: 163 provides classification of speech act into five types, namely declarations, assertives, expressive, directives, and commissives. 1. Declarations Declarations are kinds of speech acts that declare something. Declarations function to change the status of the person or object by performing the act successfully. In order to perform a declaration appropriately, the speaker has to have special institutional role in specific context. Thus, the speaker changes the world through words. Declarations cover declaring war, christening, etc. Examples: Priest : I pronounce you husband and wife President : I declare war to England Referee : You are out 2. Assertives Assertives are kinds of speech acts that commit the speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition. Assertives function to describe state or event. In using an assertive, the speaker makes words fit the world of belief. The speaker is representing world, as she or he believes it is. Assertives include conclusions, assertions, and descriptions. Examples: xxxix The earth is flat It was a warm sunny day Mia is a beautiful girl 3. Expressives Expressives are kinds of speech acts that express psychological state feeling and attitude. In using an expressive, the speaker makes the word fit the world of feeling. Expressives cover thanking, apologizing, welcoming, and congratulating. It can also be statements of pleasure, pain, joy, and sorrow. Examples: I’m really sorry Congratulations Thank you for your help. 4. Directives Directives are kinds of speech acts that speaker uses to get someone else to do something. Directives express the speaker’s want. Directives cover commands, orders, requests, and questions. Examples: Open the window, please Could you lend me a pen, please? Don’t throw the rubbish to the river 5. Commisives xl Commisives are kinds of speech acts stating that the speaker uses to commit him or herself to some future action. Commisives express what the speaker intends. Commisives include promises, threats, and refusals. Examples: I’ll be back. I promise him I would come. I will finish my homework tomorrow. Thus, based on the classification above, it is clear that request belongs to directive. It expresses the speaker’s want in order to get the hearer to do something.

F. Kinesics