Types of Speech Acts based on The Way They Are Delivered
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This is another datum of direct speech acts. Prep 2 Nice trophy... here, let me see...
JH : Hey Give me that back Ri : Hey Jimmy, you want some help handling those losers?
173DiDir2-22 The dialogue above happens among Jimmy, Rico and the Prep. The setting is in
the bicycle shop. Jimmy is entering the shop while Rico is talking with the shop keeper about his new bike concept. Jimmy is coming for his trophy of his winning
on the bike race. The shop keeper is handing over the trophy to Jimmy when suddenly the preps come and spoil the situation. The preps are stealing the trophy.
Jimmy directly commands them to give the trophy back. Jimmy employs a direct speech act to express directive act. The prep ignores the order and runs away with
the trophy. Jimmy and Rico are chasing after them. This one is another example of direct speech acts found in Bully video
game. Eggs Clerk : Thank you Thank you Jeez, that dumb kids really
strong. R
: Dumb? JH
: Hey … be good, be good.
178DiDir2-23 The setting of the datum above is in front of the egg market. The character in the
dialogue are Jimmy, eggs clerk, and Russel. Russel is mad at the eggs clerk, because he calls him dumb. Russel lifts the man up and bullies him. Jimmy passes
by and the eggs clerk asks Jimmy for helping him. Jimmy tries to comfort Russel down. Jimmy also suggests him to be good. Jimmy employs a directive act by
suggesting Russel to behave. Jimmy directly asks Russel to calm down and be good. Russel follows Jimmy
’s suggestion and he is able to control himself.
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The other type of speech acts based on the directness found in Bully video game is indirect speech acts. Indirect speech acts are the types of speech acts that
are using secondary expression or indirect expression as the way to deliver the intention to the listener. The speaker indirectly expresses his or her action to the
listener. The frequency of indirect speech acts found in Bully video game are 21 times or 9.7 from total 216 data. This type of speech act needs further
understanding of its structures or the felicity conditions delivered along with the production of speech acts. There are four felicity conditions of speech acts that
need to be full-filled for speech acts to be successfully performed. The conditions are preparatory conditions, propositional content conditions, sincerity conditions,
and essential conditions. The examples of indirect speech acts found in Bully video game are discussed as follows.
Eggs Clerk : Too bad, too bad. Was it that jerks Tad? Jimmy Nod you know his parents are at party at boss’s house right
now. If you wanted a revenge thing. Now would be a good time.
JH : I guess, ill need some more eggs then.
Eggs Clerk : Ah yes, you got it. 181InDRep-Dir2-23
The dialogue above is between Jimmy and the eggs clerk in front of his shop. Eggs clerk is being bullied by Russel. He asks Jimmy for helping him to
calm Russel down. The eggs clerk tells Jimmy that this time is good to make a revenge to the rich guy. Jimmy states that he needs some more eggs. Jimmy
employs a direct representative act of stating. The propositional content condition is the condition when Jimmy wants to revenge in future action. The preparatory
conditions are the conditions where Jimmy is able to revenge and where he needs
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eggs to revenge. The sincerity condition is the condition when Jimmy is willing to do the revenge. The essential condition is Jimmy
’s attempt on the revenge. However, the preparatory condition of the act of stating above indicates the act of
requesting. The preparatory conditions become the conditions where Jimmy needs eggs to do the revenge and where the eggs clerk has the eggs. the sincerity
condition becomes the eggs clerk’s ability to fulfill Jimmy’s request. Therefore,
the essential condition is the conditions where the eggs clerk provides Jimmy with eggs to egg the rich boy house. It shows the datum above contain two kinds of
speech acts. They are a direct act of stating and an indirect act of requesting. This is another example of indirect speech acts found in Bully video game.
JH : How much? M : Ten groats...
JH : What? M : I mean, ten bucks...
JH : Wait here
…
86InDDir-Com1-12 The dialogue above is between Jimmy and Melvin. The setting is in front of the
school library. Melvin has been thinking about his stolen character sheets when Jimmy appears. He tells Jimmy about his problem. He asks Jimmy to retrieve the
lost sheets and he will give reward to Jimmy ten groats. Hearing the offer, again Jimmy asks him to clarify it. Melvin then corrects it as ten bucks. Jimmy agrees
with the offer. Jimmy commands him to wait there. Jimmy employs a directive act of command by telling Melvin to wait. The propositional content condition is the
condition when Melvin is waiting for Jimmy to take over his character sheets. The preparatory conditions are the conditions when Melvin is able to wait for Jimmy
and the condition when Jimmy is able to get the sheets back. The sincere
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condition is the condition when Melvin is willing to do the command. The essential condition is Melvin
’s attempt in waiting for Jimmy. The preparatory condition of the command above is related to the act of agreeing. The condition
when Jimmy is able to get the sheets back is the preparatory condition of the act of agreeing. The proposition content condition will be the condition when Jimmy
agrees with the offer. The sincere condition is the condition when Jimmy is willing to get the sheet back. The essential condition is Jimmy
’s attempts in getting the sheet back. The datum above contains two types of speech acts. They
are a direct act of commanding and an indirect act of agreeing. The following datum is another example of indirect speech acts.
JH : Did you say you’re waiting for Derby?
Pi : Yes, I don’t really like him, but he’s my cousin and our family
wants us to get married, you know keep up the tradition.
JH : Wait – marry your cousin?
Pi : You know, it used to be brother and sister until it was made illegal. My aunt has four thumbs
154InDDir-Exp2-20 The conversation above occurs between Jimmy and Pinky in front of the Cinema.
Pinky is waiting for a date with Derby, but he does not show up. Jimmy is asking if Pinky is waiting for Derby. She confirms it because the family wants them to
get married. Jimmy asks Pinky about the arrangement. Jimmy employs a direct questioning act. The propositional content conditions are the conditions when
Pinky is waiting for Derby and the condition when she is going to marry her cousin. The preparatory condition is the condition where Pinky is able to answer
Jimmy ’s question. The sincere condition is the condition when Pinky is willing to
answer the question. The essential condition is the condition when Pinky answers
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Jimmy ’s question. However, the propositional content condition of the
questioning act above also refers to the act of stating surprise. The preparatory condition is the condition when Jimmy does not believe in Pinky
’s explanation. The sincere condition is the condition when Jimmy is willing to state his surprise
toward Pinky. The essential condition is the condition when Jimmy indirectly expresses his surprise. The datum above consists of two acts. They are a direct act
of questioning and an indirect act of stating surprise. In Bully video game, there are four out five types of speech acts based on
Sea rle’s classification. Directives are mostly used, especially directive acts of
questioning and directive acts of commanding. After that, there are representatives and expressives. They are followed by commissives. Thus, it implies the main
character tendency in using directive acts as his way to deliver his actions through language. Jimmy directs other characters to do the action that he prefers. He often
uses directive act of questioning to gain information. It implies that he is not aware of his surroundings.
The ways the main characters deliver speech acts are divided into two types. They are direct speech acts and indirect speech acts. Direct speech acts hold
the most frequency found in the game. The main character does not like to express his intention indirectly. He avoids being complicated.
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