Lingua inglese 2
Module
Worksheet Week 3
Speech Acts
1. Using Austin’s distinction between constative and performative utterances, which of the following are speech acts?
1. I now pronounce you man/husband and wife.
2. My daughter is called Elizabeth.
3. A freshly baked loaf doesn’t cut easily.
4. I promise to come to your talk tomorrow afternoon.
2. Using Searle’s categories, define the following speech acts:
5. We suggest that you give up smoking immediately.
6. You are fired!
7. Passengers are requested to wear a seat belt.
8. Notice is hereby given that shoplifters will be prosecuted.
9. I am warning you not to dance on the table.
3. Which of the following is an Indirect Speech Act?
a. I request you to pass the salt.
b. Pass the salt.
c. Can you pass the salt?
4. After about twenty minute’s of a lesson the teacher’s explanations are interrupted by the alarm bell and the teacher utters the locutionary act how will the students interpret it and what will be the consequent illocutionary and perlocutionary acts?
5. If on the other hand, about halfway through the normal lesson a teacher who has been explaining an aspect of his subject goes round the class, asking students questions to which non of them can reply correctly. At that point he might utter ‘and that is enough for today’. Analyse the kind of interpretation the students might make and what will be the consequent illocutionary and perlocutionary acts.
6. The following situation in particular shows that successful Speech Acts, particularly directives, depend on the effect of utterances of the speaker on the hearer.
Teacher: Johnny, there’s some chalk on the floor.
Johnny: Yes, there is, sir.
Teacher: Well, pick it up, then!
Briefly describe what has occurred in this Speech Act referring to the locution, illocution and perlocution structure.
______
______
______
______
7. Read the following extract of dialogue taken from the television series Breaking Bad (episode Peekaboo, 29’10’’, season 2).
Walt: So you didn’t tell Elliot
Gretchen: Not yet
Walt: What does that mean to anyone? You didn’t tell Eliot yet
Gretchen: Not yet
Walt: What does that mean
Gretchen: That means exactly what it means (.) that’s a determination I’ve yet to make
Walt: (3) Right fair enough I can appreciate that. Alright(.) first let me say I very much regret involving you in this this was hum this entire thing was (.) unfortunate
Gretchen: Unfortunate(1)
Walt: And I apologise (.)deeply
Gretchen: Thank you (.) now please tell me why you did it
Walt: (2) That’s not really at issue here (.)
Gretchen: Well, you told me your insurance was covering it was that a lie?
Walt: (2)
Gretchen: You won’t take our money and your insurance isn’t covering it how are you paying for it?
Walt: This this is not an an issue that concerns you Gretchen okay?
Gretchen: huh excuse me Walt it does concern me it concerns me greatly you tell you wife and son that I’m paying your cancer treatment why are you doing this?
Walt: (2) I will clear this up with them
Gretchen: [unclear] the look on Skyler’s face she’s sitting there with tears in her eyes thanking me for saving her life why would you that to her?
Walt: As I said I will clear this up it please allow me to do this in my own way in my own time(.) all right? I will explain the whole thing to them.
Gretchen: While you’re at it explain it to me?
Walt: (3) I don’t owe you an explanation (.) I owe you an apology and I have apologized. I’m very sorry Gretchen (.) There. I’ve apologized twice now. I’m humbly sorry three times.
1. Referring to Searle’s Speech Act categories, identify two examples of the following kinds of speech acts:
a. commisives
b. declarations
c. expressives
2. Are all the examples Direct Speech Acts?