Halyna D. Malyk Speech Acts and Events

Explain the ambiguity in the following conversation:

• 
  Andrew didn't return my files yet.
  
• 
  Oh, I’m sorry.
  
• 
  You don’t have to be sorry; you didn’t do anything.
  

9. 
   Complete the following:
   

	Syntactic form	Illocutionary force	Direct/ indirect	Expressed / implied	Literal / nonliteral
Please stop talking.	impera-tive	direc-tive	dir.	expr.	liter.
Would you please not talk?
I guess it would kill you to stop talking.
You look so attractive with your mouth open.
A sign in front of a garage reads “Don’t even think of parking here.”
A highway sign says “Do not exceed 55.”
A highway sign says “Speed limit 55.”
One night you visit your friend in her apartment. When you walk in, she sits with all the lights off. You want to get her to turn on a light and say “What is this, a hiding place?”
The situation is the same, but you say, “It’s kinda dark in here.”
The situation is the same, but you say, “Can I ask you to turn on a light?”
A sign on a fence reads “Parking here prohibits rubbish collection”.
A warning on a can reads “Do not incinerate.”
A train conductor points to a “No smoking” sign and says to a passenger who is smoking, “Look at the sign.”
A highway sign reads, “Yield”
Count Monte Cristo has been insulted by Count Marmaduke. Monte Cristo says, “I challenge you to a duel.”
Please don’t bore me with the name of your new boss, Joan.
A clerk says to a customer, “And your account number is…?”
A mother says to a child, “Have some candy.”
One roommate says to the other impatiently, “Shouldn’t we be leaving soon?”
Expressing agreement, your friend says, “You’re quite right.”
A mother says to her son, “I suggest you spend more time on your homework.”
A sign on a road reads, “Construction ahead.”
A student wheedles his professor for an A saying “If I don’t get an A in this course, I’ll lose my scholarship.”
A friend visits you for the first time and, being positively impressed, says, “What a nice apartment you have!’
John is fixing a flat tire and Pete looks on. John says, “You can give me a hand with this.”
John is fixing a flat tire and Pete looks on. John says, “Why don’t you give me a hand with this?’
A sign on a train car “Passengers are reminded that a valid ticket is required for each journey made”.
An announcement over a public address system at an airport “Passengers are requested to proceed to gate 5.”
You watch a movie and the spectators behind you crumple candy wrappers and talk. Finally you have had enough, and you turn to them and say, “I don’t want to have to call the manager.”
The context is the same, except you say, “I can still hear the movie; would you mind speaking up?’
An advertisement: "Win a luxury cruise for two!"
An advertisement of dog food: "Prolongs Active Life"
An advertisement: " Business Spanish Agents Required"
An advertisement: " Subscribe to EL Gazette!"
An exhibition notice: " Display copy only"
An exhibition notice: " Do not remove"
An announcement: "Please fill out the short questionnaire to assist us with making the new edition more useful to you".
From an advertisement: "Your money refunded in full if not satisfied"
From an advertisement: "Down with the tedious text-based interface! The PC Internet Guide provides new power!"
In the corner of an envelope, there is a message stating, “Post Office will not deliver mail without proper postage.”
Your friend shows up for class after missing the previous session and says to you, “Did you take notes during the last class?”
A professor says to his student, “You look so convincing as if you had read the material required.”
A policeman tries to get a criminal to give up his gun, “Go ahead – make my day.”

• 
  Directives
  

1. 
   List as many directive formulas as you can.
   

2. 
   Imperatives are known to be very seldom used in conversations. Give situations in which the following imperatives could be used:
   
   1. 
      Add two teaspoons of salt.
      
   2. 
      Have a good time.
      
   3. 
      Have another drink.
      
   4. 
      Take care.
      
   5. 
      Come in.
      
   6. 
      Take a shower.
      
   7. 
      Take a towel.
      
   8. 
      Take a look.
      
   9. 
      See Appendix A.
      
   10. 
       Fill out the card below and …
       

2. 
   Examine the directives used in the literary text for your home reading. Are there any differences in directives of male and female characters?
   

2. 
   Analyze how the following directives are mitigated (their syntactic form and politeness).
   

1. 
   I'm not quite sure how long you've known the Fieldings (J Fowles).
   
2. 
   "I'm dying to know what you did with all the lions you slauntered," said Susie Boyd (S.Maugham).
   
3. 
   I'd like to know why she's gone off like this (J.Foles).
   
4. 
   I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Madam… I only wondered whether you wished to see me (D. Du Maurier).
   
5. 
   I only want to know the truth, if you will tell it to me (E. Voynich).
   
6. 
   May I ask you where you are staying? (C. Snow).
   
7. 
   Might I inquire if you are the owner? (L. Jones).
   
8. 
   What are your main ideas so far, sir, if you don't mind my saking ? (K. Amis).
   
9. 
   I should be very much obliged if you would tell me as exactly as possible how Mrs. Haddo died (S. Maugham).
   
10. 
    Would it bother you, if I asked you a question about how you lost your job with Axminster? (D. Francis).
    

2. 
   Do you agree with the following strength continuum? Why? Why not? Ask English-speaking instructors or students to rank these sentences.
   

1. 
   Tell me, does she live alone?
   
2. 
   Doesn't she live alone?
   
3. 
   Does she live alone?
   
4. 
   She lives alone, doesn't she?
   
5. 
   I suppose she lives alone?
   
6. 
   I wonder if she lives alone.
   
7. 
   I'd like to know whether she lives alone.
   
8. 
   Do you happen to know if she lives alone?
   
9. 
   Could you tell me whether she lives alone?
   
10. 
    I want to ask you if she lives alone.
    
11. 
    May I ask you if she live alone?
    
12. 
    I hope you don't mind my asking you, but I was wondering if you could tell me whether she lives alone.
    

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