M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

e) 
Declaratives : 
They areutterances that bring about a new external situation which tends to 
rely on elaborate extra linguistic institutions.

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 
Paradigm cases: Excommunicating, declaring war, christening, firing from
employment, marrying, resigning, endorsing, nominating, appointing and
sentencing etc.
 
Example: 
1. 
I declare that the function is over. 
2. 
I now pronounce you husband and wife. 
3. 
I hereby resign from the post of Chairman of the committee. 
2.2.3 Direct and Indirect Speech Acts
J.R. Searle further classified Speech Acts as Direct and Indirect Speech 
Acts. The dichotomy distinguishes Speech Acts on the basis of the relationship 
between the form and function of the utterance. There are three major forms of 
Speech Acts and their functions in English. They are as follows: 
Form 
Function 
Declarative 
Assert 
Imperative 
Order/ request 
Interrogative 
Question 
In the words of George Yule:
(a)
Whenever there is a direct relationship between a structure and a function,
we have a Direct Speech Act (1996: 54-55).
(b)
Whenever there is an indirect relationship between a structure and function,
we have an Indirect Speech Act. (1996:55).

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Examples :
1. 
I feel tired. (Declarative used as an assertion) 
2. 
Give me something to eat. (Imperative used to give an order) 
3. 
What are you doing? (Interrogative used to ask a question). 
In the examples above, the form of the utterance matches the function they 
perform. They are Direct Speech Acts. Direct Speech Acts have only one function 
which corresponds to the form or structure. 
On the other hand, if the speaker asks, ‘Will you help me?’ he does not 
merely expect the answer “Yes” or “No”. He makes a request to the hearer to help 
him. Instead of using the Declarative form, ‘Help me’, the speaker prefers the 
interrogative form to make his request which is more polite and to achieve the 
expected effect on the hearer for obtaining his help. Thus, it is an example of in 
Indirect Speech Act.