Indirect Speech Acts
Indirect Speech Acts
5
Indirect Speech Acts
1. For the following indirect speech acts, (i) name the type of the implicit speech
act, (ii) write out the implicit speech act, and (iii) say what appropriateness
condition on the implicit speech act the explicit speech act gives expression to.
2.
a. Given the following direct speech act, write as much indirect speech acts
as you can think of: “I promise that I’ll pay you the money tomorrow”.
Explain how each works.
b. Other ways to perform indirect speech acts concern the performance of the
speech act itself, not the appropriateness conditions on the intended
speech act (see Fraser 1975):
● by stating an obligation to perform the speech act (an expressive), e.g., I
must ask you to pass the salt, I have to disturb you for the salt.
● by stating an emotive attitude toward performing the speech act (an
expressive), e.g., I am sorry to disturb you for the salt, I hate to ask you to
pass the salt (while you’re so busy eating).
● by asking permission to perform the speech act (a directive), e.g., May I
ask you to pass the salt?, May I disturb you for the salt?
● by stating the ability/desire/intention to perform the speech act (an
expressive), e.g., I {would like, want} to ask you for the salt, I am going to
ask that you pass the salt, I can request that you pass the salt.
Try to write indirect speech acts for the direct speech act in (a) based on these
principles.
3. Name the conversational implicature in each of the following.
1. It was very foggy and a car accident occurred.
2. (He has been unhappy since his dog died last year.
3. (She finished her degree and got married.