Speech Acts: Request, Refusal, and Acceptance

Speech Acts: Request, Refusal, and Acceptance

• Speech acts are defined by a speaker's intention and the effect on a listener.
• Speech act theory was introduced in 1975 by J.L. Austin and developed by J.R. Searle.
• Speech acts can be categorized into five types: Representatives, Commissives, Directives, Declarations, and Expressives.

Representatives

• Representatives commit the speaker to the truth of a proposition.
• Examples include asserting, stating, concluding, boasting, describing, and suggesting.
• Examples: "I am a great actor," "Bill was a doctor."

Commissives

• Commissives commit the speaker to some future action.
• Examples include promising, pledging, threatening, vowing, and offering.
• Examples: "I am going to help you," "I'll give you a lift tonight."

Directives

• Directives are used when the speaker attempts to get the addressee to carry out an action.
• Examples include requesting, advising, commanding, challenging, inviting, daring, and entreating.
• Examples: "You'd better study," "Calm down."

Declarations

• Declarations affect an immediate change of affairs.
• Examples include declaring, baptising, resigning, firing from employment, hiring, and arresting.
• Examples: "We find him guilty," "I resign."

Expressives

• Expressives refer to some sort of psychological state.
• Examplesinclude greeting, thanking, apologizing, complaining, and congratulating.
• Examples: "This dish is disgusting," "I'm so sorry to hear that."

Requesting Something

• Polite requests often use "can," "could," "may," or "might" + infinitive to soften the request.
• Examples: Can I ask you a favour?, Could I ask you to ...?, May I turn it off?, Might I leave work earlier?

Indirect Questions

• "Might" is often used in indirect questions to soften requests.
• Examples: I wonder if I might leave work a bit earlier today, Would I be able to leave work a bit earlier?, Would it be OK if I left work a bit earlier?

Asking Other People to Do Things

• "Would you...?" or "Could you...?" + infinitive are common polite suggestions or requests.
• Examples: Would you please bring the book?, Could you join us on Sunday?, Do you think you could arrive ten minutes early tomorrow?

Using "Do you mind...?"

• "Do you mind...?" + -ing verb is a polite way to ask for something with an anticipated answer potentially being negative

• Example: Would you mind switching off the IC when you leave?

• "I need..." is highly direct and used for urgent requests.

• Examples: I need a doctor, I need the fire extinguisher, Fast!

• "I want..." can be direct but may sound impolite in requests.

• Example: I want to speak to the manager right now.

• Polite refusals of requests, offers, or invitations often begin with thanking or showing regret.

• Examples: I'm sorry, I'd really like to, but..., I'm really busy right now, I might be able to do it next week.

• Ways to express acceptance of offers or requests include formal phrases like "Thank you, yes, I would," or informal phrases like "Sure, thanks!"