Abstract：English directive speech acts are performed in either a direct or an indirect way. Indirect use of language has lent itself to considerable discussion in the indirect speech act theory.15
The indirectness of a speech act is of different levels. In daily communication, it is important for a speaker to adopt a proper level of indirectness. In this paper, based on a literature review on speech act theory and indirect speech act theory, a contrast between direct directives and indirect directives is to be made to explore the distinctive features that indirect directives obtain in forms, politeness, and acceptability. Then the thesis will discuss the three factors constraining people’s choice of indirect directives, namely, the cost that a directive may be brought to the hearer, some social factors relating to the closeness between the speaker and the hearer, social position and situational context, and cultural factors. Through the process of interpreting indirect directives, we will employ many vivid and live examples taken from movies and daily life, hoping the explanation may contribute to our better understanding and proper use of indirect directives.
Key Words: Speech Act theory; Indirect Directives; Politeness; Social Factors
Contents
Part 1 Introduction…………………………………………………1
Part 2 Speech Act Theory and Indirect Speech Act Theory…………2
2.1 Austin’s Model of Speech Acts……………………………………2
2.2 Searle’s Views on Speech Act Theory……………………………3
2.2.1 Classification of Speech Acts……………………………………4
2.2.2 Indirect Speech Acts………………………………………………4
Part 3 The Distinctive Features of Indirect Directives5
3.1 Forms of Indirect Directives…………………………………………5
3.1.1 Declarative Sentences………………………………………………6
3.1.2 Interrogative Sentences……………………………………………7
3.1.3 Exclamatory Sentences……………………………………………8
3.2 The Superiorities of Indirect Directives……………………………8
3.2.1 Politeness…………………………………………………………8
3.2.2 Acceptability………………………………………………………10
Part 4 Factors Constraining People’s Choice of Indirect Directives12
4.1 The Cost Brought to the Hearer……………………………………12
4.2 Social Factors………………………………………………………13
4.2.1 The Closeness between the Speaker and the Hearer ……………13
4.2.2 Social Position……………………………………………………14
4.2.3 Situational Context………………………………………………14
4.3 Cultural Factors……………………………………………………15
Part 5 Conclusion……………………………………………………
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