LING 3P94: Exercise 3

1. Which of Searle´s five classes of illocutionary acts does each of the following utterances (a-h) most
closely exemplify? (24 points)
Example: I promise to come. Answer: promising: commissive

a. I challenge you to a duel.

b. I guarantee you a seat at next Blue Jay’s game.
c. We implore the tragedy of this incident.
d. I sentence you to life in prison.
e. I warn you to stay away from my wife.
f. I warn you that the bull is about to charge.
g. I suggest you go to the movies.
h. I guess Bill stole the money.

1. For each of the utterances (a-g), state (i) the syntactic form, (ii) the direct speech act, and (iii) the
indirect speech act. For (g), write a few words to provide a context to which your answer will clearly
fit. (21 points)
Example: A man says to his wife, “Would you pass the salt?”
Syntactic form Direct speech act Indirect speech act
Interrogative asking requesting

a. A mother says to her child, “I wish you would finish your dinner.”
b. A mother says to her child, “Why don’t you stop hitting your brother?”
c. The hostess says to a guest, “Have some candy.”
d. A husband says to his wife, “Shouldn’t we leave soon?”
e. You are driving on the QEW and see a sign that says “Construction Ahead.”
f. You are having a great time chatting with friends at a party. Your wife comes along and says,
“Simon, it’s 11:30.”
g. One friend says to another, “I wonder if Jerry knows that.”

1. Analyze the utterances (a-c) in terms of Searle´s four felicity rules AND specify the relevant contents of
the rules for their respective illocutionary act, using the format below. Give two preparatory rules for
each act even though some may have more than two (as shown in the example). Note that this analysis
is about direct speech acts as given. The rule should be a necessary rule for a given speech act, should
distinguish the given speech act from other (related) acts, and should apply to all instances of the given
speech act. Study the example carefully and pay special attention to the difference between
propositional content and illocutionary force. (30 points)
Example: promising
Prop. Content: future A by S
Preparatory: (i) S must believe that H wants A done
(ii) S thinks he is able to do A
(iii) S thinks A will not happen anyway
Sincerity: S must intend to do A
Essential: S is obligated by his words to do A

a. I order you to leave right now. (ordering)

b. Would you like me to give you a ride home? (offering)
c. What is his e-mail address? (inquiring)