The aim of this work is split in three parts. The first aim is to give an overview of speech act theory and how the grammatical phenomenon of negation is situated in Austin’s and Searle’s speech act theory. Secondly, Tottie’s study on negation in spoken and written discourse will be extended by some findings on the frequency of illocutionary negations in spoken discourse and magazines. Finally, a functional analysis of propositional negation and illocutionary negation is carried out based on examples.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Aims and Methodology
- Theoretical Framework
- Speech Act Theory
- Constatives and Performatives
- Locution, Illocution, Perlocution
- Speech Act Theory and Negation
- Illocutionary Negation
- Propositional Negation
- Negation in English Spoken and Written Discourse. Analysis of Negation in Contemporary English Speech Acts.
- Frequency of Negation in Speech and Magazines
- Frequency of Illocutionary Negation in Speech and Magazines
- Propositional Negation in Speech and Magazines
- Classification and Function of Negation in Spoken and Written Discourse
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to provide an overview of speech act theory and its application to negation, extend Tottie's study on negation in spoken and written discourse by analyzing the frequency of illocutionary negations, and conduct a functional analysis of propositional and illocutionary negation. The study uses data from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA).
- Speech Act Theory and its application to negation.
- The frequency of illocutionary negation in spoken versus written discourse.
- A functional analysis of propositional and illocutionary negation.
- Analysis of negation in contemporary English speech acts.
- The use of the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) for data analysis.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the central question of whether there is a difference in the frequency of illocutionary negations in spoken versus written discourse. It begins by posing the question of whether words can perform actions, referencing Austin's work on speech acts. The chapter then introduces Austin's theory of speech acts, differentiating between constatives and performatives and highlighting the importance of understanding the speaker's intention and the purpose of an utterance. Searle's refinement of Austin's theory, particularly the distinction between illocutionary force and propositional content, is also introduced, leading to the definition of illocutionary and propositional negation. The chapter lays the groundwork for the study by establishing the theoretical framework and outlining the research question.
Theoretical Framework: This chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of the study, focusing primarily on Speech Act Theory. It discusses Austin's seminal work, "How to do Things with Words," and its critique of the descriptive fallacy. The chapter details Austin's differentiation between constatives and performatives, using examples to illustrate the performative nature of certain utterances. It explores the concept of illocutionary acts and the crucial role of context in understanding the speaker's meaning. The chapter also touches upon Searle's contributions to the theory, setting the stage for the analysis of negation within the framework of speech acts.
Negation in English Spoken and Written Discourse. Analysis of Negation in Contemporary English Speech Acts.: This chapter presents the core empirical analysis of the study. It details the methodology used, including the utilization of the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) to investigate the frequency of negation in spoken and written discourse. The chapter likely presents data comparing the occurrences of illocutionary and propositional negation across different genres within the COCA corpus, providing statistical evidence and potential interpretations of these findings. The analysis will likely address the classification and function of negation within different communicative contexts.
Keywords
Speech Act Theory, Illocutionary Negation, Propositional Negation, Negation in Discourse, Spoken Discourse, Written Discourse, Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), Austin, Searle, Pragmatics.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a language preview and analyzes negation in contemporary English speech acts, focusing on speech act theory and its application to spoken and written discourse.
What is the purpose of this document?
The document serves as a comprehensive preview of the research, including the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It's intended for academic use in analyzing themes in a structured manner.
What is Speech Act Theory and why is it important to this document?
Speech Act Theory, particularly the work of Austin and Searle, is a central theoretical framework. It's used to understand how language is used to perform actions and how negation functions within these actions, specifically illocutionary and propositional negation.
What is the difference between Illocutionary and Propositional Negation?
Illocutionary negation refers to negating the force or intent of an utterance, while propositional negation negates the content or proposition of an utterance. The research explores the frequency and function of these two types of negation.
What is the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and how is it used in this research?
COCA is a large corpus of American English text and speech. It's used as the primary data source for analyzing the frequency and function of negation in spoken and written discourse.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The key objectives include: providing an overview of speech act theory and its application to negation, extending Tottie's study on negation by analyzing illocutionary negations, conducting a functional analysis of propositional and illocutionary negation, and analyzing negation in contemporary English speech acts.
What are the main themes explored in this document?
The main themes are: Speech Act Theory and its application to negation, the frequency of illocutionary negation in spoken versus written discourse, a functional analysis of propositional and illocutionary negation, the analysis of negation in contemporary English speech acts, and the use of COCA for data analysis.
What does the chapter on "Negation in English Spoken and Written Discourse" cover?
This chapter presents the empirical analysis, detailing the methodology (including the use of COCA), comparing the occurrences of illocutionary and propositional negation across different genres, and providing statistical evidence and interpretations. It also addresses the classification and function of negation in various contexts.
What are some of the keywords associated with this research?
The keywords include: Speech Act Theory, Illocutionary Negation, Propositional Negation, Negation in Discourse, Spoken Discourse, Written Discourse, Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), Austin, Searle, Pragmatics.
- Quote paper
- Peter Altmannsdorfer (Author), 2023, Speech Act Theory and Negation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1597898
