Speech Acts
Speech acts illuminate social language interactions. They provide insight into person–to-person
interactions. Sentence (A1) is a representative, a plain statement made by the customer. Sentence
(9B) and (14B) are also representatives, spoken by the shopkeeper, the first one stating the price
of the tube and the second one affirming the price.
However, we find quite a few striking commissives in this discourse. In line (3A), the customer
speaks out his intention of placing an order. (7B) is a commissive in which the shopkeeper
commits that he will work out the price. Line (15A) also points at the customer’s future action of
ringing back. Line (16A) is an expressive. A apologizes for not being in a position to place the
order, and gives an explanation. Thus, he performs a face-threatening act.
Moves
Line (6A) directs an effective move. B is compelled to work out the price immediately, the way
