Discourse Analysis

By: Mia Purwati (26SA)

1. ASSERTIVE ACTS
Commit speakers to the truth of some proposition.

 1. Stating
"For me, no other pet can ever replace PLT . . .’ I interrupted rudely because, for a moment, I
thought I was going to cry.”

 2. Suggesting
“Perhaps,’ he suggested darkly, ‘we’re being deliberately kept in a state of uncertainty because
that’s what Niang most enjoys. The cat‐and‐mouse game.’ Once again, we began to feel sick with
apprehension but there was nothing we could do but wait.”

 3. Describing
“For the first time she was kind to me and I felt very close to her. Later, I saw Big Sister and Niang
walking towards the balcony and talking privately just before she and Samuel left for their honeymoon.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

1. ASSERTIVE ACTS
Commit speakers to the truth of some proposition.

 4. Claiming
“She said we were lucky because all the other school children in Shanghai would still have to go
to school that day.”

 5. Informing
“Suddenly, Teacher Wong informed us that next Tuesday would be a special school holiday
because it was the name day of our new Mother Superior.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

2. COMMISSIVES ACTS
Commit speakers to some future action.

 1. Promising
Aunt Baba: “Mark my words, if you study hard, anything is possible!”
Adeline: “I will study hard! I promise!”

 2. Pledging
“Of course I will! We’ll set up house on our own and take PLT with us. We’ll work together in
our own bank, side by side. ”

 3. Offering
“Will you come and live with me if I’m president?’ I asked wistfully. ‘I wouldn’t want to own a
bank without you.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

2. COMMISSIVES ACTS
Commit speakers to some future action.

 4. Vowing
“Well, for my birthday, my parents said they’d give me a pet of my very own if I promised to
take care of it.”

 5. Swearing
“Goodbye my PLT, I hope you can play with other birds in a more beautiful garden than my
garden.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

3. DIRECTIVE ACTS:
Count as attempt to bring about some effect through the action of hearer.

 1. Commanding
“Wu Chun‐mei! Stop talking at once and start paying attention!’ she commanded in a loud voice.
‘Now I want all of you to listen carefully. Tomorrow is a very special day because it is Election
Day.”

 2. Requesting
“Wu Chun‐mei whispered as we took our seats in the classroom to begin our lessons. ‘We waited
and waited for you to cut the cake, only to find out from your mother that you weren’t coming
back . . .”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

3. DIRECTIVE ACTS:
Count as attempt to bring about some effect through the action of hearer.

 3. Warning
“I got down from my chair and whispered to Wu Chun‐mei, ‘I’m sorry but I have to go home
now. I’ve already stayed longer than I should. My mother will be very angry if I’m late.”

 4. Urging
“I meant every word I said. You deserve it more than anyone else.”
 
 5. Disagreeing
“What’s this about me being class president all of a sudden?’ Wu Chun‐mei asked.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

4. EXPRESSIVE ACTS
Count as the expression of some psychological state.

 1. Thanking
“I like you much better when I play only with you,’ I confided one day. ‘You don’t order me
around or make me be the bad person all the time when we play “Three Countries War”. You
are fair while the others despise me.”

 2. Inspiring
“Of course! When she was with us, everything was just nicer and I remember feeling safe all
the time. Wouldn’t it be splendid if we could go visit her where she is now?”

 3. Apologising
“I’m sorry but I have to go home now. I’ve already stayed longer than I should. My mother will
be very angry if I’m late.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

4. EXPRESSIVE ACTS
Count as the expression of some psychological state.

 4. Congratulating
“Of course! Congratulations! We’re proud of you!’ Convinced, I took a generous sip of the ice‐
cold drink”

 5. Assuring
“But we can go visit her!’ I said. ‘All you have to do is close your eyes and imagine it. I have
seen her place before. It’s so real.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

5. DECLARATIVE ACTS
Speech acts whose successful performance brings about the correspondence between the
propositional content and reality.

 1. Declaring
Aunt Baba: “What’s that hanging on your dress?”
Adeline: “It’s something special that Mother Agnes gave me in front of the whole class this
afternoon.”

 2. Naming
Adeline: “I call it PLT. Precious Little Treasure (Xiao Bao‐bei in Chinese) My first pet in my life.”

 3. Resigning
“Though I was only four years old, I understood I should not ask Aunt Baba too many questions
about my dead mama.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

5. DECLARATIVE ACTS
Speech acts whose successful performance brings about the correspondence between the
propositional content and reality.

 4. Accepting
“It’s for topping my class this week. When Mother Agnes pinned it on my dress, she said I could
wear it for seven days. Here, this certificate goes with it.”

 5. Nominating
Aunt Baba: “What’s that hanging on your dress?”
Adeline: “It’s something special that Mother Agnes gave me in front of the whole class this
afternoon. She called it an award.”

(Souce book: Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah)

THANK YOU