Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

WAYS OF REALISING SPEECH ACTS

409

Principally, speech acts are realised using the following resources:

● formulaic utterances (fixed expressions conventionally associated with

particular speech acts): greetings such as Hi, Goodbye; expressions of reaction

to events such as Congratulations, Gosh!, Sorry, Excuse me, Pardon.

● explicit lexical items (speech-act verbs or speech-act nouns) to perform or to label

the speech act: I pronounce you man and wife; My advice is not to use olive oil.

Û

539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech acts | 681

---

➞

● syntax (e.g. clause types, tense and aspect choices): Was I surprised! as an

exclamation; Did you want to say something? as a polite invitation to someone

to take the speaking turn.

● modal constructions (typically modal verbs): Can I get you a drink? uttered as

an offer; You must be patient as a directive.

● prosodic means: a declarative clause plus rising intonation may indicate a

question rather than a statement, e.g. A: You’ll be arriving late? B: Yes.