间接言语行为理论及其应用-

1、Indirect Speech Act Theory and Listening in CTEPragmatics is a relatively independent branch of linguistics with the language meaning as the research object,mainly research how to understand and use the language in a particular context. Searles indirect speech act is one of the core content in pragm

2、atics.It plays a significant role in the listening in College English Test Level(CET for short.Searle has introduced the notion of an 'indirect speech act', which in his account is meant to be, more particularly, an indirect 'illocutionary' act. Applying a conception of such illocuti

3、onary acts according to which they are (roughly acts of saying something with the intention of communicating with an audience, he describes indirect speech acts as follows: "In indirect speech acts the speaker communicates to the hearer more than he actually says by way of relying on their mutu

4、ally shared background information, both linguistic and nonlinguistic, together with the general powers of rationality and inference on the part of the hearer." An account of such act, it follows, will require such things as an analysis of mutually shared background information about the conver

5、sation, as well as of rationality and linguistic conventions. In connection with indirect speech acts, Searle introduces the notions of 'primary' and 'secondary' illocutionary acts. The primary illocutionary act isindirectly achieved by the secondary illocutionary. The primary illocu

6、tionary act is the indirect one, which is not literally performed. The secondary illocutionary act is the direct one, performed in the literal utterance of the sentence.There is a simple example.Its cold here.The literal meaning (secondary illocutionary act of this sentence is state the fact that he

7、re is cold and people do not feel warm enough.While the utterance meaning (primary illocutionary act is related to its specific context. For example,if the speakers are in outside, maybe the speaker of this sentence want to have a talk in room rather than outside. Or the speaker needs to wear a more

8、 coat or the speaker caught a cold. If the speakers are in the room, the utterance meaning of the sentence maybe to have others closed the window. The request is indirectly achieved by statement. Thus it can be seen that the illocutionary of speech is varied according to its context. It is important

9、 to hearers to grasp related background of context and have reasoning ability in order to understand indirect speech act correctly. Because the process of listening comprehension is a complex information processing rather than collect and decoding Language unit simply. Therefore, in order to improvi

10、ng students listening comprehension, students should learn how to use language accurately and reinforce their understanding of indirect speech act. Only in this way canlisteners based on the literal meaning reasoning the utterance meaning to ensure smooth communication.The ultimate goal of CET is to

11、 measure the college students' comprehensive application ability more accurately. The part of listening occupied approximate 35% in CET. The largest proportion of it is to understand the important or specific details and reasoning. For example(January 2003,CET-4,No.3:W:John,what are you doing on

12、 your computer? Dont you remember your promise?M:This is not a game. Its only a crossword puzzle that helps increase my vocabulary.Q:What is the probable relationship between the speakers?AColleagues.BHusband and wife.CEmployer and employee.DMother and son.From the above example,W thought that M is

13、playing computer games again and wanted to stop M, while M responded that This is not a game. Its only a crossword puzzle that helps increase my vocabulary. Thus it can be seen that Ws thought was not the fact. The literal meaning of W is to “inquiry”( what are you doing on your computer? Dont you r

14、emember your promise?,while the utterance meaning is “blame”. The primary illocutionary act(blame is achieved by the secondary illocutionary(inquiry. From the two speakers conversation, first we can know Ws status is higher than M, W is in education, discipline position while M is to be taught. Then

15、 the speakers used the informal language, it indicated that they have a close relationship. We can learn it most likely is the dialogue between parents and children. So ,the answer is D Mother and son.Another example(January 2003,CET-4,No.9W: Listen to me, Joe, the exam is already a thing of the pas

16、t. Just forget about it.M: Thats easier said than done.Q: What can we infer from the conversation?AThe exam was easier than the previous one.BJoe is sure that he will do better in the next exam.CJoe probably failed in the exam.DThe oral part of the exam was easier than the written part.In this examp

17、le, W said to M that “Joe, the exam is already a thing of the past. Just forget about it.”M responded that “Thats easier said than done.” Based on their conversation, M implied that thought the exam is already a thing of the past, but he still can't let go. From which we can infer that Ms examin

18、ation results are bad,may not even pass the exam. Therefore the correct answer is CJoe probably failed in the exam.Another more example(June 2012, CET-6M: A famous Russian ballet is coming to town next weekend. But I cant find a ticket anywhere.W: Dont be upset. My siste r just happened to have one

19、and she cant go since she has got some sort of conflict in her schedule.Q: What does the woman mean?A Her sister will come to watch ballet performance.B Her sister also want a ticket.C She can get a ballet ticket for the man.D She will come to watch ballet performance with the man.In this example, M

20、 said that there will a famous Russian ballet is coming, but he cant find a ticket anywhere. This indicate that he want to have a ticket to watch ballet performance but have no one ticket. Ws answer imply her sister has one ticket but she cant go since she has other more important things to do. So t

21、he correct answer is C She can get a ballet ticket for the man.In our daily communication activity, communication subjects are between in the interactive relationship. To speaker, communication is a kind of express behavior guaranteed to get association ; To hearer, communication is a process of recognizespeakers' intention, reaso