A study of indirect speech acts used in “spotlight”

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY LÊ THỊ MỸ NHỚ A STUDY OF INDIRECT SPEECH ACTS USED IN “SPOTLIGHT” Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr Nguyễn Văn Long BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC QUY NHƠN LÊ THỊ MỸ NHỚ NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ HÀNH VI NGÔN NGỮ GIÁN TIẾPĐƯỢC SỬ DỤNG TRONG PHIM “SPOTLIGHT” Chuyên ngành: Ngôn ngữ Anh Mã số: 8220201 Người hướng dẫn: PGS.TS Nguyễn Văn Long i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I firmly assert that the thesis “A study of indirect speech acts used in “Spotlight”” is accomplished by myself There have not been any works employed without acknowledgment in the research I also certify that this research has not been submitted for the award of any degree in any other tertiary institution Binh Dinh, 2021 Lê Thị Mỹ Nhớ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerely deep gratitude to Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Van Long, my supervisor, for his experienced guidance and extremely valuable advice It goes without saying that I cannot complete this thesis without my supervisor‟s support Also, I would like to give big thanks to all the lecturers of the Department of Foreign Languages in Quy Nhon University for their willingness to give me with their knowledge, inspiration during the process of writing the thesis In addition, I am thankful to authors whose books and materials are very crucial in laying theoretical foundation for my study Last but not least, I wish to show my special thanks and love to my friends and my family who have supported, encouraged me to finish this research Binh Dinh, August 2021 iii ABSTRACT This is a study of indirect speech acts used in the conversations in the movie “Spotlight” in terms of structures and functions In the thesis, both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as descriptive, analytic, and synthetic methods are employed Totally, 131 samples in “Spotlight” are analysed, which reveals interesting results relating to indirect speech act structures and indirect speech act functions To be more specific, as regards indirect speech act structures, intended meaning# literal meaning of others comes in the first place with 58 utterances (44.28 %) The second place belongs to interrogative for command/ request with 32 utterances equivalent to 24.43 % Noticeably, there are no exclamative structures found in “Spotlight” Regarding indirect speech act functions, there are 24 different indirect speech act functions in the chosen conversations of the movie, in which to request/ order/ command shows the predominance with 22 utterances (16.8 %) iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS vii LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF GRAPH ix CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Aim and objectives 1.2.1 Aim 1.2.2 Objectives 1.3 Research questions 1.4 Scope of the study 1.5 Significance of the study 1.6 Organization of the study CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Theoretical background 2.1.1 Speech Acts Theory 2.1.2 Levels of Speech Acts 2.1.3 Classification of Speech Acts 2.1.4 The Role of Context in Speech Act Studies 12 2.1.5 Sentence Structures 13 2.2 Review of Previous Studies 15 CHAPTER METHOD 20 v 3.1 Research Approaches 20 3.2 Research Procedures 20 3.4 Data Collection and Analysis 20 3.4.1 Data collection 20 3.4.2 Data Analysis 23 CHAPTER FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 25 4.1 Structures of Indirect Speech Acts in “Spotlight” 25 4.1.1 Declaratives 28 4.1.2 Interrogatives 29 4.1.3 Imperatives 31 4.1.4 Exclamatives 31 4.1.5 Others 32 4.2.Functions of Indirect Speech Acts in “Spotlight” 33 4.2.1 To request/ order/ command 34 4.2.2 To express one‟s surprise 35 4.2.3 To suggest/ offer 35 4.2.4 To agree/ admit 36 4.2.5 To ask for permission 37 4.2.6 To express one‟s suspicion/ uncertainty 37 4.2.7 To refuse 37 4.2.8 To claim 38 4.2.9 To criticize 39 4.2.10 To negate 39 4.2.11 To advise 40 4.2.12 To express one‟s unpleasantness/ anger/ complaint 40 4.2.13 To joke 41 4.2.14 To protest 42 vi 4.2.15 To threaten 42 4.2.16 To invite 43 4.2.17 To confirm 43 4.2.18 To praise 44 4.2.19 To disagree 45 4.2.20 To convince 45 4.2.21 To thank 46 4.2.22 To promise 46 4.2.23 To apologize 47 4.2.24 To predict 47 CHAPTER CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS 49 5.1 Conclusions 49 5.1.1 Conclusions Relating to Indirect Speech Act Structures 49 5.1.2 Conclusions Relating to Indirect Speech Act Functions 49 5.2 Implications of the Study 50 5.3 Limitations of the Study 50 5.4 Suggestions for Further Research 51 RESEARCH SCHEDULE 52 REFERENCES 53 APPENDIXES vii ABBREVIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS Adj: Adjectives LTD: limited N: Number NP: Noun Phrase qtd: quoted %: Percent/ Percentage Italics are used for quotes, terminology, and emphasis viii LIST OF TABLES Table Title number 3.1 4.1 4.2 Framework for the analysis of indirect speech acts Distribution of indirect speech act structures realized in “Spotlight” Distribution of indirect speech act functions realized in “Spotlight” Page 23 27 33 AP.11 - Sacha: Joe, I think the language here is going to be very important We can‟t sanitize this, just saying molest isn‟t enough People need to know what actually happened - Joe Crowley: Maybe we should get these to go (Declarative – Imperative: To suggest) 56 – Sacha: What happened specifically? - Joe Crowley: Specifically, he molested me - Sacha: Joe, I think the language here is going to be very important We can‟t sanitize this, just saying molest isn‟t enough People need to know what actually happened - Joe Crowley: Maybe we should get these to go (Declarative – Command/ Request: To order) 57 - Matt: I was just in the newsroom, Judge Sweeney set a date for the hearing - Robby: When? - Matt: Two weeks Canellos started a pool Ten bucks to get in - Robby: Anyone picking the Globe? - Matt: He’s only taking bets on how fast Sweeney rules against us (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To negate) 58 - – Patrick Mcsorley: Can I use your phone? Garabedian: Yeah, you know where it is (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To ask for permission) 59 - – Sacha‟s grandmother: Would you like a cup of tea, Sacha? Sacha: I‟m fine, Nana Thanks (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To invite) 60 - – Robby: Does he ever go home? Ben: Apparently not I got guys who won‟t leave till he does, he’s AP.12 wearing out the goddamn newsroom (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To praise) 61 - Judge Turner: Platt is it? Have you cultivated cane previously? - Northup: No, sir, I have not - Judge Turner: You take to it quite naturally Are you educated? - Northup: Niggers are hired to work, not to read and write (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To negate) 62 – Robby: You getting anywhere with him? - Mike: More victims - Robby: You can’t empty his pockets? - Mike: I‟ll get him I just need more time (Interrogative – Command/ Request : To order) 63 - – Mike: Jeez, what the hell is that smell? Matt: There‟s a dead rat in the corner (Interrogative – Exclamation: To complaint) 64 – Robby: Can we turn on some more lights? - Matt: I couldn‟t find the switch You wanna borrow my glasses? - Robby: No, I‟m good (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To suggest) 65 – Robby: Can we turn on some more lights? - Matt: I couldn‟t find the switch You wanna borrow my glasses? - Robby: No, I‟m good (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To offer) 66 – Robby: Barrett Barrett Liam Barrett I can‟t read this Can you look up Liam Barrett? (handing it to Mike) 1991‟s the year they pulled him out of Charlestown - Mike: (reading) Barrett, Liam Sick leave AP.13 (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To order) 67 - Robby: We got a fourth priest There might be as many as thirteen - Ben: Thirteen? Who‟s your source? - Robby: Phil Saviano - Ben: Christ, Robby, I told Mike - Robby: I know I think Saviano might be legit, Ben (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To protest) 68 - Ben: We covered Geoghan when the story broke three years ago Baron was still in Miami - Robby: I think he was at the Times then - Ben: He wasn’t here - Mike: You think the suit has a chance? (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To express one‟s uncertainty) 69 - Mike: And guys like Geoghan go after boys not cause they prefer them, but cause they‟re more ashamed, less likely to talk These guys are predators, Robby Sipe says he saw dozens of them at seton in the 60‟s He called it an “ a phenomenon” - Robby: Why didn‟t he go public? - Mike: He did, but the church has made a huge effort to discredit him Smear campaigns, public statements by prominent bishops It‟s just like Saviano said And Garabedian (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To predict) 70 – Robby: I think he is (then) I had an interesting conversation with Eric MacLeish yesterday Turns out he‟s been settling abuse cases with the archdiocese for years - Jim: You really wanna talk about this here? AP.14 - Robby: You said you helped out on Father Barrett as a favor, that was a one- off? (Interrogative – Statement: To agree) 71 – Jim: So this is the Robby Robinson I‟ve always heard about but never met - Robby: Listen to me, Jimmy You want to be on the right side of this (Declarative – Command/ Request : To advise) 72 - Mike: “Our family is rooted in the Church, our desire is to protect the Holy Orders even in the midst of our agony over the seven boys in our family who have been violated” Seven, Robby! Seven boys! “It was suggested we keep silent We did not question the Authority of the Church two years ago, but since Father Geoghan is still in his parish ” She sent it to Law and Law did shit (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To criticize) 73 - Sipe (ON SPEAKERPHONE): Sure Doyle tried to introduce the report at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops In fact, Cardinal Law initially helped to fund the report, but then he backed out and they shelved it - Rezendes: (to Sacha and Matt) Are you kidding me? (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 74 - Sipe (ON SPEAKERPHONE): No Not really It sounds low My estimates suggest six percent act out sexually with minors - Mike: Six percent of what? - Sipe (ON SPEAKERPHONE): Six percent of all priests (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 75 – Robby: How many priests we have in Boston? AP.15 - Matt: About fifteen hundred One percent is fifteen Six percent is ninety - Robby, Sacha: Ninety priests? Is that possible? - Sipe (ON SPEAKERPHONE): From a metric standpoint, that would be in line with my findings (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s suspicion) 76 - - Ben: Ninety fucking priests? In Boston? Robby: That’s what he said (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To agree) 77 – Ben: How long‟s it gonna take? - Robby: Too long - Ben: Meeting over? - Robby: For now (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 78 – Robby: The directories We‟ve been using them to confirm bad priests What if we it the other way around? - Mike: (getting it) Use the directories to identify bad priests? (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 79 – Mike: That‟s gonna take a load of time - Robby: Not if we‟re all on it - Mike: You too? - Robby: Generally, that‟s what all means (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s suspicion) 80 - Mike: That‟s gonna take a load of time - Robby: Not if we‟re all on it - Mike: You too? - Robby: Generally, that’s what all means AP.16 (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To admit) 81 – Robby: How many? - Matt: Eighty-seven - Mike: Eighty-seven priests In Boston - Robby: Call MacLeish I wanna talk to him (Declarative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 82 - Robby (INTO PHONE): I need to know, Jim I wouldn‟t be asking if it wasn‟t important - Jim (OVER THE PHONE): You gotta stop this, Robby (Declarative – Command/ Request: To advise) 83 - Peter Conley: I‟m bringing this up with you because I now this is Baron‟s idea His agenda And I gotta tell you, honest to God, I don‟t think he cares about this city the way we How could he? - Robby: This is how it happens, isn’t it, Peter? - Peter Conley: What‟s that? - Robby: A guy leans on a guy and suddenly the whole town just looks the other way (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To criticize) 84 - – Robby: Eric, how many priests did you settle? Eric MacLeish: You know I can’t tell you, Robby (Declarative – Command/ Request: To order) 85 – Robby: We‟ve got two stories here We‟ve got a story about degenerate clergy and we‟ve got a story about a bunch of lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry Now, which story you want us to write? Cause we‟re writing one of them - Eric MacLeish: I already sent you a list of names (Interrogative – Command/ Request : To threaten) AP.17 86 – Eric MacLeish: The Globe Years ago After the Porter case, I got plenty of calls I had 20 priests in Boston but I couldn‟t go after them without press So I sent you guys a list of names and you buried it - Robby: I want those names tomorrow (Declarative – Command/ Request: To request) 87 - Ben (CONT‟D): I had dinner at Santarpio‟s, had some leftovers - Mike: Ah, you‟re the freakin‟ best You want a beer? - Ben: Yeah (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To invite) 88 - – Mike: We‟re close Ben: Just answer the question, will you? (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To order) 89 - Mike: Oh man, I’m starving - Ben: So, where are we on the ninety? - Mike: Close (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To confirm) 90 - Mike: Oh man, I‟m starving - Ben: So, where are we on the ninety? - Mike: Close - Ben: How close? - Mike: We’re close - Ben: Just answer the question, will you? (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To refuse) 91 - - Eliza: It‟s all I have to keeps my loss present Northup: You let yourself be overcome by sorrow You will drown AP.18 in it - Eliza: Have you stopped crying for your children? You make no sounds, but will you ever let them go in your heart? - Northup: They are my flesh (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To claim) 92 – Marty: I keep thinking about that conversation we had the other night You said Law called down the power of God when we reported on Porter - Ben: That’s just Law being Law (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To criticize) 93 - – Ben: Sounds like we‟re going after Law? Marty: We’re going after the system (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To advise) 94 - Bass: You must know, wherever I am I will press your cause - Northup: Five months On top of these years No cause remains - Bass: If there is any chance (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To thank) 95 - – Sacha: And what did your mother do? Middle-aged-man: My mother? She put out freakin’ cookies (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To express one‟s unpleasantness) 96 – Cop: Sure, the chief knew, everybody knew But nobody wants to cuff a priest - Sacha: What about the prosecutor? - Cop: I shouldn‟t talk about this shit - Sacha: I think you should actually (Declarative – Command/ Request : To advise) 97 – Sacha: Could I ask you a few questions? AP.19 - Father Paquin: Go ahead, dear (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To ask for permission) 98 – Father Paquin: Yes, yes, but as I said, I never got any pleasure from it That‟s important to understand - Sacha: Right Can you tell me where and how you, uh, fooled around with these boys? (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To order) 99 – Mike: What‟s the half of it? (then) Tell me the half of it, Mitch - Garabedian: Off the record - Mike: Off the record (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To agree) 100 - Mike: Have him how? - Garabedian: Rogers opposes my motion So I gotta make an argument as to why I‟m allowed to depose Father Benzevich a second time But now, I‟m allowed to attach exhibits You follow what I’m saying? - Mike: The sealed documents (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To request) 101 - Robby (INTO PHONE): So we can get them? - Mike (INTO PHONE): Yeah, but they‟re not there! I already talked to Albano, he said all we have to is file a motion and Sweeney will order Mitch to refile the docs (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To express one‟s uncertainty) 102 - Ben: I wanna talk to him when he’s back (to Robby) Did Rezendes find a way to get to Florida? - Robby: They just opened the airport in Providence, he‟s on his way there now AP.20 (Declarative – Command/ Request: To request) 103 - Jim: Are you out of your mind? - Robby: Come on This is our town, Jimmy We all knew something was going on and no one did a thing We gotta put an end to it (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To convince) 104 - Mike (INTO PHONE): Mitch, it‟s Mike, I‟ve been trying to reach you - Garabedian (OVER THE PHONE): I don’t have time to talk to you, Mr Rezendes (Declarative – Command/ Request: To refuse) 105 - Mike (INTO PHONE): Okay, great Can you to hold off on refiling them? - Garabedian: Hold off? (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To order) 106 - Mike (INTO PHONE): Mitch, please, I just need a few weeks - Garabedian (INTO PHONE): I can’t make any promises Goodbye - Mike (INTO PHONE): Mitch? Mitch! Shit! (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To disagree) 107 - Saviano: you‟re dropping us! Maybe I should tell the Herald that story Sacha: Okay, Phil You can that, it‟ll undo all the work we‟ve done But I can‟t stop you (Intended meaning # literal meaning: To threaten) 108 - Sacha (CONT‟D): Listen to me I am here because I care We AP.21 are not going away We are not going away We are going to tell this story and we‟re going to tell it right We just need more time, that‟s all we‟re asking for - Phil: Why bother asking? You‟re gonna what you want anyway You always (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To promise) 109 - Sacha (CONT‟D): Listen to me I am here because I care We are not going away We are not going away We are going to tell this story and we‟re going to tell it right We just need more time, that‟s all we‟re asking for - Phil: Why bother asking? You’re gonna what you want anyway You always (Declarative – Exclamation: To express one‟s unpleasantness) 110 - Mike (INTO PHONE): Why‟d he call you? - Robby (OVER THE PHONE): Because he knew you‟d yell at him He refilled the docs - Mike (INTO PHONE): What? Robby, those docs are public now, we gotta get them before anyone else does (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To protest) 111 - Clerk O‟ Brian: Those records are sealed - Mike: No, that‟s a public motion, those records are public Look, I work for the Globe (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To convince) 112 - Mike: Can I talk to your supervisor? - Clerk O‟ Brian: He‟s not in today (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To ask for permission) 113 - Receptionist: Would you like to have a seat? AP.22 - Mike: Yeah Sure I‟ll take a seat (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To invite) 114 - Peter Conley: (to Robby, direct) Robby, as well-intentioned as Bill‟s remarks are, I‟m hoping maybe we can keep this between us until we all get on the same page - Robby: Is that why we’re here, to get on the same page? (Interrogative – Statement: To negate) 115 - Robby: Did you play a sport here, Jack? - Jack Dunn: Yeah Football Why? - Robby: I ran track (then) I went to Providence yesterday, to talk to one of Talbot‟s victims, he played hockey here He‟s one of the better ones, has a wife, kids, good job Ten minutes into the conversation guy breaks down, couldn‟t stop crying Said he could never figure out why Father Talbot picked him Father Talbot coached the hockey team So, I guess we just got lucky, you and me (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To claim) 116 - Sacha: And Pete Conley? Why was he there? - Robby: Good question Pete‟s a big alum But I called Bill directly and I asked for a sit-down, I never mentioned anybody else (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To agree) 117 - Sacha: It‟s like everybody already knows the story - Robby: Yeah, except us And we work right there (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To claim) 118 - Mike: Yeah, I‟m going to the copy room - Clerk O‟ Brian: It closed at four - Mike: I’ll give you 83 bucks to use yours AP.23 (Declarative – Command/ Request: To order) 119 - Robby: Yeah It is This is good work - Mike: Should we take it up to Ben? - Robby: No, not yet - Mike: Why not? We got Law This is it (Interrogative – Declarative: To protest) 120 - Robby: So we‟ll write a holding story and we‟ll keep an eye on the Herald - Mike: (losing it) Keep our eye on the Herald? They run this and they get it wrong, the Church will bury it! We gotta this now! - Marty: Mike (Declarative – Command/ Request: To order) 121 - Robby: So we‟ll write a holding story and we‟ll keep an eye on the Herald - Mike: Keep our eye on the Herald? They run this and they get it wrong, the Church will bury it! We gotta this now! (Interrogative – Statement: To protest) 122 - Robby: You finished? - Mike: Yeah I am This is bullshit (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To order) 123 - Mike: Did you tell her why? - Sacha: She goes to church three times a week, Mike (Intended meaning – Literal meaning: To refuse) 124 - Marty: When did you – - Robby: A couple of weeks ago - Ben: A couple of weeks? - Robby: Yeah AP.24 (Interrogative – Exclamation: To express one‟s surprise) 125 - Gilman: Because, obviously, the Church will fight us very hard on this Which won‟t go unnoticed by our subscriber base 53% of them are Catholic - Marty: Uh, I think they‟ll be interested (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To threaten) 126 - Mike: Hello Hello? - Paralegal: Can I help you? - Mike: Oh Hi I‟m Mike Rezendes from the Boston Globe I‟m here to see Mitchell Garabedian (Interrogative – Command/ Request: To offer) 127 - Garabedian: The Church thinks in centuries, Mr Rezendes You think your paper has the resources to take that on? - Mike: Yeah, I But if you don‟t mind me asking, you? - Garabedian: I don‟t have the time to talk to you, Mr Rezendes, I‟m very busy (calling out) Sharon! (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To threaten) 128 - Wanda: You guys doing a story on the Church? - Matt: No, we are not doing a story on the Church (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To refuse) 129 - Cardinal Law: Tough seat to sit in, especially in a small town I think you‟ll find Boston‟s a small town too, Marty, in many ways But if I can be of any help, don‟t hesitate to ask I find that this city flourishes when its great institutions work together - Marty: Uh, thank you Personally, I‟m of the opinion that for the paper to best perform its function it needs to, uh, stand alone (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To suggest) AP.25 130 - Cardinal Law: Tough seat to sit in, especially in a small town I think you‟ll find Boston‟s a small town too, Marty, in many ways But if I can be of any help, don‟t hesitate to ask I find that this city flourishes when its great institutions work together - Marty: Uh, thank you Personally, I’m of the opinion that for the paper to best perform its function it needs to, uh, stand alone (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To refuse) 131 - Marty: Uh, thank you Personally, I‟m of the opinion that for the paper to best perform its function it needs to, uh, stand alone - Cardinal Law: Of course, but my offer stands (Intended meaning # Literal meaning: To claim) ... of Indirect Speech Acts in “Spotlight” Based on the analytical framework for analyzing indirect speech acts in the present study, the structures of indirect speech acts in “Spotlight” are classified... not to read and write.” is an indirect speech act that performs an act of negating 4.2.11 To advise As a matter of fact, indirect speech acts are also used to give advice It is interesting to notice... Mazrul Aziz and Zahrida called “An analysis of direct and indirect speech acts performed by main character in the movie Revenant script” on Journal of English Education and Teaching The research