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THE POSSIBILITY OF CONDITIONAL CONSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH
TO PERFORM SOME SPEECH ACTS
Islom Urol ugli Minnikulov, Doctor of Philosophy in Philological Sciences, Teacher of Department of English Language Teaching Methodology, English Faculty-1, UzSWLU, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Abstract: This article is devoted to the study of possibility of conditional sentences to perform some speech activities in a certain communicative context. In particular, it studies the problem of conditional relationships from the viewpoint of pragmatics, in particular, their potential to carry out some speech acts. The aim of the research is to reveal the pragmatic aspect of conditional sentences in English such as to perform some speech acts. In order to reach the goal of research, the following tasks are set: a) review of related literature; b) critique and synthesis of existing theories; c) analysis of potential of conditional sentences to perform speech acts in a situation. In the study, some methods of linguistic analysis have been used: linguistic description, analysis, synthesis, pragmatic analysis, speech act theory. The results of research show that conditional sentences in English can perform the following speech acts in a certain situation of communication: permission giving and asking, hesitation, strong assertion, offer, persuasion, advice and the role of social context, extralinguistic factors as addresser and addressee, communicative aim, context are highlighted in this research.
Keywords: condition, conditional sentence, speech acts, performatives, locution, illocution, perlocution, pragmatics, context, communication.
Аннотация: Статья посвящена исследованию возможности условных предложений выполнять некоторые речевые действия в определенном коммуникативном контексте. В частности, исследуется проблема условных отношений с точки зрения прагматики, в частности, их способность выполнять некоторые речевые действия. Цель исследования - выявить прагматический аспект условных предложений в английском языке, таких как исполнение некоторых речевых действий. Для достижения цели исследования ставятся следующие задачи: а) обзор соответствующей литературы; б) критика и синтез существующих теорий; в) анализ возможностей условных предложений для совершения речевых действий в ситуации. В исследовании использованы некоторые методы лингвистического анализа: лингвистическое
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описание, анализ, синтез, прагматический анализ, теория речевого акта. Результаты исследования показывают, что условные предложения на английском языке могут выполнять следующие речевые действия в определенной ситуации общения: предоставление разрешения и вопрос, колебание, сильное утверждение, предложение, убеждение, совет и роль социального контекста, экстралингвистические факторы как адресат и В исследовании выделяются адресат, коммуникативная цель, контекст.
Ключевые слова: условие, условное предложение, речевые акты, перформативы, словосочетание, иллокуция, перлокуция, прагматика, контекст, коммуникация.
It is important to note that all language units can perform various speech acts in a particular communicative situation. However, they act such speech patterns both implicitly and explicitly according to the intention of the speaker. When they act some speech production explicitly speakers directly say some utterances to the listener, but speakers sometimes don't utter explicitly due to some situational factors such as social, cultural, psychological, physical and etc. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the problem of conditional relationships from the viewpoint of pragmatics.
This issue has been studied by a number of scholars such as E. Christian, E. Cornelia, and H. Stefan (2008); M. Krifa (2017); M. Maryam, F. Judith, L. Maurice and K. Ralf (2018); A.Y. Richard (1989); R. Salnaker (2009). In particular, they have investigated the problem in question from the perspective of the potential of conditionals to perform a speech act in a certain communicative context.
Also, scholars like A. Angeliki, D. Rene (1996); Chi-He Elder, K. M. Jaszczolt (2014); D. J. Hilton., J. F. Bonnefon (2011); M.V. Dolores, S. Gloria, M. J. Ferraces (1997); Hsun-Ming Hsu, Yu-Fang Wang, Kai-Ming Hu (2015); J. F. Bonnefon, G. Politzer (2011); R. Carston (2004); S. Moss (2012); H. Hasselgard (2016); Shaw-Jing Chao, P. W. Cheng (2000); H. Yasunari, H. Kumiko (2000); B. Dancygier, M. Ewa (1984); F. Recanati (2015); H. Jimaima (2014); P. N. Johnson-Laird, R. M. Byrne (2002), and Russian linguists as N. Yu. Kiselyova (2005); A.A. Akopyan (2011) have dealt with the problem of conditional relations from the viewpoint of pragmatics. They considered the various aspects of conditionals from pragmatic perspective. As
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE REVIEW
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is shown from this review of literature, it is said that the problem has been studied from pragmatic aspect by various scholars.
This study is descriptive and qualitative by nature. It is characterized by theoretical and practical value. Its results are gained by careful analysis and synthesis of research materials (conditional sentences) by using appropriate methods of research as pragmatic analysis, speech act theory, pragmatic intention and contextual analysis. In particular, these methods of research are used to reveal the potential of conditional sentences to perform a speech act in a particular communication context.
In this article, we deal with the potential of conditional sentences in English to act as some speech acts implicitly rather than explicitly. Let's analyze the following examples:
Context: 'Would you like to drink, or could you eat anything?'
'No, thank you, Bessie.' 'Then I think I shall go to bed, for it is past twelve o'clock; but you may call me if you want anything in the night.' (1, 30-31).
Context: Tennison found Jones sitting outside the door. He looked very pale. 'OK,' she said cheerfully. 'If you're feeling better, you can drive me back to the station.'
'Sorry about that, boss,' Jones replied. 'I must have eaten something last night that made me ill.' (1, 26).
Context: "It's Cora!" he shouted. "Cora! Cora!" shouted Uncas. They continued their hunt; Duncan and Uncas followed closely, while Hawkeye was more cautious because the way up the mountain was dangerous. Slowly, the two men in front got closer to the Hurons. Suddenly Cora stopped. "I will go no further," she cried. "Kill me if you want, you hateful Huron." The Indian with Magua pulled out his knife to kill her, but Magua stopped him and pulled out his own knife. "Woman, choose; my wigwam or my knife!" "I am yours! Do what you will with me," she replied. (2, 68-69).
In the above examples, we can see the potential of conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of permission giving in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of permission giving act are used in the examples. Only the social situation helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions. Context: She ran downstairs and saw ... Willoughby. 'How is she?' he cried. 'Better,' replied Elinor. 'Could you please leave this house now?' 'Miss
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
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Dashwood, for a minute, please let me stay, I need to talk to you! I need to, if I can, make you hate me a little less. Please let me explain...' 'Well, sir, be quick then.' 'I am married now, and very rich, but not happy, Miss Dashwood. (3, 68).
In the examples, we can observe the possibility of conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of permission asking in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of permission asking act are used in the examples. Only the social situation helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
Context: Elderly Mr. and Mrs. Riddle had been rich, snobbish, and rude, and their grown-up son, Tom, had been, if anything, worse. (4, 2).
In the example, we can observe the possibility of conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of hesitation in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of hesitation act are used in the examples. Only the social situation helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
Context: "'So far as I'm concerned, he killed them, and I don't care what the police say," said Dot in the Hanged Man. "And if he had any decency, he'd leave here, knowing as how we knows he did it" (4, 4).
This example shows the possibility of conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of strong assertion in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of strong assertion act are used in the examples. Only the situational context helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
Context: "There is a little more in the bottle, My Lord, if you are still hungry." (4, 6).
This example demonstrates that the conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of offer in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of offer act are used in the examples. Only the situational context helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
Context: "My Lord, I do not say this out of concern for the boy!" said Wormtail, his voice rising squeakily. "The boy is nothing to me, nothing at all! It is merely that if we were to use another witch or wizard - any wizard - the thing could be done so much more quickly! If you allowed me to leave you for a short while -you know that I can disguise myself most effectively - I could be back here in as little as two days with a suitable person -" (4, 8-9).
Context: "My Lord, I must speak!" said Wormtail, panic in his voice now.
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"All through our journey I have gone over the plan in my head - My Lord, Bertha Jorkins's disappearance will not go unnoticed for long, and if we proceed, if I murder" (4, 10) .
Context: "That is true," said the second man, sounding amused. "A stroke of brilliance I would not have thought possible from you, Wormtail - though, if truth be told, you were not aware how useful she would be when you caught her, were you?"
(4, 11).
This examples clearly show that the conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of persuasion in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of persuasion act are used in the examples. Only the situational context helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
"If?" whispered the second voice. "If? If you follow the plan, Wormtail, the Ministry need never know that anyone else has died. You will do it quietly and without fuss; I only wish that I could do it myself, but in my present condition . . . Come, Wormtail, one more death and our path to Harry Potter is clear. (4, 10).
In the example, it can be noticed that the conditional constructions to perform implicitly a speech act of advice in a given situation. It should be noted that any means of explicit expression of advice act are used in the examples. Only the situational context helps to identify such function of the conditional constructions.
Thus, the potential of conditional sentences to perform a speech act in a certain communicative context can be summarized in the following chart:
Factors influencing conditionals to perform speech acts
linguistic context (co-text)
extralinguistic context (addresser and addressee, communicative aim, social context)
conditional sentences
conditional clauses
Speech acts to be performed in a situation
permission
giving and hesitation; asking;
strong assertion;
persuasion;
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1-Diagram: Scheme of how conditionals act some speech acts in a certain
communication.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the following implications and inferences can be drawn as a result of our investigation:
a) conditional constructions in English can function some speech acts such as permission giving and asking, hesitation, strong assertion, offer, persuasion, advice in a particular communicative situation.
b) the role of social context, linguistic context is highlighted in the revelation of the potential of conditional sentences in English to perform such acts of speech.
1. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre. http://www.planetpdf.com.
2. James Fenimore Cooper. The last of the Mohicans.-Krakow: Mediasat Poland Bis, 2005.-88 p.
3. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.-Krakow: Mediasat Poland Bis, 2005.-88 p.
4. Rowling J.K. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic Press, 2000.- 755 p.
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