Assertives
Assertives are a type of speech act that are used to make a statement or claim. They are characterized by the speaker's intention to convey a certain proposition as true or factual. In linguistics, assertives are studied as part of the broader field of pragmatics, which examines how language is used in context to achieve communicative goals.
3 Key excerpts on "Assertives"
eBook - ePub- Sándor Hervey(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Since illocutionary acts are purposive, it is only natural that this should be so. Thus, the defining purpose of Assertives (= assertive illocutionary point) is to commit the sender to the truth of some proposition; that of Directives(! = directive illocutionary point) is to aim at getting a receptor to perform some action; that of Commissives (C = commissive illocutionary point) is to commit the sender to some future action; that of Expressives (E = expressive illocutionary point) is to convey the psychological attitude of the sender to some state of affairs; that of Declarations (D = declarative illocutionary point) is to perform, eo ipso, an action (cf. Austin's performatives); that of Assertive Declarations (D a = assertive-declarative illocutionary point) to assert and declare, simultaneously, that something is so, and is to count as being so. The notion of direction of fit between words and world concerns the nature of the relationship between an underlying proposition expressed alongside the illocutionary act and reality. There are two opposite possibilities in direction of fit: either the expressed proposition applies to a past or present reality which it purports to describe, or the expressed proposition alludes to a future state of affairs which the illocutionary act hopes to bring about...
eBook - ePub- Marty Brounstein(Author)
- 2011(Publication Date)
- For Dummies(Publisher)
...The speaker accepts what has happened and focuses on what needs to be done next. Takes initiative: An assertive speaker doesn’t play games. If something needs to happen, he or she takes the initiative to get the process rolling — no waiting for others to say what to do and when to act. The assertive approach is action oriented. Listens actively: Assertiveness allows for two-way conversation. Assertive speakers show a willingness to hear the other person out and understand his or her point of view. Speaks up, is direct and constructive: If a point needs to be made or a thought needs to be expressed, an assertive communicator speaks up. He or she states the point directly without beating around the bush. Assertive speakers use language constructively; that is, they communicate the message in the best way possible and make the point clearly. The language focuses on the issue at hand. Shows sincerity: When you express yourself sincerely, you say what you mean and mean what you say — and do so with respect for others. Is solutions focused: In problem situations, an assertive speaker takes a problem-solving approach. He or she examines the problem, not to blame or find fault with anyone but to understand the issue and move toward developing a solution. Creating the solution becomes the main focus in working with others. Assumes a confident voice and body language: The voice of an assertive speaker sounds strong, certain, and firm when needed. The speaker’s posture, gestures, and facial expressions support his or her message. He or she sounds and looks alive when speaking, coming across nonverbally as positive and enthusiastic to an appropriate degree. Addresses concerns directly to the source: An assertive speaker addresses issues directly to the source as opposed to telling others about the problems. At the same time, the speaker states the problem constructively and places the emphasis on collaborating with the other person to work out a resolution...
eBook - ePub- John Flowerdew(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Thus speech acts such as state, contend, insist, deny, remind, guess could be labelled as expositives (that is, expounding something), while promise, guarantee, refuse, decline could be labelled as commissives (that is, committing the speaker to some course of action), and order, request, beg and dare could be grouped together as exercitives (that is, exercising of powers, rights or influences). The five categories which were put forward as a tentative framework by Austin (1962) are as follows: verdictives — the giving of a verdict, as by a jury or umpire — for example, estimate, reckon, appraise; exercitives — as mentioned above, the exercising of power, rights or influence — for example, appoint, vote, order, urge, advise, warn; commissives — for example, promising or otherwise undertaking — promise, contract, undertake; behabitives — a miscellaneous group, having to do with attitudes and social behaviour — for example, apologise, congratulate, commend; expositives — the clarifying of reasons, arguments and communications — for example, reply, argue, concede, assume. The second way of classifying speech acts is Searle’s (1976) approach...
