ANSWER KEY

1. Commissives
2. Anaphoric reference
3. infer
4. special knowledge
5. direct
6. quantity
7. the users
8. positive
9. dexis
10. distant
11. A
12. B
13. C
14. B
15. D
16. B
17. A
18. C
19. B
20. C

IV.
If you analyze the script based on maxims:
When responding to Ellen question “What are you learning in the kindergarten?”, Noah
flouts the maxim of relation. Instead of saying what he is learning in kindergarten, he
responds by complaining the school is holding him as if he is in prison, which is not relevant
to Ellen’s question. However, it looks like he flouts the maxim (violate on purpose) in order
to emphasize that he dislikes schools, and he does not care about what he is learning.
Flouting the maxim of relation here helps Noah express a sarcastic tone, which generates a
comedic effect.
Later, he continues to violate the cooperative principle in terms of quality. He flouts the
maxim of quality by saying that the duration of five days equals to a week, and ten days
equals to a year. By flouting the maxim of quality, he aims to emphasize the annoying time
he has to spend at school.

V.
Situation 1:
A: What time is it, B?
B: It’s getting quite late. It’s 10 p.m now.
 Illocutionary act: Speaker B intends to inform A about the time.
 Perlocutionary act: Speaker A will be aware of the time.
Situation 2:
A: Mom, can I go to my friend’s house now?
Mom: It’s getting quite late.
A: Please, Mom.
 Illocutionary act: Mom intends to refuse A’s permission to go to his/her friend’s house.
 Perlocutionary act: Speaker A won’t be able to go to his/her friend’s house.