Introduction to

Discourse
Studies
DZULFIA EKA PUTRI (19178012)
ELFY SYAFYENI (19178043)
RAHMA WIDI (19178030)
 Discourse studies is the
descipline devoted to the
A Rough Definition of investigation of the
Discourse Studies relationship between form
and function in verbal
communication.

What is meant by the relationship between form and

function?
Is it really necessary to have a separate discipline for
the investigation of this relationship?

Introduction
 Verbal communication
A: Say, there’s a good movie
playing tonight.
B: Actually, I have to study.
A: Too bad.
B: Yes, I’m sorry.
A: Well, I guess I don’t need to
ask you if you want me to pick
you up.
In this fragment the form statement
has the function of an invitation (First
utterance of A) and a refusal there of
(first utterance of B).
Explanation
The form of statement that has a
function as an invitation.
The response counts as a refusal.
A’s statement of regret shows that
this interpretation is not mere
conjecture.
The aim of discourse studies is to provide
an explanatory description of the intricate
relations between forms of discourse
elements and their functions in
communication.
Why should there be a separate discipline
discourse studies?
Linguistics

Discourse phenomena
Communicati
cannot be studied
on science, adequately from just
psychology,
sociology, Literature one of these
and perspective. Because
philosophy
Form and the concept dealing
function with these phenomena
are taken from many
disciplines, a common
ground is necessary
Syilistics
and Rhetoric
pragmatics
Communication as Action
The organon model is • He described language as a tool,
formulated by Karl “Organon”, which people use in order
Buhler the German to communicate with one another.
Philosopher and • Buhler’s Organon model has had a
psychologist. He major impact on the way language is
defined the functions dealt with in discourse studies.
of communication • Buhler stated that a sound can only
according to which qualify as a linguistic sign if a three-
linguistic fold relationship exists connecting the
communication can be sound to a sender, a receiver, and an
described. object tha is being reffered to.

The Organon Model

Parallel to this three-pronged relationship each
linguistic sign (S) has three funcions simultaneously:

A sign functions as a symptom as it says something about sender, for example,

whether the sender is female or male or what the intention of the utterance is.

A sign is a symbol because it refers to objects and states of affairs.

A sign serves as a signal because a receiver must interpret it or react to what

has been said.
 Symbol

Symptom Signal

Figure 1
The language is an instrument with which objectives can be achieved and that
this instrument cannot considered to be separate from speakers and listeners, or
writers and readers, in performing communicative acts.
Speech Acts Theory is concerned with the ways in which
language can be used. It is originated with Austin 1962 and
developed by Searle 1969. They both believe that language
is not only used to describe things, but also it is often used
to do things (to perform acts). In other words, actions are
performed via utterances which are generally called speech
acts.

Speech Act Theory

Austin distinguishes between three acts
in one single speech
Locutionary Act
• Is the act of saying something (the physical
manifestation of an utterance.
Illocutionary Acts
• The illocutionary force which is represented by
the speaker’s intent.
Perlocutionary Act
• Refers to the speech act which has an effect on the
feelings, thoughts or actions of either the speaker of the
hearer
 The philosopher John Searle (1969) formulated four felicity
conditions that illocutions must meet. These four conditions are
illustrated below using the illocution to promise.
• The propositional content. • The sincerity condition
In the case of “promising”, the act The speaker must honestly be
that the speaker commits himself willing to fulfill the promise. Even
to )the proposition) must be a if he is not willing, he can be held
future act to be carried out by the to his promise.
speaker himself. One cannot make • The essential condition
a promise for someone else or This is the condition that separates
promise to do something that has the illocution in question from
already been done. other illocutions. In the case of
• The preparatory condition “promising”, this means, among
This condition concerns those other things, that the speaker takes
circumstances that are essential for upon himself the responsibility of
the uptake of an illocution as the carrying out the act stated in the
intended illocution. content of the promise.
ILLOCUTIONS IN DISCOURSE
Speech Acts theory
(Austin:1962)

LOCUTION PERLOCUTION
(The real fact or (Result of the
informative) utterance/acts)

ILLOCUTIONS
Implicature
(Intended meaning)

IFIDS (Illocution Force Indicating

Devices) by John Searle (1969)
 Felicity Conditions
for request

 The preposition content

 The future act is to be carried out by the addressee
 The prepatory condition
 The condition which the addressee is capable of doing it or she/he
will not perform the act without being asked
 The sincerity condition
 The speaker wants the addressee to do what they requested
 The essential condition
 The utterance persuade the addressee to execute it

ILLOCUTIONS IN DISCOURSE
 “Can you stop by in a minute?”

Implicit meaning of request which identified by the felicity

conditions.

EXAMPLE
 The cooperative principle is Maxims To describe how participants in
general principle of language use. (basic rules) a conversation derive
implicatures.

 Maxim of quantity
 The informative utterances as is required
 Maxim of quality
 Make the truth utterance and avoid the lack adequate evidence
 Maxim of relevance

THE COOPERATIVE
 Be relevant
 Maxim of manner
 Be perspicuous (avoid obscurity of expression and ambiguity), and be

PRINCIPLE
brief and orderly
A : I’m out of petrol
B : There is garage round the corner

Implicit meaning which means that there is garage round

the corner that is open and sells gasoline, but B has not
mentioned these facts.

EXAMPLE
 Relevance Theory
Grice (1975) reasonable discourse may occur when
between speaker and admonition abide by the
principle of communication cooperation

•Maxim of Quantity
Conversational
maxim
•Maxim of Quality
•Maxim of Relevance
•Maxim of manner
• Maxim of Relevance
• This maxim requires that each
conversation participant make a pertinent
contribution to the issue of conversation.
• Ex:
• A: there is somebody at the door?
• B: I’m in the bath (Joan Cutting 2002: 36)
• The Implementation of Maxim
• 1. Observing
• saying or communicating according to
conditions as exemplified earlier.
2. Violating or Flouting
• occurs if the speaker does not contribute
relevant to the topic of speech.
• Ex:
• Husband: how much did the new dress cost,
honey?
• Wife: I know, lets go out today (Joan Cutting
2002: 40)
 POLITENESS THEORY

Face Theory by Goffman, Brown and

Levinson
According to Brown and Levinson (1987)
which was inspired by Goffman (1967)
politeness is being more concerned with
the face of either the speaker or the
speech partner face. This face concept
started with a traditional concept in China
• Face Theory:
• Positive face
• Due to intimacy values between speaker
and speech partner.
• Ex:
• A: have you gotten the information about
your STNK from the police:
• B: crazy! Since when do you care about my
problems? Not yet. Maybe they burned it .
• Negative Face
• related to the social distance between speaker and
speech partner.
• Ex:
• A: sorry , is there Senen market still far from here?
• B: its so far from here. Where do you want to go?
• A: I told the driver to get off at the Senen market.
Sorry, is it still far away?
• B: its not far, but very far
• A: thank you
• B: welcome
 • Face Threatening Act
• it occurs when speakers and speech partners do not speak
the same language according to social distance.
• Ex:
• A: its late at night. Why the noise? You don’t have a home?
• B: I am uncle… sorry again

• Is negative : when speaker and speech partner have close

social distance
• Is positive: when speaker and speech parten have
considerable social distance