Pragmatic uses of compliment speech-act verbs

Abstract

Performative refers to a type of action that is performed under the sentence having been uttered. Knowing a language entails understanding how to construct correct sentences and how to use those sentences to construct appropriate utterances. As a result, they frequently employ a variety of linguistic forms. An utterance is, however, only a performative utterance if the conditions necessary to make it an act prevail. Knowledge of a language does not simply imply an understanding of the rules that generate an infinite number of sentences; it also entails an understanding of the context and socio-cultural rules that govern the use of sentences to generate appropriate utterances. Most utterances are performative utterances that can be preceded by performative verbs. Furthermore, there are different types of utterances; explicit and implicit Performatives. Performative verbs have a particular significance; they determine the illocutionary force of an utterance. The present study aims at investigating Iraqi English Foreign Language learners' performance in analysing performative verbs. Compliment act has been chosen as the study favourite to represent learners ' mastery in pragmatic proficiency as well as their communicative ability. To achieve these aims, the study finds that EFL learners face many difficulties in recognizing performative verbs to perform correct speech acts. They were also influenced by their own social norms.