Written Assignment - Infelicitous Speech Acts

Each of the following illocutionary or speech acts (cited between quotation marks) is deviant--that is, it is infelicitous or 'unhappy' in some way, due to the accompanying circumstances (described in parentheses). State exactly what makes the act infelicitous.
To help you in formulating your remarks, refer to the chart "Types of Illocutionary Acts" (found in your readings in the article by Searle; the chart is toward the end of the article in the section entitled "Extending the Analysis".)
  1. "I request that you be in class on time next Tuesday."

    2. (You have never been late to class yet.)

    This is a directive illocution; it violates the preparatory rule that H (the student) is not expected to do A (be on time) in the ordinary course of events.
     
     

  2. "Thank you for dropping by to see me."

    3. (I really was thoroughly bored with your visit and would have preferred to have spent the time alone.)

    This is an expressive illocution; it violates the sincerity condition because S does not really feel gratitude).
     
     

  3. "For the midterm exam I advise you all to study carefully this material on speech acts."

    4. (I have already made up the midterm exam and there are no questions whatsoever on speech acts.)

    This is a directive illocution; it violates the sincerity condition because S (the professor) does not really believe that A (studying for speech acts for the midterm) will benefit H (the students taking the midterm).
     
     

  4. "I congratulate you on the suicide of your cousin."

    5. (I approach you as you are weeping at the funeral.)

    This is an expressive illocution; it violates the preparatory condition because the event (the suicide) is not in H's interest; maybe also the sincerity condition could be invoked.
     
     

  5. "What is a speech act?"

    6. (I ask this question of any member of our class, where it is not intended as an exam question.)

    This is a questions (directive); it violates the preparatory rule that S (the professor) does not know the answer. Note though that this violation is okay when professors make up exam questions, but not for ordinary questions/answers.
     
     

  6. "I promise that if you get a passing grade on the final exam, I will give you a passing grade for the course."

    7. (I say this to a student who has done passing work in the course all quarter.)

    This is a commissive illocution; it violates the preparatory rule of promissing something that will normally happen anyway.
     
     

  7. "UCSD is located in La Jolla and not in San Diego."

    8. (I mention this during a conversation I am having with UCSD's chancellor.)

    This is an assertive illocution; it violates the preparatory rule of informing the hearer of something s/he is believed not to know already.
     
     

  8. "Be careful when you crossed the street yesterday."

    9. (I issue this warning as you leave the house.)

    This is a directive illocution; it violates the propositional content rule that the act (of crossing the street) must take place in the future.
     
     

  9. "I will take you to the movies next Tuesday."

    10. (Next Monday I plan on leaving for Paris for three weeks.)

    This is an implicit commissive illocution; it violates the sincerity rule because knowing I will be in Paris on Monday, I have no intention of going to the movies with you on Tuesday.
     
     

  10. "I order you to begin class 10 minutes later next time."

    11. (This command is given by a student to his professor.)

    This is a directive illocution; it violates a preparatory rule that S (the student) is not the right kind of person to issue orders to H (the professor).


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