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Abstract
The present article aims to explore the functions of the directive illocutionary acts in CNN headlines written about Pakistan. It also looks into the roles of the linguistic as well as the contextual elements in the identification of the directive illocutionary acts. The research treats the headlines as speech acts that have encoded pragmatic meanings. Analysis of the data shows that the felicity conditions help to determine the directive illocutionary force of a speech act but rely heavily on the linguistic and contextual elements related with proposition. Although the existence of the linguistic expressions in the headlines helps to recognise the illocutionary force but the linguistic devices can not be considered as the sole determiners of illocutionary force as the context of situation also plays an important role in identifying the illocutionary forces.
Keywords: directive speech acts, illocutionary acts, CNN headlines, language and context
1. Introduction
Current study attempts to identify and classify the directive speech acts in the news headlines of CNN (Cable News Network) that were written about Pakistan during 2010 and 2011. The study also discusses the contextual and linguistic practices associated with the identification of directive illocutionary acts.
Years 2010 and 2011 marked some of the most important events in the history of Pakistan. These events included floods, suicide bombings, casualties in drone attacks, Parvez Musharraf (Former President of Pakistan) political comeback, blasphemy law controversy, American intelligence agent Raymond Davis's murder of three Pakistanis and arrest on the spot, controversial killing of Osama Bin Laden by US marines and the blockade of the logistic support to the NATO forces in Afghanistan. CNN gave coverage to all these news stories. Pragmatic analysis of the headlines was selected as the most appropriate means of studying the role of CNN headlines.
In the light of the above mentioned purpose, there are two important objectives of the study. First, it aims to identify and classify the directive acts in CNN headlines. Second, the study also looks into the identification of the illocutionary forces with the help of the linguistic devices and the contexts in which the headlines were written.
In relation to the above mentioned objectives, following questions need to be answered:
i. What are the functions of directive illocutionary acts in CNN...