Open AccessConversational Storytelling in Chinese Speech Acts
Author(s) -
Zhang Shu-ling
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
english linguistics research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-6036
pISSN - 1927-6028
DOI - 10.5430/elr.v6n3p27
Subject(s) - storytelling , narrative , expression (computer science) , point (geometry) , face (sociological concept) , linguistics , speech act , psychology , communication , object (grammar) , sociology , computer science , philosophy , geometry , mathematics , programming language
Conversational narrative or storytelling is a prevalent activity in everyday talk. This paper, drawing on the speech act theory and conversational analysis methodology, examines the conversational storytelling in performing a few types of illocutionary acts like assert, warn, object, advise in Chinese everyday talk. It is found that storytelling plays several significant roles in performing some types of illocutionary acts, i.e. to make a point, to build rapport among friends and even to reduce the face threat. Conversational storytelling may occur immediately after the expression of an illocutionary act, and sometimes before it to indicate certain illocutionary force.