Speech act theory in quantitative research on interpersonal behavior∗

Abstract

In the development of coding schemes for research on human communication little attention has been given to the study of speech act theory and to the salient speech act distinctions made by “native” speakers. Some recent research, however, has attempted to overcome these deficiencies so as to provide systems that can usefully be applied to natural conversation. In this paper we review the more practically based efforts of Bales, Dore, and Labov and Fanshel, as well as the theoretical work of Austin, Vendler, and Searle. After reviewing this literature we describe a speech act classification scheme designed by the authors to investigate correspondences between speech acts and adjectival “dimensions” descriptive of interpersonal behavior. Analyses of data based on our coding system reveal 10 clusters or categories of speech acts that are likely to go together in short episodes of interaction. There are also some strong relationships between kinds of speech acts uttered in a conversation and perceptions of the associated interactors. Overall, the results point to some important distinctions that should be captured in systems for coding or measuring communication behavior.

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