ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL ADDRESSES USING SEARLES TAXONOMY OF SPEECH ACTS

Abstract

This study analyzes the performance of Searle" speech acts in presidential inaugural addresses. Five presidential inaugural addresses taken as the samples of this study were analyzed using Searle"s speech act taxonomy and different distinctive features of illocutionary acts. The findings of this study revealed the frequency and comparison of the speech act performance. Each inaugural address possessed distinctive characteristics influenced by sociopolitical, economic, and historical situation of the countries. In addition, some commonalities in relation to the performance of Searle"s speech act taxonomy were also observed.