MEANING STRUCTURES IN SPEECH ACTS: A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONVERSATION

Abstract

This study explores the semantic structures underlying speech acts in formal and informal conversations. Drawing from speech act theory (Austin and Searle) and supported by semantic and pragmatic frameworks, the research investigates how utterances convey meaning in different social contexts. Data were collected from real-life conversational transcripts across formal settings (e.g., academic consultations) and informal settings (e.g., casual student interactions). The analysis reveals significant structural differences: formal conversations favor direct and syntactically complex utterances, dominated by directive and representative speech acts, while informal conversations exhibit expressive and commissive acts, characterized by elliptical forms, emotional intensifiers, and casual lexis. The findings highlight that social context heavily influences both the form and the semantic-pragmatic function of speech acts. This study contributes to understanding how meaning is constructed and interpreted across communicative contexts and emphasizes the importance of integrating semantic and pragmatic awareness in language learning.