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The usefulness of speech act analysis is in illustrating the kinds of things we can do
with words and identifying some of the conventional utterance forms we use to perform
specific actions.

Examples of Speech Events
Request
 Oh, Pete, I'm glad you're here.
 What's up?
 I can't get my printer to work.
 Is it broken?
 I don't think so.
 What's it doing?
 I don't know. I'm useless with machines.
 What kind is it?
 It's a ……. Do you use them?
 Yeah.
 Do you have a minute?
 Sure.
 Oh, great.
This extended interaction may be called a 'requesting' speech event without a central
speech act of request. There is no actual request to do anything. We might characterize
the question 'Do you have a minute?' as a 'pre-request', allowing the receiver to say that
she's busy or that she has to be somewhere else. In this context, the response 'Sure' is
taken to be an acknowledgement not only of having time available, but a willingness to
perform the unstated action.

Compliment
1.
 Hi Ann, how are you?
 Fine.
 What a beautiful blouse.
 Oh thanks, it is, isn't it? Mum gave it to me for my birthday.

 I see.
 Mmm… So what will we start with?
2.

 I'm not sure I like my new haircut. (the compliment elicitation move)
 Why, I like it…
Compliments, as speech acts, are classified as expressives. The speech event of
compliment includes the entire interaction. Compliments often occur between the opening
and the first topic of conversation. They also occur in preclosings. Compliment structure
consists of both optional and obligatory patterns: (compliment solicit) compliment act +
acknowledgment (agree / deny / redirect focus) + bridge. Parts of the event are optional
(compliment elicitation, agreement, thanks); and parts are obligatory (compliment
statement, acknowledgment, bridge). Compliments have several functions. They help
1. establish rapport and smooth the transition from greeting to the first topic of
conversation;