Chapter 10. Vagueness and ambiguity of perlocutionary effects in Prime Minister’s Question time sessions
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Milica Radulović
Abstract
Prime Minister’s Question time sessions are speech events in which questions are not only requests for information, and answers do not only provide the requested information. Speakers also exchange argumentation, so the illocutionary act of advancing argumentation can be regarded as a constitutive component of these speech events. More specifically, argumentation can precede the MP’s question to the Prime Minister and it can be part of the Prime Minister’s response to the MP’s question. The research tested the assumption that both (1) questions with clear locution and illocution and (2) questions with unclear locution and/or illocution can produce vague and/or ambiguous perlocutionary effects or consequences. Perlocutionary effects or consequences were classified into illocutionary and non-illocutionary perlocutionary effects or consequences (van Eemeren & Grootendorst 1984: 26–27). The analysis included 70 question-answer exchanges from two Question time sessions. The results demonstrate that disagreements can lead to non-answer responses.
Abstract
Prime Minister’s Question time sessions are speech events in which questions are not only requests for information, and answers do not only provide the requested information. Speakers also exchange argumentation, so the illocutionary act of advancing argumentation can be regarded as a constitutive component of these speech events. More specifically, argumentation can precede the MP’s question to the Prime Minister and it can be part of the Prime Minister’s response to the MP’s question. The research tested the assumption that both (1) questions with clear locution and illocution and (2) questions with unclear locution and/or illocution can produce vague and/or ambiguous perlocutionary effects or consequences. Perlocutionary effects or consequences were classified into illocutionary and non-illocutionary perlocutionary effects or consequences (van Eemeren & Grootendorst 1984: 26–27). The analysis included 70 question-answer exchanges from two Question time sessions. The results demonstrate that disagreements can lead to non-answer responses.
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
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Part I. Vagueness and ambiguity
- Chapter 2. The role of ambiguity and vagueness in language change 10
- Chapter 3. The role of ambiguity in intentional vagueness 29
- Chapter 4. Vagueness and ambiguity are very different (persuasion devices) 51
- Chapter 5. Ambiguity in discourse 84
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Part II. Vagueness and ambiguity in language change and use
- Chapter 6. Underspecification and ambiguity of voice markers 110
- Chapter 7. Vague stuff 148
- Chapter 8. Vagueness explored 177
- Chapter 9. Using ambiguity and vagueness to avoid problematic answers 208
- Chapter 10. Vagueness and ambiguity of perlocutionary effects in Prime Minister’s Question time sessions 234
- Chapter 11. Place names in legal texts 259
- Index 281
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I. Vagueness and ambiguity
- Chapter 2. The role of ambiguity and vagueness in language change 10
- Chapter 3. The role of ambiguity in intentional vagueness 29
- Chapter 4. Vagueness and ambiguity are very different (persuasion devices) 51
- Chapter 5. Ambiguity in discourse 84
-
Part II. Vagueness and ambiguity in language change and use
- Chapter 6. Underspecification and ambiguity of voice markers 110
- Chapter 7. Vague stuff 148
- Chapter 8. Vagueness explored 177
- Chapter 9. Using ambiguity and vagueness to avoid problematic answers 208
- Chapter 10. Vagueness and ambiguity of perlocutionary effects in Prime Minister’s Question time sessions 234
- Chapter 11. Place names in legal texts 259
- Index 281
