Illocutionary and Perlocutionary Speech Act Analysis of „‟Home Fire‟‟ by Kamila Shamsie

Abstract

This dissertation aims to evaluate the protagonist in the novel „‟Home Fire‟‟ by Kamila Shamsie and the use of their utterances and dialogues which determines their characters and personality as well. There are different Characters in the novel but researcher has chosen three characters named as Aneeka Pasha, Isma Pasha and Karamat Lone. Researcher has analyzed the characters via perlocutionary and Illocutionary speech act analysis. As dialogues and utterance are the major tools through which one can come to know about the inner and outer self of a character. Theoretical framework which is chosen for this work is Speech Act Theory and one of the most debated and complex linguistic theory. Speech Act Theory is an offshoot of Pragmatics and it deals with those utterances which makes addressor and addressee to do something. Searle‟s Taxonomy of Illocutionary speech act is used for analysis. The research design is a qualitative descriptive analysis which is used along with content analysis. After analyzing the data researcher has come across certain findings and has elaborated these findings in tabular form as well. Isma Pasha has used 46 utterances and the dominant one is Representative which qualifies her character who is always asserting her identity as a British and a loving sister. She ensures everyone about her loyalty but not believed. Secondly Aneeka Pasha and the number of her utterances are 54 in which the dominant type is Directive. She is completely opposite of her sister and her personality is a brave, bold curious and the one who influences everyone and she has an endless quest to get her rights. Lastly Karamat Lone is a Home Secretary and a person who is running after his materialistic gains. He is one of the unexpressive and unemotional people. His utterances are 36 in which the dominant type is Directive and paradigm case command and question is present dominantly. He is determined as an authoritative and commanding person who has no emotions for anyone.