A Streetcar Named Desire Dramatic Encounters A Streetcar Named Desire

Learning Objectives Explore how to analyse a play using language levels Introduce key terminology Describe Prototypical Dramatic Discourse Structure Explore graphology of the features of speech and the purpose of speech acts

Theatre A play relies on the spoken word and the interplay between characters, so can be studied as spoken mode for discourse features and prosody. It also creates meaning through the non-verbal visual mode. Meaning can be inferred through the setting and through character’s body language.

Language Levels in Drama Discourse features: fillers, pauses, false starts, ellipsis, repairs, skip connector, interruptions, speaker solicit, speaker appreciation Pragmatics: turn taking, politeness strategies Prosodics: pitch, pace, pause, power (volume), inflexion and tone Lexis Grammar

Prototypical Dramatic Discourse Structure Information is conveyed: Between characters Between the playwright and the audience See Figure 19A on page 214 of the course book.

Dramatic irony Dramatic irony is created when the audience are aware of something but characters are not. This is often used in pantomime. “He’s behind you!”

Scripted speech differs from spontaneous speech Read 19.1.2 and complete activity 3 on page 216 of the course book.

Graphology of Speech Features Complete Activities 4-5 on page 218-9 of the course book.

Speech Acts Can be for many purposes: warnings, suggestions, apologies, compliments, advice Locutionary act: speech Illocutionary act: purpose/pragmatic force Prelocutionary act: effect

Locutionary Acts Directive: commands or requests (action of listener) Commissive: promises (action of speaker) Declaration: changes reality of situation Assertive: commits speaker to their words (facts) Expressive: shows feelings

Felicity Conditions The right conditions for the locutionary act to convey it’s meaning.

Quiz Time! What is dramatic irony? Name five features of prosodics. What is the Prototypical Dramatic Discourse Structure? Which locutionary act commits the speaker to their words? What is the name of the effect of a locutionary act? What are felicity conditions?