1. A Streetcar Named Desire
Dramatic Encounters
A Streetcar Named Desire

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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!”

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

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

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

10. 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

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

12. 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?