A Comparative Study of Speech Acts Between Malaysia and Singapore on the First MCO Announcements of Covid-19

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyse the use of speech acts on the first announcements of Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) by the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore. It was also to discover if there were differences in the forms of these announcements which affected the nation in their respective countries. This study employed a qualitative method of analysis. The MCO announcements were taken from the available open sources. The data was analysed based on Searle's framework of speech Acts. It was found that the Prime Minister of Malaysia used directive speech acts predominantly (n=26; 52%) as compared to the Prime Minister of Singapore (n=20; 48.8%) when they implored the nation to comply with the tighter restrictions. The findings further revealed that both Prime Ministers were not familiar with declaration speech acts as shown in their announcements due to their democratic approach in administrating their countries, they were pleading to the nation in a firmly dignified manner. There were hardly any differences between the prime ministers in using speech acts in their announcements. Nevertheless, the announcements conveyed their messages to the nation regarding the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study analyses the different types of speech acts used by the Prime Ministers as they update their country while maintaining a calm situation.

Speech Act Analysis of Female Student Leaders in a Malaysian Secondary School

“…Similarly, Altikriti (2016) reported that constative speech acts were prominent in President Obama's speeches, whereby he utilized more assertive sentences as compared to the other speech acts. These studies indicated the cruciality of speech acts in leadership, especially the role of constative acts as persuasive speech acts (Krishnan et al, 2021). Consequently, the findings of this study may suggest that the participants were persuasive and compelling in their communication and leadership roles.…”

Examining politeness in the explanation of English and Tshivenda apologies and greetings

“…Members of another culture, according to him, are unable to attach more culture invaluableness to the generosity maxim than do others. Krishnan et al, 2021) argues that concerning the approbation maxim, the speaker must minimise the expression of beliefs that express disapproval of others, maximise the expression of beliefs, which express approval of others. He argues that because utterances are equal, people praise others, have a minimal response, or become silent.…”

“…On-record super-strategies entail performing face-threatening acts using negative politeness as the speakers may decide to avoid it when its degree is huge. Therefore, if there is a lack of redress, external factors compel the addressers to speak differently during emergencies and channel limitations (Krishnan et al, 2021). The speakers may focus on the propositional content of the message and disregard the interpersonal aspect of an utterance during danger or requiring someone to act.…”

“…The speaker here is indirectly conventional by saying 'it might' and 'we could'. Krishnan et al (2021) posit that performing off-record politeness requires utterance strategies that involve 'giving hints', 'using metaphors', 'being ambiguous or vague' like 'This isn't delicious, I can see you munching, is it?' However, the face-threatening acts strategy advises speakers to be silent if 'face' is potentially threatened.…”

“…As a single apology by the speaker may frustrate the listener's face, one utterance can relate to both positive and negative faces simultaneously. Krishnan et al, (2021) argue that some Speech Acts can be inherently face-threatening while some utterances are threat-free although he claims that it is impossible to distinguish among them. In many cultures, an apology can be made on behalf of someone else so long as that person has control over it.…”