Commissive Speech Acts in the Movie “The Wall -2017-” : A Pragmatic Study

Authors

  • Asst Lect. Aya Hussein Abass University of Baghdad College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department of Theoretical Studies Author
  • Asst.Lect. Qutaiba mohanad Mahidi University of Baghdad, Department of Theoretical Studies Author
  • Prof. Dr. Ansam Yaroub University of Baghdad, Department of Theoretical Studies Author
  • Asst. Lect. Ahmed Saad Dheyab University of Baghdad, Department of Theoretical Studies Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol21.Iss3.1136

Keywords:

commissive, offer, pragmatics, promise, speech act, and vow.

Abstract

This paper examines commissive speech acts in The Wall (2017), exploring how characters' commitments and promises shape the narrative and thematic elements of the film. Drawing from the field of pragmatics, where commissive speech acts are those in which speakers commit to future actions, this study investigates the role of these acts in conveying themes of alienation, rebellion, and self-destruction. By employing a pragmatic analysis of selected dialogue scenes, the research identifies and categorizes various types of commissive acts, such as promises, vows, and offers, and analyzes how they reflect the psychological states of the characters, particularly the protagonist, Pink. Through this approach, the study reveals how these speech acts function not only as communicative tools but also as vehicles for emotional and thematic expression. The findings suggest that commissive acts are integral to understanding the characters' motivations and their interactions with their environment, offering a deeper insight into the emotional and ideological conflicts portrayed in the film. Ultimately, this paper contributes to the intersection of pragmatics and film studies by demonstrating how the study of speech acts can enrich our understanding of cinematic storytelling.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Asst Lect. Aya Hussein Abass, University of Baghdad College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department of Theoretical Studies

    aya.h@cope.uobaghdad.edu.iq 

  • Asst. Lect. Ahmed Saad Dheyab, University of Baghdad, Department of Theoretical Studies

    Ahmed.S@cope.uobaghdad.edu.iq

References

Abass, A. H. (2020). A pragmatic study of speech act of advice in selected English and Arabic children’s stories. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(1), 314–322. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=qb3f6fwAAAAJ&authuser=2&citation_for_view=qb3f6fwAAAAJ:u5HHmVD_uO8C

Al-Qahtani, M. (2015). The speech act of apology in American movies. International Journal of Linguistics, 7(1), 1–17.

Al-Shalabi, N., & Zibin, A. (2018). A pragmatic analysis of speech acts in the film American Sniper. International Journal of Linguistics, 10(3), 100–110.

Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Oxford University Press.

Brown, G., & Yule, G. (1983). Discourse analysis: The role of context in interpretation. Cambridge University Press.

Cutting, J. (2002). Pragmatics and discourse: A resource book for students. Routledge.

Frank, M. (1972). Modern English: A practical reference guide. Prentice-Hall.

Halliday, M. A. K., & Hasan, R. (1989). Language, context, and text: Aspects of language in a social-semiotic perspective. Oxford University Press.

Hasan, A., & Jabbar, A. (2018). The function of language. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, University of Al-Qadissiya, College of Education, Department of English.

Humaniora Scientia. (2022). Online Journal on Linguistics, Literature, and Translation, 8(1).

Katamba, F. (1997). English words. Routledge.

Kreidler, C. W. (1998). Introducing English semantics. Routledge.

Lambert, V. A., & Lambert, C. E. (2012). Qualitative descriptive research: An acceptable design. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 16(4), 255–256.

Leech, G. N. (1983). Principles of pragmatics (30th ed.). Longman.

Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.

Mey, J. L. (1993). Pragmatics: An introduction. Blackwell.

Peccei, J. S. (1999). Pragmatics. Routledge.

Safwat, S. (2015). Speech act in political speeches. Journal of Modern Education Review, 5(7), 699–706. https://doi.org/10.15341/jmer(2155-7993)/07.05.2015/008

Searle, J. R. (1979). Expression and meaning: Studies in the theory of speech acts. Cambridge University Press.

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.

Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics (Oxford introduction to language study). Oxford University Press.

.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-31

Issue

Section

European languages and literature

How to Cite

Aya Hussein Abass, A. L. ., Qutaiba mohanad Mahidi , A., Ansam Yaroub , P. D., & Ahmed Saad Dheyab, A. (2025). Commissive Speech Acts in the Movie “The Wall -2017-” : A Pragmatic Study. Wasit Journal for Human Sciences, 21(3), 1267-1246. https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol21.Iss3.1136

Similar Articles

1-10 of 105

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.