중학교 영어듣기능력평가 대화문 화행 분석

The analysis of speech acts in dialogues from the Middle School English Listening Test

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of speech acts present in the dialogues from the Middle School English Listening Tests conducted in September 2022 and April 2023. A total of 1,258 T-units were extracted and analyzed from 100 dialogue scripts included in the tests for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. Employing Searle’s (1976) taxonomy of illocutionary acts, the study analyzes the frequency and distribution of speech acts across grades. The findings indicate that the most frequently used speech acts were assertives, followed by directives, expressives, and commissives, while no instances of declarations were observed. In addition, there was a notable rise in the frequency of assertive acts, which are primarily used to deliver factual information, as the grade level increases. Conversely, directive and commissive acts, while present, show less variation across grades. The frequency and distribution of specific speech acts were closely tied to the topics or situational contexts of the dialogues. The patterns identified from the analysis are similar to previous speech acts studies. The insights gained from the results could be instrumental in understanding the linguistic demands placed on students and further improving the development of future English listening tests.