Die direktief as dramatiese taaihandeling in Krismis van Map Jacobs

Abstract

In this article a close look is taken at the nature and function of the directive as speech act in Adam Small’s drama Krismis van Map Jacobs. It is found that the characters are continuously trying to weaken the non-binding illocutionary force of the request and the question in an effort to strengthen their binding force so as to give them the perlocution of commands. In order to achieve this, the characters resort to the following strategies: Repetition, the use of ‘versterkers’ (‘emphasizers’), of the vocative, of the ‘vraagstelling’ (‘question statement’), of the ‘appêlvraag’ ('appeal question’), asking each other to promise, by pleading, by shouting, by commanding even their loved ones, by commanding in the name of God, by being sarcastic, by omitting ‘please’ and by manipulation of the tone (as indicated by the use of punctuation marks). Although this does not always have a positive result, it does sometimes result in passages of excellent drama.