SPEECH ACTS IN MALALA YOUSAFZAI’S NOBEL LECTURE

Abstract

This study analyzes the speech acts employed by Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for children’s and women’s education, in her Nobel lecture on December 10, 2014. Four types of speech acts, more specifically, illocutionary acts - representatives, directives, expressives, and commissives - are identified and examined for their prevalence and specific functions. While revealing the predominance of representatives, this study also delves into the roles of directives, expressives, and commissives. The findings show that through these speech acts, Yousafzai effectively conveys her personal experiences, advocates for immediate collective action, underscores the importance of a supportive environment for individual growth, and makes lasting commitments to safeguarding the right to education for women and children.