Illocutionary Speech Act Analysis in Nipashe Newspapers’ Headlines

The purpose of this study was to look at headline writers’ intentions from Tanzanian Nipashe newspapers and classify them in accordance with illocutionary speech acts Taxonomy by Searle (1979). employed a qualitative research approach descriptive design. involved the population 1095 front-page newspaper headlines. A sample 130 headlines chosen each classified according taxonomy Speech Act. Out five categories developed J.R. (1979), which served as theoretical foundation for study, four were found be executed sampled headlines, representative act type predominating. Claiming, urging, remembering, reporting, recommending, assuring, bragging, concluding deducing some assertives' or representatives' that appeared Directive surveyed used copy editors request, order, command, question suggest readers do something. Some included commissive acts, commit themselves future actions. expressive thank, pardon, apologize, blame, deplore, congratulate, regret praise. There no declarative performed recommends writers continue executing assertive their if they wish tell truth, use want make commitments about events, directive something, draw attention express emotions feelings change world attitudes large.