A Speech Act Analysis of Bedouin Proverbs in Jordan

The main aim of this study is to investigate Bedouin proverbs in Jordan in accordance with Speech Act Theory. More specifically, it attempts to determine the illocutionary acts as well as the illocutionary forces in the selected contextualized proverbs. More importantly, it targets to test the applicability of specifying the perlocutionary acts of Bedouin proverbs as it tries to explore the possible perlocutionary acts that Bedouin proverbs can accomplish in their real contexts. The study revealed that the illocutionary acts performed by using Bedouin proverbs are representatives, commissives expressives and directives, while the illocutionary acts are scolding, threating, advising, criticizing, requesting and asking. It also proved that it is applicable to determine the perlocutionary acts of Bedouin proverbs. It showed that the perlocutionary acts are categorized into two levels: the psychological consequence (insulting, scaring, convincing, angering, motivating and persuading) and getting the hearer to do something.