Speech acts in Tharu and English

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and compare the exponents of speech acts in Tharu and English used by the Tharu speakers and native English. For this study, the researcher took sample population consisting of 80 native speakers from the Saptari district. The study was entirely based on both primary and secondary data. The responses from the native Tharu speakers were collected through questionnaire. However, the secondary sources were used for collecting data for speech acts in English. The responses given by them were coded for analysis and interpretation. On the basis of analysis and interpretation, the researcher came to the conclusion that English speakers were more formal than their Tharu counterparts while expressing speech acts whereas the Tharu native speakers used more temperate forms than the native English speakers while expressing the under taken exponents. The study is divided into four chapters. Chapter one is an introducing chapter. It includes general background, review of the related literature, objectives of the study and significance of the study. Chapter two deals with the methodology applied to carry out the research under which sources of data, sampling procedure, tools for data collection, process of data collection and limitations of the study are presented. Chapter three presents the analysis and interpretation of the data. In this section both statistical as well as descriptive approaches are used. Chapter four incorporates findings and recommendations of the research. The references and appendices from the concluding part of the thesis.