A Pragma Syntactic Study of Performative Verbs in Selected American Talk Shows

This study will analyze transcripts of selected American talk shows, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," focusing on the use of performative verbs. The analysis will consider the syntactic context of these verbs and their pragmatic functions within the conversational context. Language serves as more than a means of transmitting information. It also shapes behavior, thinking, actions, and relationships. The study aims to analyze American talk show hosts' and guests’ performative verbs regarding possible cultural differences in communication at a pragma syntactic level. It seeks to contribute to understanding how language is used to construct social interactions, establish relationships, and shape the discursive dynamics of the show. An analysis of performative verbs in “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will examine their frequency, types, and functions. This study will employ an eclectic model, incorporating aspects of Searle's (1979) speech act theory and Quirk et al.'s (1985) grammatical analysis of sentence types and adverbs to examine the functions of performative verbs in “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” This study will use a mixed-methods research design to identify the types of performative verbs utilized in American talk shows, analyze their functions, and examine how they contribute to achieving communicative goals within the cultural context. It has also been noted that American talk shows are forceful and informative-looking. Adverbs co-occurring with performative verbs can enhance the impact on an audience or modify the degree of explicitness depending on the American culture.