Speech-act Adverbs Expressing the conditions under which something is being said

Speech-act Adverbs (Style Stance)

Expressing the conditions under which something is being said

Speech-Act Related Adverbs

SPEECH-ACT RELATED ADVERBS	ADVERBS FOR MANNER
A speech-act related adverb expresses the situation or terms under which the statement is being made. The adverb does not actually relate to the information in the clause, but to something understood between listener and speaker.	An adverb for manner relates to content within the clause.
SPEECH ACT RELATED ADVERBS Frankly, I don't think your plan will work. Let me tell you frankly/honestly that…	MANNER ADVERB He told me frankly about his problems. honestly
Briefly , we had to reinstall everything to make it work. I am telling you this briefly that… / Let me say briefly that…	He spoke briefly to us about his plan. in a shortened version
Confidentially, Ed is having some money problems. I am telling you confidentially that … / Let me say confidentially…	He mentioned confidentially to me that he's having money problems. honestly

Also known as style stance adverbials, speech-act related adjuncts, situational adjunct, discourse markers. See Grammar Notes below.

Speech-Act Related Adverbs

Briefly,	Confidentially,	Frankly,	Truthfully	If I might ask,	If you must know,
In brief,	If I may say,	Honestly,	In truth,	Just between us,	Since you asked,

Grammar Notes

Recent Past & Current

QUIRK et. al. / BIBBER et. al.	HUDDLESTON et. al. / SWAN
Quirk, Randolph and Sidney Greenbaum. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1989) refer to these words as style disjuncts: "Style disjuncts convey the speaker's comment on the style and form of what he is saying, defining in some way under what conditions he is speaking as the 'authority' for the utterance. (8.123-33) Style Disjunct (a) modality and manner (e.g.: truthfully bluntly, if I may say so) (b) respect (e.g.: in broad terms, personally) Content Disjunct (a) degree of conditions for truth of content (e.g.: really, certainly, if he'd listened) (b) value judgement of content (e.g.: understandably, wisely, to everyone's surprise)	Huddleston and Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (2002) refer to these structures as clause adjuncts. (CaGEL 773) Speech-act-related adjuncts i. Frankly, it was a waste of time. [addressee-oriented] ii. Frankly, who gives a damn anyway? [speaker-oriented] (frankly, briefly, confidentially, in brief, in all honesty, etc.) An adjunct is an additional word, phrase, or clause that is not essential to the completion of the meaning (extra info).
Biber, et. al. Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English (1999) refer to these words as style stance adverbs. (LGSWE 10.3) Stance adverbs "have the primary function of commenting on the content or style of a clause…" They fall into three categories: epistemic — It was, definitely, a waste of time. (personal belief, "truth or value of the proposition, commenting on: certainty, reality, sources, limitations and precision of the proposition.") attitude — Fortunately, it was completed on time. (expresses the speaker's attitude tor ward of evaluation of the situation) style — Frankly, it was a waste of time. (commenting on the style or form of the utterance, clarifying how the speaker is speaking, how the utterance should be understood)	Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage (2009) refers to these words as discourse markers, specifically, "showing one's attitude to what one is saying" honestly, frankly, no doubt Honestly, I never said a word to him about the money. (speaking sincerely) What do you think of my hair? Frankly, dear, it's a disaster. (Swan 57.18)

QUIRK et. al. / BIBBER et. al.

HUDDLESTON et. al. / SWAN

Quirk, Randolph and Sidney Greenbaum. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (1989) refer to these words as style disjuncts: "Style disjuncts convey the speaker's comment on the style and form of what he is saying, defining in some way under what conditions he is speaking as the 'authority' for the utterance. (8.123-33)

Style Disjunct

(a) modality and manner (e.g.: truthfully bluntly, if I may say so)
(b) respect (e.g.: in broad terms, personally)

Content Disjunct

(a) degree of conditions for truth of content (e.g.: really, certainly, if he'd listened)
(b) value judgement of content (e.g.: understandably, wisely, to everyone's surprise)

Huddleston and Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (2002) refer to these structures as clause adjuncts. (CaGEL 773)
Speech-act-related adjuncts
i. Frankly, it was a waste of time. [addressee-oriented]
ii. Frankly, who gives a damn anyway? [speaker-oriented]
(frankly, briefly, confidentially, in brief, in all honesty, etc.)

An adjunct is an additional word, phrase, or clause that is not essential to the completion of the meaning (extra info).

Biber, et. al. Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English (1999) refer to these words as style stance adverbs. (LGSWE 10.3)

Stance adverbs "have the primary function of commenting on the content or style of a clause…" They fall into three categories:

epistemic — It was, definitely, a waste of time. (personal belief, "truth or value of the proposition, commenting on: certainty, reality, sources, limitations and precision of the proposition.")
attitude — Fortunately, it was completed on time. (expresses the speaker's attitude tor ward of evaluation of the situation)
style — Frankly, it was a waste of time. (commenting on the style or form of the utterance, clarifying how the speaker is speaking, how the utterance should be understood)

Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage (2009) refers to these words as discourse markers, specifically, "showing one's attitude to what one is saying" honestly, frankly, no doubt

Honestly, I never said a word to him about the money. (speaking sincerely)

What do you think of my hair? Frankly, dear, it's a disaster. (Swan 57.18)

Practice 1

Just between you and me

Add the speech-act adverb to the sentence.

1. Edit the sentence adding the adverb.

2. Compare your edit with the feedback.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	FEEDBACK
1.	Phil: What's up? Felix: Well, we have to make changes in the office. ADD: briefly Edit 1: Well, we have to make changes in the office.
2.	Phil: What do you mean? Felix: Some employees will be re-assigned to a new building. ADD: in short Edit 2: Some employees will be re-assigned to a new building.
3.	Phil: Who's going to have to be moved? Felix: I can't say officially, but it's your division. ADD: if you must know Edit 3: I can't say officially, but it's your division.
4.	Phil: I would like to get away from certain people here. Felix: If I might ask, who? ADD: frankly Edit 4: I would like to get away from certain people here.
5.	Phil: The boss. Is he being re-assigned too? Felix:I don't know; I'd tell you if I did. ADD: honestly Edit 5: I don't know; I'd tell you if I did.
6.	Felix: I'm looking for a new job. Phil: Really, where are you thinking of going?. ADD: confidentially Edit 6: I'm looking for a new job.
7.	Felix: I don't know. I just know it's time for a change. ADD: in truth Edit 7: I don't know. I just know it's time for a change.
8.	Phil: I think that's a good plan. Felix: Yeah. Keep it on the hush. (quiet) ADD: just between us Edit 8: I think that's a good plan.

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PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Speech-act Adverbs (Style Stance)

Expressing the conditions under which something is being said

Speech-Act Related Adverbs

Speech-Act Related Adverbs

Grammar Notes

Recent Past & Current

Practice 1

Just between you and me

Add the speech-act adverb to the sentence.