Personality traits and the use of assertive and directive illocutionary acts during English task-based interaction

Vol.51,No.2(2025)

Abstract
This study investigates how individual personality traits (PTs), measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), influence the production of assertive and directive illocutionary acts (IAs) in American English using speech act theory. Personality traits shape language use, yet analyses often focus on lexical or semantic features, which decontextualize language from pragmatic meaning. To address this gap, 32 native English speakers were recorded solving a Tetris-like puzzle in pairs and then completed an MBTI assessment. Their speech was analyzed for assertive and directive IAs. Results show significant associations between traits and IA production: judging types frequently produced stating IAs; extraverts more often produced requests for information IAs; and extraversion, sensing, and feeling traits correlated with informing IAs. These findings offer new insight into how personality shapes pragmatic use in American English, contributing to a broader understanding of variation among native English speakers' communicative practices.

Keywords:
speech acts; illocutionary acts; pragmatics; personality traits; MBTI

Pages:
31–52
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