A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi
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A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1259
Dr. Hamzah Obayes Janabi, Dr. Kadhim Jasim Mansoor Al-Azzawi. (2022). A Pragmatic Study of
Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi. International Journal of Early Childhood Special
Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1): 1259-1264. DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144
Received: 04.09.2021 Accepted: 10.03.2022
Dr. Hamzah Obayes Janabi1*
Dr. Kadhim Jasim Mansoor A Pragmatic Study of
Al-Azzawi2
Speech Acts in the Clay
Poem by Elia Abi Madhi
Abstract
Speech Acts are the third type of pragmatics. They refer to what is actually being
done in a given context because pragmatics is concerned with the study of language
in use. From Austen's point of view, they are the acts that the speaker performs with
his/her own words under extralinguistic conditions. The present study will reveal the
speech acts in Elia Abi Madhi’s poem, The Clay to show their types and their
performing purpose depending on Searle’s classification of speech acts into
informative, directive, obligatory, expressive, and declarative.
Keywords: Speech Acts, Poem, Clay, Abu Madhi.
Introduction reveal his suffering in the diaspora. In the poem,
he touched upon the origin of man’s creation,
The poet Elia Abu Madhi is one of the poets
which is clay. Despite this fact, he found man to
of the diaspora. Rather, he is one of the most
be arrogant. He also found out that man had
important of them and one of the founders of the
forgotten his creation. So, the poet presented
Pen Association in the United States of America.
speech acts as compelling arguments that
His poems are mostly romantic and other
remind the arrogant man of his origin in order to
philosophical poems, such as the clay poem, the
humble himself and renounce arrogance and
talismans, the foolish fig, and the small stone.
transcendence.
Perhaps, the clay poem included in al-Jadawil
collection is the most important poem among
them. It essentially revolves around the rejection Objectives of the Study
of arrogance in humans and the call for
The present study aims to identify the
humbleness (Siddiqi). It also reveals the poet’s
speech acts presented by the poet in his poem,
vision of life, the universe, and existence. It
The Clay, and to clarify their types, purpose, and
expresses his philosophy, ambition, and hopes
their importance in directing the behavior of the
and visualizes himself, his feelings, his wisdom,
addressee / opponent.
and his views on people and society
(Muhammad, 2020). The poem involves human
dimensions that stem from a situation of Hypotheses of the Study
disagreement or rivalry in a strange society, in
the country of the diaspora, that differs from Arab 1. Informative speech acts are effective in
society. Disagreement appears to be the main directing the opponent to show
humbleness and reject arrogance.
reason for writing this poem (ibid).
2. Directive speech acts are effective in
directing the opponent’s behavior towards
Problem of the Study humbleness.
3. Obligatory speech acts are effective in the
In his poem, the Clay, the poet Elia Abu
poet's pledge to do good.
Madhi presented philosophical questions that
Dr. Hamzah Obayes Janabi1*, Lecturer, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babil, Iraq.
E-mail: hamza.obais@mustaqbal-college.edu.iq
Dr. Kadhim Jasim Mansoor Al-Azzawi2, Assistant Professor, College of Arts, Department of Arabic
Language, University of Babylon, Iraq. E-mail: art.kadhim.jassim@uobabylon.edu.iq
International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1) 2022, 1259-1264
DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1260
4. Expressive speech acts are effective in the 1. Informative acts, which is a representation
poet's expression of a situation that of reality in which the words correspond to
changed the behavior of the opponent. the world.
5. Declarative speech acts are effective in the 2. Directive acts that induce the addressee to
poet’s announcement of situations that a specific act, such as command, advice,
contribute to changing the opponent’s and request.
behavior. 3. Obligatory acts in which the speaker is
obligated to do a specific thing, such as a
promise and a commandment.
Sample of the Study
4. Expressive acts Expressing the situation
The clay poem by Elia Abi Madhi. sincerely, such as thanks, congratulations,
apology, and sympathy.
5. Declarative acts are successful at the time
The Concept of Speech Acts of the utterance itself, such as declaring
Language is not used as a mere tool to war, adjourning the session, or getting
represent the world, but it is used to accomplish married and divorced.
actions, “that is, the speaking person, while Since the present study is concerned with
using language, does not produce words analyzing a poetic text in light of speech acts,
indicating meaning, but rather performs an action poetry is a repository of subjective expressions
and exerts an effect” (Abu Zaid, 2009). Since directed to influencing an individual or a group as
speech is a realistic human activity carried out by if the poetic text were a single sentence that
an individual or a group of individuals in a commands, forbids, or sympathizes. Thus, the
society, the speech act means the social action poetic text becomes a series of speech acts
that the individual accomplishes by speaking. involving two types (Muftah, 2005):
Thus, the speech act becomes the achievement 1. Self-actualizing speech acts, including
that the speaker performs as soon as he/she informative, expressive, imperative, and
utters certain expressions (Sahrawi, 2005). That declarative acts.
is why speech acts are among the most 2. Explicitly or implicitly imperative speech
prominent pragmatic concepts that are present in acts, including commands and prohibitions.
the pragmatic analysis of discourse. Hence, the According to these two types of speech
term speech acts became a central concept in acts, the poet intends to urge the recipient to do
the pragmatic thought. Rather, it became a something or to leave it, or he aims to show him
theory whose origins were developed by Austin his emotions, his intentions towards him, and his
and Searle (Mansour, 2017). Speech acts mean commitments towards him (Miftah, 2005).
that every discourse is based on a sequence of The concept of speech acts in literary
acts that include speech acts, performative acts, discourses goes beyond promise, thanks,
and affective acts (Ricor, 2001). Thus, congratulations, warning, and others to a more
pragmatics was based on ideas related to general and comprehensive semantic level,
speech acts that were founded by Austen and which is the comprehensive speech act. The
then developed by Searle (Moulinet, 2006). literary discourse, regardless of its length,
performs a single speech act, i.e. a
Based on the concept of performative
comprehensive speech act of the total
power, Austin distinguished among five types of
successive speech acts that make up the
speech acts (Yule, 2010) as follows:
discourse. This total or comprehensive speech
1. Judgmental acts, including judge, promise, act falls within the framework of major
and describe. pragmatics, which is concerned with studying the
2. Decisions acts, including making a comprehensive organization of the common act
decision in favor or against, order, and in the achievement, that is, the sequence of
request. speech acts and the context and their
relationship to the structure of the discourse. In
3. Obligatory acts, including promise,
literary discourse, there are various speech acts,
guarantee, and pledge.
such as informative, expressive, directive, and
4. Clarification acts, including affirm, deny, other acts to form in the end the largest or
answer, and give. comprehensive speech act, which is the act that
5. Behavioral acts, including apologize, is intended by the writer. According to this
congratulate, and welcome. concept, the clay poem by Elia Abi Madhi will be
the database of the present study to highlight the
He developed the course of speech acts
general atmosphere of the poem to reveal the
and suggested another classification as follows
comprehensive speech act formed by the
(Boujadi, 2009):
scattered speech acts in the poem.
International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1) 2022, 1259-1264
DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1261
Speech Acts in the Clay Poem Second: Directive Speech Acts
First: Informative Speech Acts These speech acts mean directing the
addressee to do something. This category
They are also called declarative or
includes commanding and advising, and their
evidentiary in which the speaker presents it to
fulfillment purpose is to influence the addressee
tell a fact and prove it as a representation of a
to do something (Mansour, 2017). Among its
situation in reality (Mansur, 2017; Bukhasnah,
forms mentioned in the clay poem are:
2020). Such reports are found in the words of Ilia
Abu Madhi (Abu Madhi, 1988). 1. The interrogative: The interrogative forms
At one time, Mr. Clay forgot that he was no more in the clay poem have remarkably
than mud increased as the interrogation has the
So, he walked insolently, bragged and boasted. ability to accomplish a speech act whose
Body covered with fine silk, purpose is to direct the addressee to a
He glorified himself in a self-admiring manner, matter, especially that impossible question
Purse full, he became haughty and rebellious accompanied by a matter that smothers
In other lines of his poem, Ilia Abu Madhi states; the arrogant and does not find an answer.
One firmament spreads over both of us, There are many of them, for example, as
A scene that amazes and dazzles my sight, he said;
While your eyes unmindful, lacking awareness of You live in a stately palace, well-protected by
it. armed guards
One single moon gazes upon us, And fenced all-around with high walls,
As she gazes upon a shack and magnificent Prevent, if you will, the night from spreading over
edifice. it,
If she seems bright to your eyes, Stop the fog from thickly gathering above it.
I do not see her dark from the crack of my Notice how the light enters freely
shanty.
without ever asking for your permission!
The same stars you see, I also behold,
When faint or gloriously ablaze. So why should it be chased away?
With all your riches, you are no closer to them He adds;
than me, You who have a charmingly beautiful garden,
Nor am I any distant from them, despite my With water, birds, flowers, and fragrant shrubs,
wretchedness Rebuke then the wind for swaying, bending
In these two passages, the poet proceeds And upsetting the trees in your garden.
from the principle of equality and justice. In every And stop, if you can, the water in the pond,
verse, the poet performs a speech act informing
Order it not to make swishing sounds
of a truth approved by the heavenly religions as
well as humanity. The Glorious Quran and the Through the questions raised by Abu
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his Madhi, he reminds the opponent of his inability
household) confirm this highly human meaning. through a set of commands that he is unable to
The poet proceeded to tell the addressee this fulfill. They accomplish the act of incapacitation
fact and confirm it starting from the origin of that reduces the excessiveness of this one who
human formation, which is mud, the symbol of goes wandering and revels (Siddiqi).
equality among human beings as they were all He also says;
created from this origin (Muhammad, 2020). Yet, I neither know where I came from,
despite this fact, man became arrogantly I possess no knowledge of my past
showing off clothes and money. He then goes on Nor do I know what the future holds for me.
to make comparisons between facts that cannot If you do know, say it
be denied as irrefutable arguments for human
Otherwise, why should you fancy yourself
unjustified arrogance, to the extent that he says;
unique?
When the bird sings on the tall tree,
In these two verses, the poet tries to
It cares not, whether you or I
discredit the stubborn and arrogant opponent
Listen to its melodies.
with an impossible question accompanied by
Flowers deride not my poverty,
Nor coax and flatter your riches something that cannot be satisfied in any way. It
There is no difference between him and this is a philosophical question about existence and
the fate of man. So, does he know where he
arrogant person for even the birds of the Arak
came from? how? What was he and what will be
sing to everyone and the flowers smile to
his fate? If he knows that, then he must tell,
everyone. They do not differentiate between the
which is impossible. So, why is this arrogance?
rich and the poor. The performative purpose of
these speech acts is to inform the addressee of Here, too, the poet performs a directive act, the
these facts with the intention of influencing him purpose of which is to push the opponent to
and convincing him of humbleness. humbleness.
International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1) 2022, 1259-1264
DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1262
He also says; The poet also says in another place of his poem;
Do you consider yourself beautiful? Like me, from dust you came, and to dust you
Well, you are no lovelier, nor more generous shall return,
Than a rose, that exudes its fragrance. Why then so much pride and aloofness?
Do you deem yourself mighty, with sword in your You were a child when I was a child,
hand? You will grow old; I, too, will advance in age
Then it is odd that a mosquito should extract And become toothless.
nourishment The poet uses the intimate addressing
From your cheeks! preceded by the question directed to the
Do you think you are rich? arrogant friend about the reason for wandering
In vain would you enjoy your costly attire and blocking. He performs another speech act
Had it not been for the silkworm that made it that includes directing not to behave arrogantly.
possible for you He says;
To revel in your fine apparel. You, who so bent on exhibiting self-esteem,
Do you think you are strong? When struck by disease, don’t you complain and
If so, command sleep not to overtake you; groan?
Order the dark to turn away from your eyelids. Don’t you sigh and moan?
Ask gray hair not to approach and appear in your When your sweetheart forsakes you,
head, Don’t you sorely miss her when remembering
Bid freshness to remain forever in your cheeks. her?
Do you think you are knowledgeable? Like me, you smile for favorable circumstances
Then tell me where does imagination come And frown when visited by calamitous events?
from? The poet uses appeal for the purpose of
In which vale or valley is it born? completing a speech act that is to direct the
As usual, he puts the opponent in front of opponent to humbleness and to quit arrogance
the truth. So, he acquaints him with a question as the poet and the opponent are alike. They are
about his beauty. He intercedes with him with an equal and there is no advantage for one over the
impossible request that he is unable to other, so why is this arrogance?
implement. He is not able to prevent the He also says;
mosquito from feeding from his beautiful cheeks O Clay! You are neither purer than, nor superior
and in his hand is Al-Muhannad sward. He is not to
able to order sleep to leave him or prevent the The dirt you walk on, which someday will
gray hair from attacking his foe, or to command enclose you.
the beauty to be fixed on his cheek. Thus, he No matter how sturdily built a palace you dwell
performs a directive speech act through the in,
question and the request whose purpose is to In time, it will surely be completely torn down.
persuade the opponent to show humbleness. The poet uses addressing to perform a
2. Addressing: One of the methods of the speech act of guiding derogation. The poet
directive act is the method of addressing. addresses his arrogant opponent. So, he
This method places the addressee face to addresses him by the truth of its creation and the
face with the speaker for the purpose of despicableness of its origin. He did not address
directing him/her to a certain direction, him by his name because of his arrogance.
which is evident in the poet’s saying; Then, he denied his purity and transcendence.
Brother, turn not your face away from me;
I am not a charcoal, nor are you a bright star.
Third: Expressive Speech Acts
You did not make the silk you are wearing,
Nor the jewels with which you adorn yourself. It is intended to express a psychological
You cannot eat gold when hungry, state, such as praise and slander. Expressions
Nor drink strung pearls when thirsty. indicate behavior, that is, they indicate the
In this passage, the poet used three methods, expressive position of the speaker (Mansour,
preceded by the method of intimate appeal 2017).
through human brotherhood (O my brother) The poet says;
accompanied by the request in the manner of In your fine attire, you suffer and rejoice,
prohibition (turn your face not away from me) Just like me in my tattered clothes.
(Muhammad, 2020). Prohibition includes a You entertain hopes during the day,
power that benefits abandonment and cessation Have dreams and visions at night.
of behavior. The poet goes on to repeat negation My heart, too, has sweet dreams,
(you did not make, you do not eat, you do not Just like yours, for it is not made of stone.
drink). These methods combined accomplish a In this passage, the poet tried to express his
directive speech act that includes a message psychological feeling towards his opponent by an
addressed to the opponent to reduce pride and expressive action that includes the call for
be humble. equality that is clearly manifested in it. The poet
International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1) 2022, 1259-1264
DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1263
expressed the fact that they are equal in misery irrefutable facts that surround the opponent and
and happiness, and their hearts are equal in their condemn him for his arrogance over people,
beautiful dreams and attitudes. The purpose of especially the poet. In another passage, Abu
this expressive speech act is to influence the Madhi says;
opponent and make him retreat from this Even if you owned all the fields of the world,
unjustified arrogance. You will never be happier than the butterfly of the
field.
No matter how sturdily built a palace you dwell
Fourth: Declarative Speech Acts
in,
They are called declarative acts, and they In time, it will surely be completely torn down.
are intended to change reality through the It doesn't matter how finely sewn a robe you
completion of a speech act for the purpose of wear,
bringing about a change in the addressee’s Someday it will be tattered and become ragged.
behavior or attitudes (Mansour, 2017) as stated Let no hate and enmity enter your heart,
in the words of the poet; I have turned mine into a temple of love.
One firmament spreads over both of us, I am more deserving of your love
A scene that amazes and dazzles my sight, Than clothes that will wear out and rot
While your eyes unmindful, lacking awareness of And money that will be spent or lost.
it. If an arrogant owned the fields of the earth,
One single moon gazes upon us, he would not be happier than a butterfly, the
As she gazes upon a shack and magnificent palace he boasted of would one day be reduced
edifice. to rubble, and his robe, which he boasted of his
If she seems bright to your eyes, beauty, would one day be destroyed. Finally, he
I do not see her dark from the crack of my declares, after all these declarative speech acts,
shanty. that his heart has become a temple to the lover,
The same stars you see, I also behold, and that he is more deserving of love than the
When faint or gloriously ablaze. opponent, and that he is more deserving of wear
With all your riches, you are no closer to them and tear and money running out. In all of these
than me, declarative expressions, the poet performs
Nor am I any distant from them, despite my declarative speech acts through which he tries to
wretchedness. change the opponent’s behavior that is
In this section, declarative speech acts that characterized by vanity and arrogance to a
aim to change the behavior of the opponent are behavior that is characterized by humbleness
noticed. The declarative acts are in succession, and equality declaring the supreme goal of
announcing the one ark that shades them, the spreading the values of love and equality and
one moon that overlooks them, and their vision extracting the dress of vanity and arrogance that
of the stars at an equal distance from them. The leads him to labyrinths and dark paths (Shalabi,
purpose of declaring these facts is that the 2005).
opponent cannot deny them to influence the
arrogant opponent and push him to change his
Conclusions
transcendent behavior, and to renounce the rush
for lusts, money, and prestige (Muhammad, 1. Abu Madhi used informative speech acts
2020). for the purpose of telling the arrogant
The poet also says; opponent things to remember if he forgot,
One single resting place is your final lot, as arguments for changing his behavior
Do you know how many lots and spots with people in general and with the poet in
Your decaying corpse will provide particular.
For grazing worms and hungry maggots? 2. Abu Madhi used directive speech acts in
You have closed the doors of your palace in my the two styles of interrogation and appeal
face for the purpose of directing the behavior of
When chased by storms and threatened by the arrogant opponent to the human
inclement weather, destination of humbleness, love, and
Yet you made accommodations familiarity.
And generously provided for your dogs and cats. 3. The expressive speech acts were
After questioning, the poet announced with implemented to show the arrogant
a declarative expression about the existence of a opponent the poet's view about a group of
shelter and food for the dog, as well as the cat in situations that correct the opponent’s
the shrine, which the arrogant opponent attitude.
prevented the poet from. He did not allow him to 4. Abu Madhi used declarative speech acts to
enter in despise and contempt for him. A person tell the opponent his view about him and
cannot take refuge in his palace while allowing a about life in general to be the best
dog and a cat. The poet continues to announce deterrent to his behavior that strays from
International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 14(1) 2022, 1259-1264
DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V14I1.221144A Pragmatic Study of Speech Acts in the Clay Poem by Elia Abi Madhi, 1264
the right behavior that is characterized by Berman, Z.R. (2019). Increasing the social
humbleness. interaction of two children with Autism
5. These speech acts combine together to Spectrum disorder and their peers.
produce a comprehensive speech act that International Journal of Early Childhood
is the call for equality and mutual respect Special Education, 10(2), 62-74.
among people, the rejection of arrogance,
and the return of man to his reality from
which he arose, which is clay. This return
will be the best guide and deterrent to his
behavior in daily life.
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