An Analysis of Representative Speech Acts in Selected Subordinate Courts of Law in Kenya

Abstract

The court serves as a tool for enforcing the law and delivering justice to the populace. In Kenya, subordinate courts play a crucial role in the administration of justice, handling a wide range of cases that affect the lives of citizens. Speech acts encompass a diverse range of communicative functions, including assertions, requests, promises, and declarations, each of which holds unique significance within the legal framework. Hence, this paper seeks to examine the representative speech acts in selected Kenyan courts of law. This study used a total of 12 cases collected during the examination and cross-examination phases of courtroom trials. Data was analysed to show the instances of occurrence of representative speech acts and their functions in subordinate Kenyan courts of law. The study came up with three types of representative speech acts: assertives, descriptives and statements. Assertives were the most prevalent in the selected Kenyan courts of law discourse.