INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGLISH, LITERATURE AND CULTURAL STUDIES

Abstract

This study investigates the pragmatic functions of deictic expressions and illocutionary acts in sports headlines, with a focus on the Soccer Star newspaper—an African publication centered on football reporting. Headlines in sports journalism serve not only as summaries of events but also as tools for engaging readers, evoking emotion, and constructing narratives. Drawing on pragmatic theory, particularly Stephen Levinson’s classification of deixis and John Searle’s typology of illocutionary acts, the study analyzes 100 purposively sampled headlines using qualitative content analysis. The findings reveal that person deixis (e.g., “he,” “we,” “they”) and temporal deixis (e.g., “now,” “again”) are the most frequently used, contributing to the immediacy and contextual anchoring of headlines. In terms of illocutionary force, assertives and expressives dominate, reflecting a blend of factual reporting and emotional resonance. The analysis also highlights the interdependence of deixis and illocution, as many headlines rely on deictic cues to frame their intended communicative functions. The study concludes that deixis and illocution are essential tools in headline construction, particularly in sports journalism where reader engagement and cultural familiarity are key. It recommends greater awareness among journalists of these pragmatic devices and encourages further research in media discourse, especially within African contexts. Ultimately, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how language functions in shaping meaning, identity, and reader experience in the media.