<![CDATA[Interaction in variety shows provides relatively spontaneous pragmatic data, although it remains shaped by editing and television production. This study describes the syntactic forms and functions of assertive speech acts in Keep Running Season 13 Special and examines the relationship between form and function. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed using a video from the official Zhejiang STV Global Channel as the data source. The data were collected through non-participant observation, note-taking, transcription, translation, and documentation. Of 287 initial utterances, operational re-screening based on propositional content, the speaker’s commitment to truth, context, and the interlocutor’s response resulted in 93 assertive utterances. Utterances whose primary force was to seek information or to prompt the interlocutor to perform an action were excluded. Seven functions were identified: stating/affirming (38 data; 40.86%), informing (32; 34.41%), reporting (8; 8.60%), explaining (6; 6.45%), claiming/admitting (4; 4.30%), denying (3; 3.23%), and complaining (2; 2.15%). Declarative forms were dominant, while interrogative constructions were retained only when the context supported a rhetorical rather than information-seeking interpretation. The findings highlight the importance of explicit operational screening in distinguishing assertives from directives and expressives in relatively spontaneous but edited variety-show interaction.]]>
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