Speech Act Flashcards
an utterance that serves a function in communication. We perform this when we offer an apology, greeting, request, complaint, invitation, compliment, or refusal. It might contain just one word, as in “Sorry!” to perform an apology, or several words or sentences: “I’m sorry I forgot your birthday. I just let it slip my mind.” It includes real-life interactions and requires not only knowledge of the language but also an appropriate use of that language within a given culture.
- Communication in its wider sense
- When words are actions
- Words have power, it can lead someone to do something
- Regards language as a sort of action instead of as a medium for conveying and expressing idea
Speech Act
Who proposed the speech act?
John Langshaw Austin in his book “How to Do Things with Words” (1962)
and it was further developed by John Roger Searle
Kinds of Utterances
Constative and Performative
statements or utterances that describe or depict facts or states of affairs and so may be either true or false. In other words, they are utterances or prejudices in that they are used to describe or state something, and which thus are true or false.
- Stating something
- Conveys a message
- What is
Constative Utterances
sentences which not only describe a given reality but also change the social reality they are describing.
- Inspires other to do something
- Does something
- Performing a baptism
- Authority
Performative Utterances
Classification of Speech Acts
Locution, Illocution, Perlocution
Classification of Speech Act
- the semantic or literal significance of the utterance
- the act of producing a meaningful utterance
- More on constatiive
- What is said or the actual words
- asking/answering
- Announcing a verdict
- Give info/criticism
- identifying/describing
- based on situation
Locution
Types of Locution
Utterance Act and Propositional Act
Type of Locution
- pertains to the word or string words that may not have a particular meaning
Utterance Act
Type of Locution
- referring or predicating in an utterance. Does not have to be complete sentence, nor does it have to intend anything
Propositional Act
Classification of Speech Act
- the intention of the speaker
- social function
- The meaning one wishes to communicate or convey
- The act that a speaker performs in saying the utterance
- Pertains to “what is done in uttering the words”
Illocution
Types of Illocution (by Searle)
expressives, declaration, assertive, directive, commissive
Type of Illocution
- express a speaker’s emotions and attitudes
- thanking, apologizing, welcoming, etc
expressives
Type of Illocution
- bring about a change in the situation, appointing, baptizing, declaring, firing, nominating
declaration
Type of illocution
- speaker expresses belief about the truth of a proposition
-convey info regarding something, concluding,etc - suggesting, putting forward, swearing, boasting
Assertives
Type of illocution
- the speaker tries to make the addressee perform an action
- commanding, daring, challenging
Directives
Type of illocution
- commits the speaker to doing something in the future
- promising, vowing, planning, betting
Commissives
Classification of Speech Act
- how it was received by the listener.
- effect, intentional or unintentional
Perlocution
Types of Speeches According to purpose
to inform, persuade, instruct, entertain
Types of Speech according to purpose
provides the audience with a clear understanding of the concept presented.
informative speech
Types of Speech according to purpose
provides amusement to the audience.
entertainment speech
Types of Speech according to purpose
provides the audience with favorable or acceptable ideas that can influence their own ideas and decisions.
persuasive speech
Types of Speech according to purpose
a form of informative speech where the speaker’s primary purpose is to teach the audience how to complete a task (or process), and this is largely accomplished by demonstrating the task (or process) through a series of steps.
instructional speech
Types of Speeches according to delivery
- impromptu, extemporaneous, manuscript, memorized
Types of Speeches according to delivery
when the speaker writes down every word they will speak during the speech. When they deliver the speech, they have each word planned and in front of them on the page, much like a newscaster who reads from a teleprompter.
manuscript
Types of Speeches according to delivery
fully prepared in advance and one in which the speaker does not use any notes. In the case of an occasion speech like a quick toast, a brief dedication, or a short eulogy, word-for-word memorization might make sense.
memorized
Types of Speeches according to delivery
one for which there is little to no preparation. There is often no warning even that the person may be asked to speak. For example, your speech teacher may ask you to deliver a speech on your worst pet peeve. You may or may not be given a few minutes to organize your thoughts.
impromptu
Types of Speeches according to delivery
speakers prepare some notes in advance that help trigger their memory of what they planned to say.
extemporaneous
