SPEECH ACT Flashcards
It is an utterance that a speaker makes to achieve an intended effect.
Speech Act
A philosopher of language and the development of the speech act theory, there are three types of act in ever utterance.
John Langshaw Austin (1962)
It is the actual act of uttering
“Please do the dishes”
Locutionary
An act that is the social function of what is said
By uttering the locution “Please do the dishes” the speaker requests the addressee to wash the dishes.
Illocutionary Act
It is the resulting act of what is said.This effect is based on the particular context in which the speech act was mentioned.
“Please do the dishes” would lead to the addressee washing the dishes
Perlocutionary act
Statements that enable the speaker to perform something just by stating it.
These are statements that are limited and only restricted to people using it to announce something official
“For example: A priest announcing a couple as husband and wife”
Performatives (Utterances)
What are the three types of speech acts?
Locutionary Act
Illocutionary Act
Perlocutionary Act
A professor from the University of California Berkeley, who classified illocutionary acts into five distinct categories as a response to Austin’s speech act theory.
John Searle (1976)
A type of Illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses belief about the truth of a proposition. Examples are suggesting,putting forward,swearing, boasting,concluding.
“No one is prettier than me!”
Assertive
A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to make the addressee perform an action. Ordering,requesting,inviting,advising,
begging.
“Please call the cops”
Directive
A type of illocutionary act which commits the speaker to doing something in the future. Promising planning,vowing, betting
“From now on we are boyfriend and girlfriend”
Commisive
A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses their feelings or emotional reactions. Thanking,apologizing, welcoming and deploring.
“I am very mad at you for ignoring me!”
Expressive
A type of illocutionary act which brings a change in external situation or brings into existence or cause the state of affairs to which they refer to. Blessing,firing,baptizing,bidding,passing sentence and excommunicating.
“YOU ARE FIRED!”
Declaration
5 Illocutionary Acts
Assertive
Directive
Commissive
Expressive
Declaration
Always keep in mind that speech act includes ________ that require the appropriate use of language with given culture.
Concrete life interactions
The ability to use linguistics knowledge to effectively communicate with others. It is essential for a speaker to be able to use and understand speech acts.
Communicative competence
“Im the only one in school who has a this Iphone model”
Assertive
“We are getting a divorce!”
Declaration
“i like you too!”
Expressive
“Starting from now! It is day 1”
Commissive
“I was the only one who loved and cared for you at your worst!”
Assertive
“Can you please go take a bath?”
Directive
“You’re under arrest”
Declaration
State again the three types of speech acts
Locutionary act
Illocutionary act
Perlocutionary act
State again the 5 types of illocutionary acts
Assertive
Directive
Commissive
Expressive
Declaration
