Speech Act

Question 1

is an utterance that a speaker makes to achieve an intended effect. Some of the functions which are carried out using speeacts are offering an apology, greeting, request, complaint, invitation, compliment, or refusal. A speech act might contain just one word or several words or sentences. For example, “Thanks” and “Thank you for always being there for me. I really appreciate it” both show appreciation regardless of the length of the statement.

Answer 1

speech act

Question 2

is the actual act of uttering. “Please do the dishes.”

Answer 2

Locutionary act

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

Illocutionary act

Question 4

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.

Answer 4

Perlocutionary act

Question 5

For example, the phrase “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” when uttered by an authorized person such as a judge will have the actual effect of binding a couple in marriage. However, if the same statement is uttered to the same couple in the same place by someone who is not authorized to marry them—as in the case of the accompanying picture, a robot—then there is no effect whatsoever because a condition was not met.

Answer 5

Performatives

Question 6

a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses belief about the truth of a proposition. Some examples of an assertive act are suggesting, putting forward, swearing, boasting, and concluding.
No one makes better pancakes than I do.

Answer 6

Assertive

Question 7

a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to make the addressee perform an action. Some examples of a directive act are asking, ordering, requesting, inviting, advising, and begging.

Please close the door

Answer 7

Directive

Question 8

a type of illocutionary act which commits the speaker to doing something in the future. Examples of a commissive act are promising, planning, vowing, and betting.

From now on, I will participate in our group activity.

Answer 8

Commissive

Question 9

a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses his/her feelings or emotional reactions. Some examples of an expressive act are thanking, apologizing, welcoming, and deploring.

I am so sorry for not helping out in our group projects and letting you do all the work.

Answer 9

Expressive

Question 10

a type of illocutionary act which brings a change in the external situation. Simply put, declarations bring into existence or cause the state of affairs which they refer to. Some examples of declarations are blessing, firing, baptizing, bidding, passing a sentence, and excommunicating.

You are fired!
By saying that someone is fired, an employer causes or brings about the person’s unemployment, thus changing his external situation.

Answer 10

Declaration