SPEECH ACTS

 Speech acts are the speaker’s utterances which convey

meaning and make listeners do specific things.

 According to Austin (1962), when saying a

performative utterance, a speaker is simultaneously
doing something.`
What is speech act?

Example:
“I am hungry.”
• expresses hunger
• requests for something to eat
Speech Acts
 A speech act has 3 aspects:
 locution= physical utterance by the speaker

 illocution= the intended meaning of the utterance by

the speaker (performative)

 perlocution= the action that results from the locution

Alice told Tom: "Would you please close the

door“
LOCUTIONARY SPEECH ACT
 Locutionary speech act occurs when the speaker
performs an utterance (locution), which has a
meaning in the traditional sense.
 What is required for the utterance to be a locutionary
act is that is has sense, and has the same meaning to
both the speaker and the listener.

 • Example: “What?” (when someone is surprised)

ILLOCUTIONARY SPEECH ACT
 Illocutionary Speech Act
• In an illocutionary speech act, it is not just saying
something itself, but the act of saying something with the
intention of:
• stating an opinion, confirming, or denying something
• making a prediction, a promise, a request, issuing an order
or a decision
• giving an advice or permission

• Examples: “There’s too much homeworkin this subject.”

(opinion)
• “I’ll do my homework later.” (promise)
• “Go do your homework!” (order)
TYPES OF ILLOCUTIONARY SPEECH ACT
 REPRESENTATIVES: assertions, claims, reports
 Ex: Traffic is heavy along EDSA now. (report)
Filipinos are the happiest people in the world. (claim)

 DIRECTIVES: suggestions, requests, commands

 Ex: You should go to a doctor. (suggestion)
Could you please help me plan a party? (request)

 Expressives: apologies, complaint, thanks

 Ex: I’m sorry I can’t make it to the event. (apology)
Our internet connection is so slow. (complaint
TYPES OF ILLOCUTIONARY
SPEECH ACT
 Commissives: promises, threats, offers
 Ex: I assure you, I will help you with our problem. (promise)
I’m warning you! (threat)

 Declaratives: decrees, declarations

Ex: Let the games begin! (declaration)
As the president of the Republic, I put the country under a state of
emergency. (decree)
PERLOCUTIONARY SPEECH ACT
 This is seen when a particular effect is sought from
either the speaker, the listener, or both.

 • The response may not necessarily be physical or

verbal and elicited by:
 Inspiring or insulting
 Persuading or convincing
 Deterring or scaring