AT: Types of Speech Act SCORE:

LT: Identify the three types of speech act. TOA:

Introduction to the Types of Speech Act

Language is a main tool used to convey messages, thoughts, and opinions. Speaking is equivalent to
performing an action, and this action is referred to as a speech act.
John Langshaw Austin is the proponent of the speech act theory, which he proposed in 1962. John Searle
further developed this theory in 1969. This theory posits that words are used not only to convey or provide
information, but also to perform actions.

Types of Speech Act

Locution (Utterance)
According to Black (2006), a locutionary act is the production of a well-formed utterance in whatever
language one is speaking. Locution simply refers to “what is said” or the actual words spoken. The act of making a
meaningful utterance is the locutionary act.

Illocution (Intention)
According to Black (2006), illocution is the meaning one wishes to communicate or convey. According to
Searle, there are five major categories or types of illocutions or illocutionary acts. These are expressives,
declarations, assertives, directives, and commissives.

Perlocution (Response)
So far, we have already discussed the first two types of speech act: locution and illocution. The last type of
speech act is called the perlocution or perlocutionary act.
Perlocution refers to the effect of the utterance. There can be many perlocutionary acts stemming from the locution
and illocution.

ACTIVITY:

Questions:
1. True or False:
a. Illocution refers to an utterance or the actual words spoken.
b. Perlocution is the expected reaction of the listener to the utterance of the speaker.

2. Which of the following is not an assertive?

a. The new student does not have his own uniform yet.
b. I can’t find my eyeglasses anywhere.
c. Hand me that notebook, please.
d. I’m wearing my favorite shirt today.

3. Provide three possible perlocutions for this locution: “This room is so messy.”