SPEECH ACTS - AN UTTERANCE CONSIDERED AS AN ACTION, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO

ITS:
INTENTION, PURPOSE, AND/OR EFFECT.
- IT CAN BE EITHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT.

DIRECT SPEECH ACTS - THERE IS A DIRECTION BETWEEN THE FORM OF THE UTTERANCE AND THE

INTENDED MEANING.
INDIRECT SPEECH ACTS - OCCUR WHEN THERE IS NO DIRECTION BETWEEN THE FORM OF THE
UTTERANCE
AND THE INTENDED MEANING.

THREE TYPES OF SPEECH ACTS

JL AUSTIN (1962) - PHILOSOPHER OF LANGUAGE, DEVELOPER OF SPEECH ACT THEORY.

1. LOCUTIONARY ACT - THE ACTUAL ACT OF UTTERING OR SPEAKING.

EXACT WORDS SAID.
2. ILLOCUTIONARY ACT - THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF WHAT IS SAID.
3. PERLOCUTIONARY ACT - THE RESULTING ACT OF WHAT IS SAID. IT IS DEPENDING ON THE
CONTEXT
IN WHICH THE SPEECH ACT WAS MENTIONED.

PERFORMATIVES - STATEMENTS WHICH ENABLE THE SPEAKER TO PERFORM SOMETHING BY JUST

STATING IT. EFFECTIVITY OF LOCUTIONARY ACTS, DEPENDING ON THE PERSON
SPEAKING.
PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES - ARE SENTENCES WHICH NOT ONLY DESCRIBE A GIVEN REALITY,
BUT ALSO
CHANGE THE SOCIAL REALITY THEY ARE DESCRIBING.

EX. OFFICIATOR: I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU, MAN AND WIFE.

PROMISE - TO ASSURE SOMEONE THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.

EX. I PROMISE, I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.
HE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD NEVER HOLD ANY SECRETS FROM ME.

SEARLE'S CLASSIFICATION OF SPEECH ACTS

JOHN SEARLE (1976) - PROFESSOR FROM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY.

FIVE DISTINCT CATEGORIES OF ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS

1. ASSERTIVE - EXPRESSES BELIEF ABOUT THE TRUTH OF A PROPOSITION.

THIS MAY INCLUDE SUGGESTING, PUTTING FORWARD, SWEARING, BOASTING, AND
CONCLUDING.
EX. "NO ONE MAKES BETTER PANCAKES THAN I DO."

2. DIRECTIVE - THE SPEAKER TRIES TO MAKE THE ADDRESSEE PERFORM AN ACTION.

THIS MAY INCLUDE ASKING, ORDERING, REQUESTING, INVITING, ADVISING, AND
BEGGING.
EX. "PLEASE CLOSE THE DOOR." "COULD YOU CLOSE THE WINDOW?"

3. COMMISIVE - DOING SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. THIS MAY INCLUDE PROMISING, PLANNING,
VOWING, AND BETTING.
EX. "I AM GOING TO PARIS TOMORROW." "FROM NOW ON, I WILL EXPECT NOTHING FROM
YOU."

4. EXPRESSIVE - EXPRESSING HOW THE SPEAKER FEELS ABOUT THE SITUATION.

THIS MAY INCLUDE THANKING, APOLOGIZING, WELCOMING, AND DEPLORING.
 EX. "MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES." "DON'T BE SHY! FEEL AT HOME."

5. DECLARATION - CHANGE THE STATE OF THE WORD IN AN IMMEDIATE WAY.

EX. BLESSING, FIRING, BAPTIZING, BIDDING, PASSING A SENTENCE, AND
EXCOMMUNICATING.

COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGIES

1. NOMINATION - BEGINNING A TOPIC IN A CONVERSATION. ESTABLISHING A TOPIC

2. RESTRICTION - LIMITATION YOU MAY HAVE AS A SPEAKER. INSTRUCTIONS THAT YOU NEED
TO
FOLLOW.
3. TURN-TAKING - PROCESS BY WHICH PEOPLE DECIDE WHO TAKES THE CONVERSATIONAL FLOOR.
4. TOPIC CONTROL - AFFECTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOPIC IN CONVERSATIONS.
5. TOPIC SHIFTING - MOVING FROM ONE TOPIC TO ANOTHER.
6. REPAIR - REFERS HOW SPEAKERS ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN SPEAKING, LISTENING, AND
COMPREHENDING THAT THEY MAY ENCOUNTER IN A CONVERSATION.
7. TERMINATION - CLOSE - INITIATING EXPRESSIONS THAT END A TOPIC IN A CONVERSATION.