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Oral
Communication
in Context
Quarter 1 – Module 7:
Types of Speech Act
 What I Know

How are you? Are you now excited for today’s new lesson? I am sure that this
is going to be an enjoyable learning and full of fun.
Let us first assess your prior knowledge about the types of speech act. Read
the instruction carefully before answering the following questions.

Direction: Read the following items carefully. Encircle the letter of your answer.

1. It is an utterance considered as an action, particularly with regards to its

intention, purpose or effect. What type of communicative strategy is this?
a. speech
b. speech act
c. speech style
d. speech context
2. What type of speech act shows consequence of the words we say?
a. locutionary
b. illocutionary
c. elocutionary
d. perlocutionary

3. "You and your friend are talking about a television show that you both watched
the other night. You said, "What did you think about John's reaction to Anna's news?"
Which type of speech act is described in the italicized statement?
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary

4. What is the pragmatic component of an utterance?

a. content part
b. objective part
c. subjective part
d. introductory part

5. What type of illocution is this statement, “I am telling you that he is the best
player in the Olympics”?
a. Assertive
b. Commissive
c. Declaration
d. Expressive

6. When you say " You are my friend", what action are you using?
a. Commanding
b. Promising
c. Requesting
d. Informing

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7. What is the illocutionary act for this statement, "I promise to pay you"?
a. the receiver waiting
b. the speaker stopping by
c. the speaker making a promise
d. the receiver hearing the promise

8. What are speech acts?

a. These are actions performed.
b. These are actions performed by the listener.
c. These are actions performed by requesting something.
d. These are actions performed by the speaker via an utterance.

9. What is an illocutionary act?

a. It is the intention the speaker has when saying or writing something
b. It is both the act and the intention of the speaker when saying or writing.
c. It is the act of saying or writing something in language using literal content of
words.
d. It is the effects produced in the listener/reader on hearing/reading
the illocutionary act

10. What does this statement imply?

"It is an indirect speech act when there is no coincidence between the type of
illocutionary act and the syntactic structure of the message."
a. The effect is visible.
b. The effect is not visible.
c. The intention is expressed in the message.
d. The intention is not explicitly expressed in the message.

11. What aspects do we need to consider in selecting the appropriate speech act
strategies and the linguistic forms for realizing it?
a. gender and age
b. culture and religion
c. language and education
d. social status and the culture of the interlocutors

12. Your friend who has a fever enters your room. She shivers and tells you, “It’s
cold in here!” How would you interpret what she said?”
a. She feels good.
b. She is not feeling well.
c. She is complimenting my room.
d. She wants me to turn on the air condition.

13. Which would be the direct speech act of "I´m hungry."

a. I am cooking.
b. I don’t want to eat.
c. I don´t have money.
d. Can you give me some food?

14. Which of the following statements commits the speaker to doing something?
a. I am in love and happy!
b. I checked her Facebook profile yesterday.
c. I promise to love you for better or for worse.
d. If you follow my suggestion, you will get a good grade.
15. What are the five illocutionary points in the speech act theory?
a. Assertive, Conductive, Declaration, Nurturative, Passive,
b. Assertive, Commissive Declaration, Directive, Expressive
c. Assertive, Commissive, Conductive, Declaration Expressive
d. Assertive, Conductive, Interrogative, Liberative. Permissive

Lesson Types of Speech Act

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Making a statement may be the primary use of language, but there are other
things we can do with words. We can make requests, ask questions, give orders,
make promises, give thanks or offer apologies. Moreover, almost any speech act is
really the performance of several acts at once, distinguished by different aspects of
the speaker's intention: there is the act of saying something, what one does in saying
it, such as requesting or promising, and how one is trying to affect one's audience.

What’s In

Let us test your memory if you could still remember the previous lesson that
we had last meeting by answering the activity below.

Activity 1: Identifying the speech style

Direction: Identify the appropriate types of speech style for the following situations.
Write your answer on the space provided before the number.
1. having a one-on-one conversation with a loved one
2. talking to a friend
3. delivering an oratorical speech
4. talking to a guidance counselor
5. reading pledge of allegiance to the flag
6. leading a prayer for a meal
7. talking to a stranger
8. reading school policies
9. talking to a prefect of discipline
10. inquiring at a hotel

Good job! You have done it well. By this time, you are now ready to continue
your journey.
 What’s New
Words are the smallest forms of utterances. When combined with others, we
can make statements, express commands and requests, ask questions, make
promises and so on. Indeed, words are powerful instruments to attain each of our
desired purposes. This time, let us improve your knowledge by doing the activities
below.

Activity 2: Say what you mean

Direction: Read the conversation between the two SHS students. Then, write
something about your observations.

Inside the classroom…

Juan: “Pedro, we have a group project to be submitted tomorrow. I suggest that we
will do our project in our house. I have enough space in my room and it can
accommodate the five of us.”
Pedro: Ok, I will inform Procopio, Aguinaldo and Poncio about this.
Juan: Tell them we will meet at four in the afternoon. Also, please inform them that
we will do our project in our house located at #24 Blk. 2, City Heights Subdivision.
Juan: Noted, I won’t forget it. Pedro:
Project making at #24, Blk 2. Juan: I
get it.
Pedro: Again, project making at #24, Blk 2.
Juan: Ok!

Write your observations

here!

Very good! Technically, the words ‘Project making, My house, #24, Blk 2’ simply
state a fact. Despite this, it was interpreted as a reminder, an invitation and in the
last statement, even as warning. This is because the statement is not simply a string
of informative words. It is also a speech act.
Activity 3: Speak and Act
How are you coping with our lesson? I hope that you are excited about our
new topic. Let us enjoy and have fun learning new lesson and be excited to do the
activities prepared for you today. Are you now ready to do the activity? Let us begin.
Direction: Read and brainstorm on the following situations.
A. There is power interruption. Maria and her mother are in the house because her
father is still at work. Maria approaches her mother and says, “It’s getting
warmer here and I‘m already sweating.”

B. You accidentally bumped with your long-time best friend as she opened the
door of her luxurious car and you say “How I wish I have the same car as
yours.”
Probing Questions:
Direction: Based on Activity 2, answer the following questions.
1. In the first situation, what do you think her mother will do?
Answer:

2. In the second situation, aside from the literal meaning of the utterance, is
there other meaning this statement has? If yes, what is it?
Answer:

3. What realizations have you made after thinking about the first situation? How
about in the second one?
Answer:

What is It

We all know that speech context and speech styles are just two parts of a
communicative strategy. The third prerequisite is the Speech Act. We know that we
perform all sorts of 'speech acts' besides making statements. These serve as vehicle
for all sorts of social activity. By this time, we will be focusing on the types of speech
act. So, it’s time to gear up your mind with the new topic for today’s lesson.
What is a Speech Act?

Speech acts are speakers’ utterances which convey meaning

and make listeners do specific things.
There are three types of Speech Act:
1. Locutionary Act refers to the actual utterance of the speaker.

Example: When you ask someone, “Can you pass the salt?” –
The literal meaning concerns the hearer’s ability to pass
the salt.

Two types of Locutionary Act

a. utterance acts – where something is said (or a sound is
made) and which may not have any meaning.

b. propositional acts – where a particular reference is made.

Note: Acts are sometimes also called utterances – thus, a perlocutionary act is the same
as perlocutionary utterance.

2. Illocutionary Act refers to the intended utterance by the speaker (performance).

Example: “Can you pass the salt?” - In illocution, it is being

interpreted by the receiver that the speaker requested him to
pass the salt.

Illocutionary acts are classified into five distinct categories:

a. Assertive – It is an act in which the speaker expresses belief about
the truth of a proposition. Some examples are suggesting,
swearing, boasting, concluding and putting forward.

Example: No one makes better sandwich than I do.

b. Directive – It is an act in which the speaker tries to make the addressee

perform an action. Some examples are asking, ordering,
requesting, inviting, advising and begging.
Example: Would you make me a cup of tea?

c. Commissive – It is an act which commits the speaker to doing something in

the future. Some examples are promising, planning, vowing,
betting.
Example: I promise to come at eight and cook a nice dinner for
you.
 d. Expressive – It is an act in which the speaker expresses his/her feelings or
emotional reactions. Some examples are thanking,
apologizing, welcoming, deploring.
Example: Thank you for your kind offer.

e. Declaration – It is an act which brings a change in the external situation.

Some examples of declarations are blessing, firing,
baptizing, bidding, passing a sentence and
excommunicating.
Example: I bequeath all my property to my beloved fiancée.

4. Perlocutionary Act refers to the actions that result from the locution or what
we bring about or achieve by saying something such as convincing, persuading,
deterring or surprising.

Example: “Can you pass the salt?” - if illocutions cause listeners to

do something, they are perlocutions.

What we say…
Locutionary Act:
What we mean we say it…

Illocutionary Act:
What we accomplish by saying it…

Perlocutionary Act:

Remember: A speaker can use different locution acts to achieve the same
illocutionary force or use one locution for many different purposes. For instance,
when you ask someone, “Could you water the plants?” The literal meaning concerns
the hearer’s ability to water the plants whereas its illocution is to request the hearer
to water the plants for the speaker. If illocutions cause the listeners to do something,
they are perlocutions; in this case, the hearer is watering the plants

Any question so far? I hope you already understand the three types of speech act and be able to
explain each function in a conversation.

What’s More

Since you have already geared up your mind with our lesson for today, it is
time to boost up your learning with the Types of Speech Act by answering the
activity given below.
Activity 4: Know the fact
A. Modified True or False
Directions: Write True if the statement is correct If not, change the underlined
word/term with a correct answer. Write your answer on the space provided before
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the number.
1. You do the speech act every time you greet someone.
2. When words are combined, we can make a statement, command or
request.
3. Locutionary acts are performed with intentionality.
4. The meaning may be expressed directly or implied in perlocutionary act.
5. In illocutionary act, an utterance leads to an action from someone else.
6. Unless certain effect is achieved, the illocutionary act will not also be
successfully achieved.
7. The examples of directive are promising, planning, vowing or betting.
8. The actions that result from the locution or what we bring about or
achieve by saying something is called a perlocutionary act.
9. Speech acts require an appropriate use of language within a given culture.
10. Communicative competence is essential for a speaker to be able to use
and understand speech acts.

B. Stem-Options Variety
Directions: Decide which type of speech act is represented by each of these
statements. Write the letter of your answer on the space provided
before the number.

11. Your teacher says, "For our class tomorrow, please read pages eight to
seventeen."
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary

12. While talking to a group of friends, you mention that you recently went to
hear your favorite singer at a local club.
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary

13. You and your sister are talking about a television show that you both
watched the other night. You say, "what did you think about Luke's
reaction to Laura's news?"
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary
14. When you discovered that the grade you got on your math exam is "85",
you let out a sigh of relief.
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary

15. When someone shouts 'fire' and by that act causes people to exit a
building which they believe to be on fire.
a. utterance
b. illocutionary
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 What I Have Learned
c. propositional
d. perlocutionary

Speech act is a functional unit of communication. In communicating, you are

able to express a certain attitude and the type of speech act being performed that
corresponds to the type of attitude being expressed. Communication succeeds
whenever the audience identifies the speaker’s intention and attitude being
expressed.

Activity 5: Sum it up
Directions: To recall and sum up what you have learned from the lesson, answer
the following questions legibly. Write your answer on the space provided.

1. What is a speech act?

Answer:

2. What are the types of speech act?

Answer:

3. What are the five distinct categories of illocutionary acts?

Answer:

4. Explain each type of speech act with specific example.

Answer:

5. How important is knowing the speaker’s intention and the attitude being
expressed for a successful communication?
Answer:

What I Can Do

Are you now ready to apply what you have learned about the types of Speech
Act? Let us start.
Activity 6. Let’s write
Direction: Write a short skit for each given situation below showing how you will
approach the people involved and what will you say to them. (5points each)
1. Your classmate got the highest score in MSU Entrance Examination.

2. You were confronted by your mother for staying at your friend’s house every
night.

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 3. You showed the action research that you made and asked for your groupmates’
approval, but you think it needs revision and do not like it.
Assessment
Great job! Let us see how far you have learned from the very start of our
lesson by answering the activity below.
Direction: Write your answer on the space provided before the number.
A. Identify the type of speech act in each item.
1. It is the utterances we use, which are literal in meaning.
2. It is the resulting act of what is said.
3. It is the intention that a speaker has.
B. Identify the illocutionary act (intention) in each item.
4. No one makes better dessert than my mom.
5. Kindly bring that glass of water to me.
6. From now on, I will love you until my hair turns grey.
7. I do appreciate your presence today as I celebrate my natal day.
8. You will be blessed by God.
9. I am the only one in General Santos City who has a new Lamborghini
car.
10. I voted for President Duterte last election.
11. We believe that most plastic are made from soy beans.
12. I declare this meeting adjourned.
13. I confessed that I stole your money.
14. I suggest that you have to pay attention to what you’re doing.
15. I promise to be on time in school.

C. Explain the types of speech act in your own words.

1. Locutionary Act

2. Illocutionary

3. Perlocutionary

Additional Activities

Congratulations! You are finally done with your Assessment. Now, do the
activity below as your assignment.
Directions: Present only one of the following acts in monologue showing how
would you respond to each statement. Record your monologue and post it in the
class FB group.
1. “Is it delicious?” (Said by your friend, after you take a bite of the cake you
ordered.)

2. “The big city is not a safe place for young people like you.” (Said by your
parents when you told them you want to study in a prestigious university at
the heart of the city.

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 3. ‘I can always buy coffee from another shop.” (Said by a regular customer after
trying to get discount coupons in a coffee shop where you work part-time.)

Answer Key

Books:
Flores, R., (2016). Oral Communication in Context. Rex Printing Company, Inc. Sta.
Mesa Heights, Quezon City.
Sipacio, P. and Balgos, A. (2016). Oral Communication in Context for Senior High School. C
& E Publishing Company. South Triangle, Quezon

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