SPEECH ACTS

YOU DID A GOOD

JOB!
Statement #1
YOU’VE BEEN LATE
FOR HOURS.
Statement #2
COME AND JOIN US!
Statement #3
GOOD DAY!
Statement #4
SORRY, IT WAS MY
MISTAKE.
Statement #5
 PLEASE, OBSERVE
SOCIAL DISTANCE.
Statement #6
I’M SORRY TO SAY
THIS, BUT I DON’T
LIKE YOU.
Statement #7
 Speech Acts
Something that is expressed by an
individual that not only presents
information, but performs an action
as well.
Speech Acts
These are
acts done by
saying them.
 FUNCTIONS OF SPEECH ACTS
C - compliment You did a good job!
C - complaint You’ve been late for hours.
I - invitation Come and join us!
G - greetings Good day!
A - apology Sorry, it was my mistake.
R - request Please, observe social distance.
R - refusal I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t like you.
 TYPES OF
SPEECH ACTS
by: JL Austin (1962)
 The speech act theory was introduced
by Oxford philosopher J.L. Austin
in How to Do Things With Words and further
developed by American philosopher
J.R. Searle.

John Langshaw Austin John Rogers Searle

John Langshaw Austin
In his framework:

locution (locutionary) is what was said and meant,

illocution (illocutionary) is what was done, and
perlocution (perlocutionary) is what happened as a
result.
1. Locutionary act
- the utterance of a meaningful sentence
or what is said literally

- no hidden intention

- the speaking part

Locutionary act
Examples:

“What?” (when someone is surprised)

“There is a dog over there.”

“I love you.”
2. Illocutionary act
- social function of your statement

- the acting part of the speech act

- Intention (illocutionary force)

Illocutionary act

When somebody says "Is there any salt?" at the

dinner table, the illocutionary act is a request:
"please give me some salt" even though the locutionary
act (the literal sentence) was to ask a question about the presence of
salt. The perlocutionary act (the actual effect), might be to cause
somebody to pass the salt.
3. Perlocutionary act
- It is the resulting act of what is said.

- responding act of your audience to your

audience

- Effect (perlocutionary force)

Perlocutionary act
When somebody says "Is there any salt?" at the dinner table,
the illocutionary act is a request: "please give me some salt" even though
the locutionary act (the literal sentence) was to ask a question about the
presence of salt.

The perlocutionary act (the actual

effect), might be to cause somebody
to pass the salt.
CLASSIFICATION OF
SPEECH ACTS

John Searle’s Categories

of Illocutionary Acts
Assertives, Directives, Commissives, Expressives, Declaratives
1. ASSERTIVES
• Assertives
-You are expressing your opinion or point of
view.

o Examples:
Rinoah is going to market.
I think I can sing better than him.
2. DIRECTIVES
• Directives
- The speaker wants the listener to do something.

o Examples:
Let us pray in peace, do not make any noise.
Get me some water.
Let's go now, we are already late.
3. COMMISSIVES
• Commissives
-The speaker is committing to do
something in the future.

o Examples:
I promise to love you forever.
I will come to your home tonight.
4. EXPRESSIVES

• Expressives
-The speaker is expressing emotions.

o Examples:
I’m sorry if I offended you.
Ouch!
I really appreciate the suggestions.
5. DECLARATION / DECLARATIVES
• Declaration/Declaratives
- The speaker is declaring something or saying
something that will change the listener’s life.
- In using a declaration, the speaker changes
the world via words.

o Examples:
Employer: You are hired. / You are fired.
Priest: I now pronounce you husband and wife.