SPEECH ACT THEORY

PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE TEACHING

Lecturer :

David Berthony Manalu, M.Pd

Rimtahi Bahtra Valentua Marbun (2201030070)

Elan Nuroctavia Purba (2201030095)

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF HKBP NOMMENSEN PEMATANGSIANTAR
PEMATANGSIANTAR
2023
 PREFACE

Speech act theory delves into fundamental idea that language is not just
means of conveying information but a powerful tool for performing actions,
influencing behavior, or constructing our social realities. It uncovers the hidden
complexities behind everyday conversations, shedding light on how words can be
transformative and impactful.

In the pages that follow, we will embark on a journey through the

foundational concepts of speech act theory. We will exploring the development
and of this theory. Moreover we will investigate how speech are categorized,
examine the role of context, and discuss the pragmatic nuances that make language
such a dynamic and ever-evolving aspect of human interaction.

Pematangsiantar, Wednesday, Sept 27th 2023

 Table of Contents

Preface .............................................................................................................................................. 1
Table of content................................................................................................................................. 2
CHAPTER I

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Problems ................................................................................................................................................. 3

1.3 Objectives................................................................................................................................................ 3

1.4 Significanses ............................................................................................................................................ 4

CHAPTER II

2.1 Definition and fundamental concepts .................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Types of speech act ................................................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Pragmatic and context ............................................................................................................................ 8

2.4 Implication speech act ............................................................................................................................ 9

CHAPTER III

3.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 10

3.2 Suggestion ............................................................................................................................................. 10

Bibliography................................................................................................................................................ 11
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the paper

A speech act or speech act is something that has a character principal in pragmatics. Speech
acts are the basis for analyzing topics other pragmatics such as presumptions, the principle of
cooperation, and the principle of politeness.
Speech acts have various forms to express a purpose .For example, “According to the legal
provisions in force in this country, I orders you to leave this building immediately.” The speech
can also be expressed with the words "Please leave this place right now” or simply say “Get
out!”. The three examples of speech above can be interpreted as a command if the context is
appropriate.
Directive speech acts are speech acts carried out by the speaker
The intention is for the listener to carry out the action mentioned in the utterance. For example,
ordering, requesting, demanding, suggesting, opposing, and etc. Expressive speech acts are
speech acts carried out with the meaning of the utterance is interpreted as an evaluation of the
things mentioned in the statement two that speech. For example, criticizing how someone
performs, praising someone because you have done something good, or are grateful for help that
has been given by someone else.

1.2 Problems

1. How speech act be practically applied to improve everyday communication?

2. What makes context in speech acts so complex , and how does it affect to understanding?
3. How the implication of the speech act theory?

1.3 Objectives

1. To analyze the component speech act theory

2. To examine the foundations of speech act theory
3. To discuss indirect speech act
4. To explore speech act theory
 1.4 Significances

1) Better Communication Skills : Understanding speech acts helps you become a more
effective communicator in everyday conversations.
2) Social Awareness : It makes you more attuned to social cues and the intentions behind
what people say, improving your interpersonal skills.
3) Job and Career: Enhanced communication can boost your career by improving your
ability to negotiate, lead, and collaborate effectively.
4) Cultural Sensitivity: It helps you navigate diverse cultures and contexts, reducing
misunderstandings and conflicts.
5) AI and Chatbots: Speech Act Theory is what makes chatbots and virtual assistants like
Siri or Alexa understand and respond to your requests.
6) Language Philosophy: It delves into deep questions about how language shapes our
reality, making philosophy more accessible.
7) Academic and Research: This paper can be a helpful resource for students and
researchers studying language and communication.
8) Self-Improvement: Applying speech act insights can empower you to express your
intentions clearly and achieve your goals.
9) Everyday Relevance: Speech Act Theory isn't just for academics; it's relevant in daily
life, from resolving conflicts to making persuasive arguments.
 CHAPTER II

THEORY AND DISCUSSION

2.1 Definition of Speech Act Theory

Speech Act Theory is a linguistic and philosophical framework that examines the way people
use language to perform various acts or functions beyond simply conveying literal meanings. It
was initially developed by philosophers such as J.L. Austin and later expanded upon by John
Searle. The theory focuses on how language is used to express intentions, make requests, issue
commands, state facts, and engage in various communicative acts. It provides a deeper
understanding of the relationship between language, meaning, and action.

Fundamental Concepts of Speech Act Theory:

1 Locutionary Act: This is the most basic aspect of speech acts, referring to the production
of sounds and words to form a sentence. It encompasses the grammatical and syntactical
structure of the utterance.
2 Illocutionary Act: The illocutionary act is the heart of Speech Act Theory. It represents
the speaker's intended communicative purpose or function in making an utterance.
Illocutionary acts can be categorized into various types, including assertives (making
statements), directives (giving commands or making requests), commissives (making
commitments or promises), expressives (expressing emotions or attitudes), and
declarations (bringing about a change in the external world through speech, such as
pronouncing someone married).
3 Perlocutionary Act: This aspect of speech acts concerns the effect or impact of an
utterance on the listener or recipient. It involves how the listener interprets and responds
to the illocutionary act. The perlocutionary act varies depending on factors like the
listener's understanding, emotions, and subsequent actions.
4 Context: Context plays a crucial role in interpreting speech acts. The same words spoken
in different contexts can have different illocutionary meanings. Context includes the
physical environment, social roles, shared knowledge, and previous discourse.

These fundamental concepts collectively form the basis of Speech Act Theory, allowing for
the analysis and understanding of how language functions as a tool for communication and
action in various social and cultural contexts.
 2.2 Types of speech act

In Speech Act Theory, speech acts can be categorized into several types based on their
illocutionary force or the communicative function they serve. Here are the primary types of
speech acts:

1. Assertives (Representatives): Assertives are speech acts that convey information, make
statements, or express beliefs about the world. They aim to represent a state of affairs as
true or false. Examples of assertives include statements, claims, descriptions, and
assertions.
Example: "The meeting starts at 9.00 AM.
2. Directives (Commissives and Imperatives): Directives involve speech acts that are
intended to get the listener to do something. They can be further divided into two
subcategories:
 Commissives: Commissives involve the speaker committing to a future course of
action. They include promises, offers, requests, and pledges.
Example (Promise): "I promise I'll finish the report by Friday."
 Imperatives: Imperatives are direct commands or requests. They are meant to
elicit specific actions from the listener.
Example (Command): "Please close the door."
3. Expressives (Affectives): Expressives convey the speaker's emotional or psychological
state, attitude, or feelings. These speech acts express the speaker's emotions, such as
apologies, congratulations, thanks, and condolences.
Example (Apology): "I'm so sorry for being late."
4. Declarations: Declarations are speech acts that bring about a change in the external world
merely through the act of utterance. When someone makes a declaration, they are not
describing a state of affairs but rather creating one. They often involve certain
institutional roles or conventions.
Example (Declaration of Marriage): "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
5. Assertives and Performative Utterances:** Some speech acts can belong to multiple
categories. For instance, certain assertives, known as performative utterances, not only
describe but also perform an action in the act of speaking. The speaker performs the
action they describe.
Example (Performatives): "I hereby declare the meeting adjourned."
6. Expressives and Declarations:** Expressives may sometimes overlap with declarations
when expressing strong emotions or intentions. The emotion expressed can bring about a
change in the listener's or speaker's psychological state.
Example (Expressive Declaration): "I'm overjoyed to announce our success!"
 Understanding the different types of speech acts is essential for interpreting and analyzing
language in various contexts. It allows us to recognize the intended illocutionary force of an
utterance and understand how language is used to perform various functions in communication.

2.3 Pragmatic and context

In Speech Act Theory, the interpretation of speech acts heavily relies on pragmatics and
context. Pragmatics is the study of how people use language in context to convey meaning
beyond the literal words spoken. Here's how pragmatics and context are crucial in understanding
speech acts:

Pragmatics in Speech Act Theory:

1. Implicature: Pragmatics helps us understand implicatures, which are implied meanings

that go beyond the literal meaning of words. For instance, when someone says, "Elan ate
some of the cookies," the implicature is that Elan did not eat all the cookies.
Understanding implicatures is essential for grasping the speaker's intended meaning in
many speech acts.
2. Presupposition: Pragmatics also deals with presuppositions, which are background
assumptions or beliefs that speakers and listeners share. These presuppositions influence
the interpretation of speech acts. For example, the statement, "Rim stopped smoking,"
presupposes that Rim used to smoke.
3. Scalar Implicatures: Pragmatics helps us understand scalar implicatures, where speakers
choose a weaker term when a stronger one is available to imply a particular meaning. For
instance, "Some of the students passed the exam" implies that not all of them passed.
4. Conversational Maxims: The cooperative principle and its associated conversational
maxims (maxims of quantity, quality, relation, and manner) from pragmatics play a role
in speech acts. Violations of these maxims can signal a speaker's intention or imply a
hidden meaning.

Context in Speech Act Theory:

1. Contextual Information: The context in which a speech act occurs includes various
factors such as the physical environment, social roles, prior discourse, and shared
knowledge. Understanding context is crucial for interpreting the illocutionary force of an
utterance. For example, the same words spoken in a casual conversation may have a
different illocutionary force when spoken in a formal setting.
2. Disambiguation: Context helps disambiguate potentially ambiguous speech acts. An
utterance might have multiple possible illocutionary meanings, but the context can
narrow down the intended interpretation.
3. Pragmatic Enrichment: Context enriches the interpretation of speech acts by providing
information that goes beyond the words spoken. For instance, a simple "yes" in response
 to a question can have different illocutionary forces (e.g., agreement, confirmation) based
on the context.
4. Cross-Cultural Considerations: Context is particularly important in cross-cultural
communication. What may be considered polite or impolite, assertive or indirect, can
vary greatly depending on cultural norms and context.

In summary, pragmatics and context are integral to the interpretation of speech acts.
Pragmatics helps us uncover implied meanings and understand how speakers use language to
convey intentions indirectly, while context provides the necessary backdrop for discerning the
illocutionary force and intended meaning of speech acts in specific situations.

2.4 Implication speech act

1. Speech act in everyday life

 Speaking invitations: inviting someone to an event or activity.

 Apologies: expressing regret and seeking forgiveness.
 Compliments: praising someone or their accomplishments.
 Requests: asking for someone's assistance or cooperation.
 Promises: committing to certain actions or outcomes.
 Refusals: politely declining an offer or invitation.
 Understanding speech acts enhances interpersonal relationships.

2. Speech act in literature

 Dialogue in literature is rich with speech acts.

 Characters use speech acts to reveal their personalities and intentions.
 Irony, sarcasm, and figurative language are powerful speech acts in literature.
 Author's choice of speech acts shapes the overall meaning and effect of the text.
 Speech acts can create tension, evoke emotions, and drive the plot.
 Exploring speech acts enhances literary analysis and interpretation.

3. Speech act theory criticism

 Overemphasis on intentionality may overlook unintended effects.

 Cross-cultural variations in speech acts challenge universality assumptions.
 Difficulties in categorizing speech acts and determining illocutionary forces.
 Speakers' intentions and listeners' interpretations can diverge.
 Critics argue for combining speech act theory with other linguistic theories.
 Continued research and discourse are essential for refining the theory.
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

3.1 Conclusion
In conclusion, Speech Act Theory provides a comprehensive framework for
understanding how language functions as a tool for communication and action. We have
explored its foundational concepts, including locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts,
as well as the classification of speech acts into categories such as assertives, directives,
commissives, expressives, and declarations.

Furthermore, we have discussed the role of implicature and context in the interpretation
of speech acts. Implicature allows speakers to convey implied meanings beyond literal words,
and context provides the necessary backdrop for discerning illocutionary forces and intended
meanings in specific situations. We have also examined the cooperative principles and
conversational maxims that underlie conversational implicatures, highlighting the importance of
cooperation and context in communication.

3.2 Suggestion
We are as the writer want to apology for the shortage of this paper. We known this paper
is far from the perfect. So , we need the suggest from the reader for the perfection of this paper.
For all your attention we said thankyou very much.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.hellovaia.com/explanations/english/pragmatics/speech-acts/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_act