CO3.

1 Speech Acts
Thursday, 23 September 2021 7:14 AM

SPEECH ACT THEORY

- Explains how messages express speaker's intentions
- U can identify the response of receiver
- Dissection of the linear communication
Utterance: I love you, I am Intention: you are hungry, you want affection,
-
hungry nagpaparinig
○ They can be interpreted based on intention of speaker and how the
receiver will respond to utterance

Locutionary Act
- "What is said"
- Utterance from speaker to listener

Illocutionary Act
- "What is meant"
- Intent of the speaker when he or she says something to a listener
○ Illocutionary force - The intentions attached to the category

Perlocutionary Act
- "What happens as a result of speech acts"
- The effect of the speaker's utterance on the speaker
- Action to express the effect or utterance "Hey! That's mean!"
○ Perlocutionary force - refers to the speakers effect to the listener; first
action done or felt 'The child felt hurt by her sister's words'

CATEGORIES OF ILLOCUTIONARY ACT

 Assertives
- Intentions are asserting, stating, concluding, boasting, describing
- Commit the speaker to the truthfulness of a condition or situation
- Whether something is true or not

Ex: I think he likes me

- A declarative sentence; stating but does not mean it is a fact. You are
expressing a stronger belief

 Directives
- Intentions are Requesting, advising, commanding, challenging, inviting, daring,
entreating
- Attempts by speaker to make listener or receiver do something

Ex: You will do as I command

 Commissives
- Intentions are promising, pledging, threatening, vowing, offering
- Commit the speaker to a future action; when a speaker promises to do
something

Ex: Are you threatening me?

  Expressives
- Intentions are greeting, thanking, apologizing, complaining, congratulating
- Speakers attitude toward situation,
- Apologizing for their wrong doing, thanking or comforting

Ex: I'm so happy that you listened

 Declaratives
- Intentions are declaring, baptizing, resigning, firing from employment, hiring,
arresting
- There should be an action attached to it

Ex: Declaring Independence day, Baptizing

SENTENCE EXAMPLES
a. I apologize for all my mistakes: Expressives
b. We declare war against the Philippines: Declaratives
c. You're not my friend anymore: Declaratives
d. It is a very warm sunny day: Assertives
e. Get that hideous thing away from me: Directives
f. I promise to finish my assignment later: Commissives

FELICITY CONDITIONS
 Propositional Content
- requires participants to understand language, not to act like actors
- Should show that thy understand and listen to speaker

 Preparatory
- Where the authority of the speaker and the circumstances of the speech act
are appropriate to its being performed successfully
- Before you even perform, consider the authority of speaker and be careful
with choice of words

 Sincerity
- where the speech act is being performed seriously and sincerely
- how sincere or genuine the speaker

 Essential
- Where the speaker intends that an utterance can be acted upon the addressee

'It's getting hot in here'

- Illocutionary act (Assertives; describing the truthfulness of the situation OR
Directives)
- Illocutionary force does not coincide with how the receiver will respond or the
perlocutionary force

SAMPLE SITUATIONS
1. Explaining how to purchase cellphone load
Locutionary Act: "Excuse me, could you help me purchase load?"
Illocutionary The foreigner is requesting the bystander to teach him
 Force: how to purchase cellphone load.
Illocutionary Act: directives
Perlocutionary The bystander thinks of a way to explain easily.
Force:
Perlocutionary "Sure, depending on your provider, you just have to go to
Act: the sari-sari store and..."

2. Comforting someone in grief

Locutionary Act: "I'm here to help you in your pain."

Illocutionary You are offering help to the person

Force:
Illocutionary Act: commissives
Perlocutionary The person in grief stops crying
Force:
Perlocutionary "Thank you so much, I really appreciate it you being here."
Act:

3. Telling someone they're singing out of tune

Locutionary Act: "You're out of tune. Please improve your singing."

Illocutionary You are requesting them to improve their singing.

Force:
Illocutionary Act: directives
Perlocutionary The person feels hurt
Force:
Perlocutionary "Putaningina mo ikaw nga"
Act:

4. Telling a stranger in queue to wear his face mask properly

Locutionary Act: "Hey, please properly wear your mark."

Illocutionary Force: You

Illocutionary Act:
Perlocutionary Force:
Perlocutionary Act:

5. Appreciating someone's clothing

Locutionary Act: "You look great!"

Illocutionary Force:
Illocutionary Act:
Perlocutionary Force:
Perlocutionary Act: