Pragmatics

Speech Act Theory

By Dr. Laila Mortada
 Pragmatics

• Focuses on the use of language in particular

situations.
• Aims to explain how factors outside of language
contribute to both literal meaning and nonliteral
meanings which speakers communicate using
language
 Speech act

• Speech act theory was proposed by John L.

Austin and has been developed by J. R.
Searle. They believe that language is not
only used to inform or to describe things, it
is often used to “do things”, to perform acts.
Ex. (1) You’re fired.
(2) “There is a policeman on the corner”
• “There is a policeman at the corner.”

• This could be a warning, an assurance, a dare, a

hint, or a reminder to go and take your car out
of the handicapped space you are parked in.
• “I promise I’ll be there tomorrow.”

• This could be a threat or a promise, depending on

whether his presence tomorrow is a disadvantage
or an advantage to the listener. Contrast the
sentence above with:

• “If you don’t behave, I promise you there’s going

to be trouble.” This sentence says it’s a
“promise,” but it’s a “threat.”
• Actions performed via utterances are
generally called speech acts, the uttering
of the relevant words is the action itself;
without the utterance the action is not
done. These are called performative
sentences and the verbs used are called
performative verbs (Vp):
 3 kinds of acts

• Austin suggests three kinds of acts

a. locutionary act
b. illocutionary act
c. perlocutinary act
 The speech act theory

• a. Locutionary act: the act of saying, the literal

meaning of the utterance
• b. illocutionary act: the extra meaning of the
utterance produced on the basis of its literal
meaning
• c. perlocutionary act: the effect of the utterance
on the hearer, depending on specific circumstances.
 (1) It’s stuffy in here.
• The locutionary act is the saying of it with its literal
meaning “There isn’t enough fresh air in here”.
• The illocutionary act can be a request of the hearer
to open the window.
• The perlocutinary act can be the hearer’s opening
the window or his refusal to do so. In fact, we might
utter (1) to make a statement, a request, an
explanation, or for some other communicative
purposes. This is also generally known as the
illocutionary force of the utterance.
• a. Husband: That’s the phone.
b. Wife: I’m in the bathroom.
b. Husband: Okay.

• Its illocutionary acts are:

• (i) a refusal to comply with the request
• (ii) a request to her husband to answer the phone instead.
 Speech act functions

• 1) Exchange factual information

The plain departs at 7:10.
• 2) Exchange intellectual information
These arguments are correct.
• 3) Exchange emotional attitudes
I’m worried about my term papers.
• 4) Exchange moral attitudes
I appreciate your help.
• 5) Persuasion
Hand in your assignments.
• 6) Socializing
Hi, Larry, how are you?
 Indirect speech acts
• “Could you move over a bit?”

• “Yes” (without moving is inappropriate)

• Moving (without “Yes” is appropriate)

• NOTE: “Could you move over a bit” is a precondition

to the actual speech act, “Move over.”
 Ironic Speech Acts

• I promise not to keep this promise.

• Do not read this sign.
• You did a great job, and I’m not being polite.
• George Lakoff wrote a book entitled, Don’t
Think of an Elephant.
 Silence as a speech acts
• In Mexico in the old days, the Federals would pull
a person over and ask to see their driver’s license.

• Before handing over the driver’s license the

driver would attach a $20 bill onto the back of the
license.

• Nothing was said by either party. Was this,

therefore, a bribe, or not?
References: Kreidler, Charles W. Introducing English
Semantics. Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002.