2. Speech Act Theory
Speech act theory is a subfield of pragmatics
✔Studies how words are used not only to present information but also to carry out actions.
Oxford philosopher J.L. Austin introduced speech act theory in his work "How to Do Things
with Words" and further developed by American
Philosopher J.R. Searle
Language is used to Do Things
A Two influential works in the area of pragmatics relevant to the area of discourse analysis are
Austin's (1962) How to Do Things with Words and Searle's (1969) Speech Acts. Austin and
Searle argued that language is used to 'do things' other than just refer to the truth or falseness of
particular statements. Their work appeared at a time when logical positivism was the prevailing
view in the philosophy of language. The logical positivist view argued that language is always
used to describe some fact or situation, and unless a statement can be tested for truth or
falsity it is basically meaningless. Austin and Searle observed that there are many things that
we say which cannot meet these kinds of truth conditions, but which are, nevertheless, valid and
which do things that go beyond their literal meaning. They argued that in the same way that we
perform physical acts, we also perform actions by using language. That is, we use language
to give orders, to make requests, to give warnings or to give advice; in other words, to do
things that go beyond the literal meaning of what we say.
What is speech act theory?
Speech act theory is based on communication, examining how people communicate.
Asserting that there are many more functions in communication than simply just informing.
In Discourse Analysis This theory has a Great Importance because it looks at language
practically.
3. This theory tells us that language purpose is not only used to tell us something or to give a
Statement but it is often used "To Do Things" ,
To perform Action"
In Simple words Action Performed via Utterances are Generally Called Speech Act.
The use of uttered sounds for auditory communication is called utterance
Definition: A speech Act in linguistics is something expressed by An Individual That Not
only present information but perform an action as well.
Example: I am hungry
Expresses Hunger
Request for something To eat
This theory Talk about on this point of view .we can perform Different Functions by using
language.
The use of language to perform some act is known as speech act.
There are Three Different Kinds of Speech Act
1: A Locuationary Act
A locutionary Act is the part of the utterance which is the thing which is actually being
said.
OR
A locutionary Act as the act of producing Sounds that have meaning. Meaning is key here
to explain Austin's Idea and to give examples since a parakeet which calls "it is raining", for
example, does not perform a locutionary act since it does not understand the meaning of the
utterance. Good examples for sentences which are locutionary acts are any utterances which
simply contain a meaningful statement about objects.
4. For example:
"The baby is crying" or "the sky is blue". Other examples of locutionary acts can help us
understand them is linguistic terms of meaning and reference. Such example sentences include:
"there is a dog over there" or "Jack loves Jill". Once again, in order to give a good example of a
locutionary act you need to simply thing of a sentence that has meaning, and it is the meaning
part of that sentence which is locutionary.
Illocutionary Act: It is any utterance by which the speaker performs a certain action.
Example: I will do my Homework later (Promise).
Examples of Such Action can be made an Argument, A question, a Promise, An order and
apology
In other examples the illocutionary act can contradict the locutionary act. For example take the
statement: I'm Dead Tired"
The speaker does not mean that he is actually dead but wants the listener to understand that He is
Extremely Tired.
The illocutionary act is the attempt to warn someone.
Prelocutionary Acts are not on integral part of the act itself performed by the speaker but
Rahter refers the impression made on the listener.
In other words prelocutionary Acts are affects achieved by the speech act.
Example: When someone says "it is raining" The prelocutionary part of the utterance will
manifest itself if following that proclamation someone takes an umbrella with him
Summary of All These three types
To give another example sentence. In “Don't do that" locutionary act is the meaning of the words
The illocutionary act is the attempt to warn someone and the prelocutionary act is that someone
No doing that.
5. In order to give Good example of prelocutionary acts just think of the way on utterance
affects someone.
It is not the message Denoted (Locutionary)
It is Not the message conveyed (illocutionary)
But the message has some sort of impact on the receiver.
Example: i will take you to Disneyland for your birthday, the hearer jumps up and down with
joy
There are following types of illocutionary Act.
Commisives: speakers commit themselves to a future course of action
Example: promising, guaranteeing
Directives: speakers try to get their listeners to do some thing
Example: Begging, commanding, requesting
Expressive: speakers express their feelings and attitude
Example: Apologizing, welcoming, sympathizing, compliments
Representative/Assertive: what the speakers believe predict
Example: I can him a liar. The speaker describes someone as he believes.
Direct speech Act: When there is a direct relationship between a structure and a function
of a sentence, if is called a Direct speech Act.
An utterance is seen as a direct speech act when there is a direct relationship between the
structure and the communicative function of the utterance.
* As declarative used to make a statement
* An Interrogative used to ask a question
6. * An Imperative used to make a command.
* Sometimes when speak we do mean exactly what we say.
Example: I order you to leave the room
I warn you not to say that.
I Promise to take you to the game tomorrow
I advise you to wash the dishes
Indirect Speech Act: when there is an indirect relationship between a structure and a
function of a sentence, it is called Indirect Speech Act.
Searle stated that an Indirect Speech is one that is performed by means of another.
That means that there is an indirect relationship between the form and function of the utterance
Example: 1: you are standing in-front of the TV
Structure: Declarative but it's
Function: Request.
2: I will bring you the book tomorrow.
Structure: Declarative
Function: promise
3: Can you pass the salt?
Structure: Interrogative
Function: request
