MODULE 1

LESSON 8

TYPES OF SPEECH ACT

ORAL COMMUNICATION IN CONTEXT

GRADE 11
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
 identify the different types of speech act;
 value the importance of speech act.

Lesson 8: Overview
Speech act theory is a theory of meaning that holds that the meaning of linguistic
expressions can be explained in terms of the rules governing their use in performing
various speech acts (e.g., admonishing, asserting, commanding, exclaiming, promising,
questioning, requesting, warning). In this lesson, you will understand more the concept of
speech act theory.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Speech Act Theory - is a subfield of pragmatics that studies how words are used not only
to present information but also to carry out actions. 

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Being misunderstood in the process of communication is difficult

especially if there are factors that lead to misinterpretation in both the
PRE-TEST. speaker and the listener. Below is the table where you are asked to
provide the common factors why there is misunderstanding in the
communication process.

THE MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS

1.

2.

3.
 4.

5.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Knowing the nature of language that is subject to change therefore we should be careful in the choice
of words to utter especially in social context. Words alone are not convincing in giving a meaning but there
is a presence of facial reaction, gesture, what type of audience, what type of context, tone, pitch, attitude in
saying it, tec.

DESIRE EFFECT
Illocution Perlocution

SPECIFIC
WORDS
Locution

Figure 1. SPEECH ACT THEORY

Austin (1977) identified three aspects within a speech act which are a group of utterances with a
single interactional function. He added that speech is not just about how words are being uttered but also on
how words are being carried out.
 1. ILLOCUTIONARY ACT
- An Illocutionary act is the real action that is performed by the utterance.
We form an utterance with some kind of function in mind. This
communicative force of an utterance is known as illocutionary force. It is
about performing an act in saying something.

2. LOCUTIONARY ACT
- Locutionary act is an act of saying something. According to Austin(1975) in
performing a locutionary act, we shall also be performing acts such as:
 Asking or answering a question;
 Giving some information or assurance or a winning;
 Announcing a verdict or an intention;
 Pronouncing sentence;
 Making an appointment or an appeal or a criticism;
 Making an identification or giving a description;

3. PERLOCUTIONARY ACT
- A perlocutionary is an action or state of mind brought about by, or as a
consequence of, saying something also known as the perlocutionary effect.
An example of a Perlocutionary Effect

“Consider a negotiation with a hostage-taker under siege. The police negotiator says: ‘If you
release the children, we’ll allow the press to publish your demands.’ In making that utterance she has
offered a deal (illocutionary act). Suppose the hostage-taker accepts the deal and as a consequence
releases the children. In that case we can say that by making the utterance, the negotiator brought
about the release of the children, or in more technical terms, that this was a perlocutionary effect of
the utterance,” (Nicholas Allott, Key Terms in Semantics. Continuum, 2011).

HOW DO YOU EXTEND YOUR LEARNING?

Analyze the scenarios below and identify the locutionary act, illocutionary
act and perlocutionary act.

SCENE 1: A bartender utters the words, “The bar will be closed in five minutes.”
ILLOCUTIONARY

LOCUTIONARY

PERLOCUTIONAR
Y

SCENE 2: The classroom window is wide open and your classmate told you that, “It’s too
cold outside.”
ILLOCUTIONARY

LOCUTIONARY
 PERLOCUTIONAR
Y

HOW DO YOU APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED?

Based on the definitions presented above, identify the differences and

similarities of each speech act.

ILLOCUTION LOCUTION PERLOCUTION

Differences: Differences: Differences:

Similarities:

REFERENCES

Dalumay, M., Suan, J., Quintero, G. (2016). Oral Communication in Context – Grade 11.
Chancery Compound, Rizal St. Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines.
Diocesan Printing Press and Publishing, Inc.