SPEECH ACT

GROUP 7
1. Sari Kusumaningrum
2. Yessi Aprilia Waluyo
SPEECH ACT
Speech act is an action performed by the use
of an utterance to communicate.
For example: apology, complaint,
compliment, invitation, promise, request.
FOR EXAMPLE
Youre so delicious (compliment)
Youre welcome (the acknowledgement of
thanks)
Youre crazy (the expression of surprise)
Austin (in Mey, 1993: 110-112) divided the
action performed by producing an utterance
will consists of three related acts that is
produced by the speaker. Those \three
related acts are locutionary act, illocutionary
act, and perlocutionary act
THREE RELATED ACTS
1. Locutionary act
2. Illocutionary act
3. Perlocutionary act
1. LOCUTIONARY ACT
It is the basic act of utterance which
produces a meaningful linguistic expression.

2. ILLOCUTIONARY ACT
We form an utterance with some kind of
function in mind.
It is performed via the communicative force
of an utterance (the illocutionary force).
3. PERLOCUTIONARY ACT
We do not, of course, simply create an
utterance with a function without intending it
to have an effect.
Depending on the circumstances, you will
utter , the example of Ive just made some
coffee , on the assumption that the hearer
will recognize the effect you intended
(Perlocutionary effect).
IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE

The locutionary act is the statement that at that time,
there was raining outside.

The illocutionary act from that utterance can be varies, for
example the speaker at that time when saying that
utterance, he/she denies an invitation, or asks someone
to bring an umbrella.

The perlocutionary act from that utterance will be,
someone will bring an umbrella or someone will cancel
the invitation
The illocutionary force of an utterance is
what it counts as.
For example :
a. Ill see you later (=A)
b. [I predict that] A. (A prediction)
c. [I promise you that] A. (A promise)
d. [I warn you that] A. (A warning)
1. IFID
IFIDs (Illocutionary Force Indicating Device)
means some device to distinguish which
illocutionary act which is meant by the
speaker. It is used by the hearer. If the
illocutionary act is explicitly shown at the
utterance, it can be called performative verb.




The most obvious device for indicating the
illocutionary force is an expression of
I (Vp) you that.(Vp is a performative
verb), where there is a slot for a verb that
explicitly names the illocutionary act being
performed.

IFID can be shown by using the words of , for
example, promise, warn, ask, tell, which
they must be stated.
Him : Can I Talk to Mary?
Her : No, shes not here
Him : Im asking you-can I talk to her?
Her : And Im telling you-SHES NOT
HERE!
IFIS can also be shown by using word order,
stress, and intonation.
For example:
a. Youre going! (I tell you Y-G)
b. Youre going? (I request confirmation about
Y-G)
c. Are you going? (I ask you if Y-G)
2. FELICITY CONDITIONS
Felicity conditions are certain expected or
appropriate circumstances which are for the
performance of a speech act to be
recognized as intended.

THERE ARE FIVE FELICITY CONDITIONS.

1. General conditions
2. Content conditions
3. Preparatory conditions
4. Sincerity conditions
5. Essential conditions

1. GENERAL CONDITIONS
There are general conditions on the
participants which they can understand the
language being used and that they are not
play-acting or being nonsensical
2. CONTENT CONDITIONS
For both a promise and a warning, the
content of the utterance must be about a
future event.

3. PREPARATORY CONDITIONS
The preparatory conditions for a promise are
significantly different from those for a
warning.
.
FOR EXAMPLE:

1. When I promise to do something, there two
preparatory conditions:
First, the event will not happen by itself
Second, the event will have a beneficial effect.
2. When I utter a warning, there are the following
preparatory conditions: First, it isnt clear that
the hearer knows the event will occur, and the
speaker doesnt think the event will occur; and
Second, the event will not have a beneficial
effect
4. SINCERITY CONDITIONS
For a promise, the speaker genuinely intends
to carry out the future action.
For a warning, the speaker genuinely
believes that the future event will not have a
beneficial effect.
5. ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS
Essential conditions cover the fact that by the
act of uttering a promise, I thereby intend to
create an obligation to carry out the action as
promised. In other words, the utterance
changes my state from non-obligation to
obligation.
THE PERFORMATIVE HYPOTHESIS
The performative hypothesis is an
assumption that underlying every utterance
(U) there is a clause containing a
performative verb (Vp) which makes the
illocutionary force explicit.
I [hereby] Vp you (that) U
FOR EXAMPLE
1 a. Clean up this mess! (implicit
performative)
1 b. I hereby order you that you clean up this
mess. (Explicit performative)
2 a. The work was done by Elaine and
myself. (implicit performative)
2 b. I hereby tell you that the work was done
by Elaine and myself (Explicit
performative)

SPEECH ACT CLASSIFICATION
1. Declaration
2. Representatives
3. Expressives
4. Directives
5. Commissives
1. DECLARATION
It is the kinds of speech acts that change the
world via their utterance.
For example :
a. Priest : I now pronounce you husband
and wife.
b. Referee : Youre out!
c. Jury Foreman: We find the defendant guilty.
2. REPRESENTATIVES
It is kinds of speech acts that state what the
speaker believes to be the case or not, such
as statements of fact, assertions,
conclusions and descriptions.
For example:
a. The earth is flat
b. Chomsky didnt write about peanuts
c. It was a warm sunny day
3. EXPRESSIVES
It is the kinds of speech acts that state what
the speaker feels. They express
psychological states and can be statements
of pleasure, pain, likes, dislikes, joy, or
sorrow.
For example:
a. Im really sorry!
b. Congratulations!
c. Oh, yes, great, mmmmm, ssahh!
4. DIRECTIVES
It is the kinds of speech acts that speakers
use to get someone else to do something.
They express what the speaker wants, such
commands, orders, requests, suggestions.
For example:
a. Gimme a cup of coffee. Make it black.
b. Could you lend me a pen, please?
c. Dont touch that.
5. COMMISSIVE
It is the kinds of speech acts that the
speakers use to commit themselves to some
future action. They express what the speaker
intends, such as promises, threats, refusals,
pledges.
For example:
a. Ill be back.
b. Im going to get it right next time.
c. We will not do that.
THREE BASIC SENTENCE TYPES
Three structural forms
a. Declarative
b. Interrogative
c. Imperative
Three general communicative functions
a. Statement
b. Question
c. Command/Request
FOR EXAMPLE
a. You wear a seat belt (declarative)
b. Do you wear a seat belt? (interrogative)
c. Wear a seat belt! (imperative)
DIRECT SPEECH ACT
It can happen whenever there is a direct
relationship between a structure and a
function.
INDIRECT SPEECH ACT
It can happen whenever there is an indirect
relationship between a structure and a
function.
A declarative used to make a statement is a
direct speech act, but a declarative used to
make a request is an indirect speech act.
a. Its cold outside. (declarative)
b. I hereby tell you about the weather. (direct
speech act)
c. I hereby request of you that you close the
door (indirect speech act)
FOR EXAMPLE
a. Move out of the way! (direct speech act)
b. Do you have to stand in front of the TV?
(indirect speech act)
c. Youre standing in front of the TV. (indirect
request)
d. Youd make a better door than a window.
(indirect request)
FOR EXAMPLE
a. Could you pass the salt? (indirect speech
act)
b. Would you open this? (indirect speech
act)
Indirect speech acts are generally associated
with greater politeness in English than direct
speech act.

THANK YOU