Oral Communication

19.07.2017
What is speech act?
Speech acts are the speaker’s utterances
which convey meaning and make listeners
do specific things (Austin, 1962).
According to Austin (1962), when saying a
performative utterance, a speaker is
simultaneously doing something.`
What is speech act?
Example:

“I am hungry.”
• expresses hunger
• requests for something
to eat
There are three types of speech act:
1.A locutionary speech act occurs when the
speaker performs an utterance (locution), which
has a meaning in the traditional sense.
2.An illocutionary speech act is the performance
of the act of saying something with a specific
intention.
3.A perlocutionary speech act happens when
what the speaker says has an effect on the listener.
What is speech act?
Example:

“I am hungry.”
• expresses hunger
• requests for something
to eat
Locutionary Speech Act
• This act happens with the
utterance of a sound, a word, or
even a phrase as a natural unit of
speech.
• What is required for the utterance
to be a locutionary act is that is
has sense, and has the same
meaning to both the speaker and
the listener.
• Example: “What?” (when someone
is surprised)
 To a representative from each
group:
Based on the definition and
example,
give an example of locutionary act.
Illocutionary Speech Act
• In an illocutionary speech act, it is not
just saying something itself, but the act of
saying something with the intention of:
• stating an opinion, confirming, or denying
something
• making a prediction, a promise, a request
• issuing an order or a decision
• giving an advice or permission
• Examples: “There’s too much homework
in this subject.” (opinion)
• “I’ll do my homework later.” (promise)
• “Go do your homework!” (order)
 To a representative from each
group:
Based on the definition and
example,
give an example of illocutionary act.
Perlocutionary Speech Act
• This is seen when a particular
effect is sought from either the
speaker, the listener, or both.
• The response may not
necessarily be physical or verbal
and elicited by:
 Inspiring or insulting
 Persuading or convincing
 Deterring or scaring
Perlocutionary Speech Act
• The aim of perlucotionary speech act is to
change feelings, thoughts, or actions
• Examples:
• “I was born a Filipino, I will live a Filipino, I will
die a Filipino!” (inspiring)
• “It is the bleak job situation that forces Filipinos
to find jobs overseas.” (persuading)
• “Texting while driving kills – you, your loved
ones, other people!” (deterring)
 To a representative from each
group:
Based on the definition and
example,
give an example of perlocutionary
act.
Identify the illocutionary act (intention) in each item:

1.A friend says to another friend, “Why don’t you like

to sing?”
2.A father says to his child, “Why don’t you spend
less time watching TV?”
3. A child says to her playmate, “Yippee! Cookies!”
4.A doctor says to a patient, “I advise you to stop
smoking.”
5.One secretary says to another, “My daughter is
getting married in August.”
Identify the illocutionary act (intention) in each item:

6.A priest says over an infant, “I baptize you in the

name of…”
7.A passerby says to a motorist with a flat tire, “Let
me help you with that.”
8.A mother says to her daughter, “Who washed the
dishes?”
9.A woman says to someone next to her at the
grocery store, “It’s going to be a very windy day.”
10.A police officer says to a young man who was
speeding, “You’re under arrest.”
Identify the illocutionary act (intention) in each item:

11. A coach says to a team member, “Way to go!”

12.A teenage boy says to another teenage boy, “Go
ahead!”
13. An umpire says, “Strike three!”
14.One friend says to another, “I swear I won’t see
Martha again.”
15.A parent says to her child, “I forbid you to leave
your room.”