*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc.

– SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
 5
MODULE
Types of
SPEECH ACTS
*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
OBJECTIVES:
1. Respond appropriately and effectively to a speech act
2. Explain that a shift in speech context, speech style, speech
act, and communicative strategy affects the following:
-language form
-duration of interaction
-relationship of speaker
-role and responsibilities of the speaker
-message
-delivery

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SPEECH ACTS
An utterance considered as an action,
particularly with regard to its intention,
purpose, or effect.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

SPEECH ACT THEORY
It is a subfield of pragmatics concerned
with the ways in which words can be used
not only to present information but also to
carry out actions.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

DIRECT SPEECH ACT VS. INDIRECT SPEECH
ACT
Direct Indirect
He washed the dishes. I want to know who
Declarative washed the dishes.

Who washed the dishes? Would you mind washing

Interrogative the dishes?

Do the dishes(please)! Why don’t you wash the

Imperative dishes?

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
 As introduced by oxford philosopher J.L. Austin
(how to do things with words, 1962) and further
developed by American philosopher J.R. Searle,
speech-act theory considers the levels of action at
which utterances are said to perform:
Locutionary acts
Illocutionary acts
Perlocutionary acts
*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
LOCUTIONARY ACT
The utterances or words that you say, or
what is said literally.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

ILLOCUTIONARY ACT

The force behind them or the social function

of what is said.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PERLOCUTIONARY ACT

The effect of the utterance; (how) does the

listener react (appropriately)?

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

 DIALOGUE 1
TEACHER: Maria, could you please return these books to
the library for me?
Maria: sure Ma’am. I will.
Teacher: thank you Maria.
Maria: you’re welcome ma’am. (Maria leaving)

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

DIALOGUE 2
BOSS: (angrily shouts at a subordinate) I told you to deliver
the package as soon as possible! You did not!
Employee:(head bowed) I forgot sir.
Boss: (angrier) what are you waiting for? Do it, now!
Employee: (scampering away) Yes, sir. Right now, sir!

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
 5
MODULE
Classification of
SPEECH ACTS
*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
 Based on Austin's (1962), and Searle's (1969)
theory, Cohen ( 1996) identifies five categories of
speech acts based on the functions assigned to
them.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Representatives Directives Expressives Comissives Declaratives

assertions   suggestions apologies promises decrees

claims requests complaint threats declarations

reports   commands thanks offers

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

REPRESENTATIVE
Commits the speaker to the truth of an
expressed proposition. It represents the speaker’s
belief of something that can be evaluated to be
true or false.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Report: The traffic is heavy along EDSA now.
• Claim: Filipinos are the happiest people in the
world.
• Assertions: No one makes a better cake than me.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

DIRECTIVES
This occurs when the speaker expects the
listener to do something as a response.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Suggestion: You should go to a doctor.
• Request: Can you please help me plan the party?
• Commands: Close the door as you enter.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

EXPRESSIVES
This occurs in a conversation when the
speaker expresses his or her psychological
state to the listener.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Apology: I’m sorry I can’t make it to the event.
• Complaint: Our internet connection is so slow.
• Thanks: I really appreciate your suggestions.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
COMMISSIVES
This occurs when the speaker
commits to a future course of action.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Promise: I assure you, I will help you with the
problem.
• Threat: I’m warning you.
• Offers: Would you like me to help you with your
report?

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

DECLARATIVES
This brings about some state of affairs
by the mere performance of the speech
act.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

• Declaration: Let the games begin!
• Decree: As president of the republic, i put the
country under state of emergency.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

 Among all the animals in the world, only humans
have the capability of speech(not language because
animals have that too); we must therefore cherish
the capability and use it wisely. This makes speech
both a gift and a responsibility.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
ENRICHMENT
Choose one ‘scenario’ cards. Give one situation
to each pair. In pairs, role play one of the scenarios
and present it on class. These should be no longer
than a minute.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Things to Remember: (for Public Speaking)
-Each speaker will be given a minimum of 4 minutes and a
maximum time of 5 minutes. A sound will be heard which will serve
as a signal that the time is about to end.
-The speaker must have at least 1 cm. distance from the camera (half
body must be seen in the camera) so that the judges can also observe
body movements and gestures.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Things to Remember: (for Public Speaking)
-The speaker is required to wear a formal attire during the public
speaking day.
-If the speaker forgot a line/s, he/she must continue or else the time
will be cut and will proceed to the next speaker.
-If there will be connection problems, the speaker must inform the
instructor right away and its still subject for approval.

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Things to Remember: (for Public Speaking)
-The speaker will be judge by the distinctive set of judges according
to these criteria:
Mastery, Clarity & Organization – 20%
Delivery - 40%
Gestures & Platform Behavior - 10%
Presence & Formality of Attire - 10%
Total: 100%

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

*Juan Sumulong Memorial Schools System Inc. – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL