SPEECH ACTS AND

EVENTS
1. Aulia Ulfatul ‘Alimah 19420062
2. Siti Mu’arifah 19420095
3. Fani Indriya Nuraini 19420105
 Speech Acts

Actions performed via utterances are called Speech Acts.

In English they are commonly known as: apology, compliment,
complaint, invitation, promise, or request and apply to the speaker’s
communicative intention.
 Types of Speech Act

Locution
Literal meaning of the
actual words

Illocution Perlocution
The speaker’s intention in The effect of the utterance
uttering the words on thought or action of
the listener
 Example

“It’s hot here”

Locutionary act : The speaker feels hot in his place
Illutionary act : The utterance has possible meanings inside, such as an
indirect request for someone to open the window
Perlocutionary act : The hearer will open or close the window
 Illocutionary Act

There are two ways :

1. IFIDs
The most common IFIDs are performative verbs: verbs that explicitly
name the illocutionary act being performed.

Example:
- I warn you that i’ll see you later
- I promise you that i’ll see you later
 Illocutionary Act

There are two ways :

2. Felicity Conditions
Certain expected or appropiate circumstances for a speech act to be
recognized as intended.

Example: I sentence you to six months in prison

 Speech Act Classification

1. Declaration
Speech acts that change the world via an utterance. The speaker has to have a
specific role, in a specific context, in order to perform a declaration
appropriately.
Example: - I now pronounce you husband and wife
2. Representatives
Speech acts that state what the speaker believes to be the case or not.
Example: - The earth is flat
3. Expressives
Speech acts that state what the speaker feels. They express psychological
states and can be statements of pleasure, pain, likes, dislikes, joy, or
sorrow.
Example: - I am really sorry
4. Directives
Speech acts used to get someone else to do something. They express what the
speaker wants. They are: commands, orders, requests, suggestions. They can
be positive or negative.
Example: - Give me a cup of coffee
5. Commisives
Speech acts used by speakers to commit themselves to some future action.
Example : I will be back
 Direct and Indirect Speech Acts

1. Direct
When there’s a direct relationship between the structure (declarative,
interrogative, imperative) and its communicative function (statement, question,
commnad/request.)
Example: Move out the way! (the only direct command)

2. Indirect
Indirect relation between the structure and function.
Example: Do you have to stand in front of the TV? (a question functioning as
an indirect command)
 Speech Event
The circumstances surrounding the utterance are called the Speech Event and it’s
their nature that determines the interpretation of an utterance as performing a
particular speech act.

For example:

“This tea is really cold”

This utterance can be interpreted as a complaint or as a praise, depending on the

circumstances. (If it is winter or summer, a cold or a hot day, etc.)
Thankyou