TYPES OF

SPEECH
ACT
 SPEECH ACTS
•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.
 Locutionary Speech Act
•This act happens with the utterance of a
sound, a word, or even a phrase as a
natural unit of speech.
•Locutionary Act has sense and most
importantly, for communication to take
place, has the same meaning to both
the speaker and the listener.
Illocutionary Speech Acts
• 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 decision; or
GIVING 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)
Perlocutionary Speech Act
• This is seen when a particular effect is
sought from either the Speaker, Listener,
or both. The response may not necessarily
be physical or verbal and is elicited by:
Inspiring or insulting;
Persuading/convincing; or
Deterring/scaring
The aim of a perlocutionary 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)
 It is raining outside.
LOCUTIONARY ACT
•The literal meaning, the utterance
•How the speaker uttered the
words
WHAT WE SAY
ILOCUTIONARY ACT
•The speaker wants the hearer to
use an umbrella
•The speaker wants the hearer not
to go outside
WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY IT
PERLOCUTIONARY SPEECH ACT
•Hearer may use an umbrella when
he/she goes out
•Hearer may stay while waiting for
the rain to subside
WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH BY SAYING
IT