Speech Acts.

Presentation on theme: "Speech Acts."— Presentation transcript:

1 Speech Acts

2 What is a Speech Act? A speech act is an utterance that serves a function in communication. We perform speech acts when we offer an apology, greeting, request, complaint, invitation, compliment, or refusal. A speech act might contain just one word, as in "Sorry!" to perform an apology, or several words or sentences: "I’m sorry I forgot your birthday. I just let it slip my mind." Speech acts include real-life interactions and require not only knowledge of the language but also appropriate use of that language within a given culture.

3 Here are some examples of speech acts we use or hear every day:
Greeting: "Hi, Eric. How are things going?" Request: "Could you pass me the mashed potatoes, please?" Complaint: "I’ve already been waiting three weeks for the computer, and I was told it would be delivered within a week." Invitation: "We’re having some people over Saturday evening and wanted to know if you’d like to join us." Compliment: "Hey, I really like your tie!" Refusal: "Oh, I’d love to see that movie with you but this Friday just isn’t going to work."

4 three facets of speech acts
1. Locutionary: Meaning, namely, the literal meaning of the utterance. 2. Illocutionary: Is related to the social function that the utterance or the written text has. 3. Perlocutionary: Is the result or effect that is produced by the utterance in the given context.

5 For example: ‘’It’s stuffy in here’’
The locutionary act is the saying of it with its literal meaning “There isn’t enough fresh air in here”. The illocutionary act can be a request of the hearer to open the window. The perlocutinary act can be the hearer’s opening the window or his refusal to do so. In fact, we might utter to make a statement, a request, an explanation, or for some other communicative purposes. This is also generally known as the illocutionary force of the utterance.

6 5 types of speech acts

7 Representatives Directives Commissives Expressives Declarations

8 Representatives Representative is a speech act that commits a speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition (asserting, concluding, describing) e.g. I went to the Affandi painting exhibition. There are about twenty painting on display. Some are very classic and extraordinarily awesome.

9 Directives Directive is a speech act that is to cause the hearer to take a particular action (requesting, questioning, ordering) 1) I need/ want that car. 2) Give me your pen. 3) Could you give me your pen, please? 4) May I have some soda? Is there any milk left? 5) This has to be done over. What about the renovation?

10 Commissives Commissive is a speech act that commits a speaker to some future action (promises, refuses, offering) e.g. Maybe I can do that tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.

11 Expressives Expressive is a speech act that expresses on the speaker's attitudes and emotions towards the proposition (thanking, apologizing) e.g. I am very disappointed. What a great day!!! Oh my, that’s terrible.

12 Declarations Declarative is a speech act that changes the reality in accord with the proposition of the declaration(excommunicating, declaring war) e.g. Class dismissed (students get up and leave) . I now pronounce you husband and wife.

13 Indirect speech acts “Could you move over a bit?”
“Yes” (without moving is inappropriate) Moving (without “Yes” is appropriate) NOTE: “Could you move over a bit” is a precondition to the actual speech act, “Move over.” (Mey 111)

14 (2) a. It’s cold outside. b. I hereby tell you about the weather. c
(2) a. It’s cold outside. b. I hereby tell you about the weather. c. I hereby request of you that you close the door. Whenever there is a direct relationship between a structure and a function, we have a direct speech act. For example, 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. As illustrated in (2), the utterance in (2a) is a declarative. When it is used to make a statement, as paraphrased in (2b), it is functioning as a direct speech act. When it is used to make a command/request, as paraphrased in (2c), it is functioning as an indirect speech act.

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