Types of Speech Act

1. Types of
Speech Act

2. Definition of Speech Acts
• A speech act is an utterance that a speaker makes to achieve an intendent
affect. Some of the functions which are carried out using speech acts are
offering an apology, greetings, request, complain, invitation, compliment, or
refusal. A speech act might contain just one word or several words or
sentence. For example, “Thanks” and “Thank you for always being there for
me. I really appreciated it” both show appreciation regardless of the length
of the statement.

3. Three Types of Speech Act
•According to J. L Austin (1962) a philosopher
of language and the developer of the speech
Act Theory, there are tree types of acts in
every utterance, given the right circumstances
or context.

4. 1. Locutionary act is the actual act of utterance.
2. Illocutionary act is the social function of what is said.
3. Perlocutionary act is the resulting act of what is said. This
affect is base on the particular context in which the
speech acts was mentioned.

5. Searle’s Classification
of Speech Act

6. 1. Assertive- a type of illocutionary act in which
the speaker expresses belief about the truth of
a proposition. Some example of an assertive act
are suggesting, putting forward, swearing,
boasting, and concluding.

7. 2. Directive- a type of illocutionary act in which
the speaker tries to make the addressee perform
an action. Some example of a directive act are
asking, ordering requesting, inviting, advising,
and begging.

8. 3. Commissive- a type of illocutionary act which
commits the speaker to doing something in the
future. Example of an commissive act are
promising, planning, vowing, and betting.

9. 4. Expressive- a type of illocutionary act in which
the speaker expresses his/her feelings or
emotional reaction. Some example of an
expressive act are tanking, apologizing,
welcoming, and deploring.

10. 5. Declaration – A type of illocutionary act which
brings a change in the external situation . Simply put,
declaration bring into existence or cause the state of
affairs which they refers to. Some examples of
declaration are blessing ,firing, baptizing, bidding,
passing a sentence , and excommunicating.