The document explains speech acts as utterances that achieve specific effects, with three main types: locutionary (the act of uttering), illocutionary (social function of what is said), and perlocutionary (the effect on the listener). It highlights different classifications of speech acts by Searle, including assertive, directive, commissive, expressive, and declaration, each serving distinct communicative purposes. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding speech acts for effective communication.

1. Types of
Speech Acts

2. Learning Targets
 I can define speech acts.
 I can distinguish types of speech acts.
 I can recognize that communicative competence requires
understanding of speech acts.
 I can demonstrate effective use of communicative strategy in
various speech situations.

4. Speech Act
 A speech act is an utterance that a speaker makes to
achieve an intended effect.
 It is the speaker’s utterances that convey meaning and
make listeners do specific things.
 Its functions are to offer an apology, greeting, request,
complaint, invitation, compliment or refusal.
 It may contain just one word or several words or
sentences.

6. Indirect Speech Act
 Happens when the utterance has no direct connection with
the intended meaning
 Examples:
“Can you check the cabinet for my phone?” - indirectly
asks the listener to check the cabinet.
“Can you pass the wine?” – you are not asking if the
person has the ability to pass the wine, but you want the
wine or you want that person to pass the wine.

7. Three Types of Speech Acts
Locutionary Act is the actual act of uttering. A locutionary speech act
occurs when the speaker performs an utterance (locution), which has
a meaning in the traditional sense.
Examples:
• “Please do the dishes.”
• “Can you please hand me my pen?”

8. Three Types of Speech Acts
 Illocutionary act is the social function of what is said. 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 a decision; or
 giving an advice or permission.
Examples:
• By uttering the locution “Please do the dishes,” the speaker requests the addressee to wash the
dishes.
• By saying “Can you please hand me my pen”?, though it is in interrogative , is an imperative – a
request to hand over the pen.

9. Three Types of Speech Acts
 Perlocutionary act is the resulting act of what is said. The response may not
necessarily be physical or verbal and elicited by:
 inspiring or insulting
 persuading or convincing
 deterring or scaring
o Its aim is to change feelings, thoughts, or actions.
Examples:
• “Please do the dishes” would lead to the addressee washing the dishes.
• “Can you please hand me my pen?” – the response of handling over the pen is the
perlocutionary act.

10. Performatives
Performatives are verbs that execute the speech act that they
intend to effect. Performative utterances are statements
which enable the speaker to perform something just by stating
it. A performative utterance said by the right person under the
right circumstances results in a change in the world.
Example:
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

11. Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
1. Assertive- type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses
belief about the truth of a proposition. Some examples of an assertive
are suggesting, putting forward, swearing, boasting, and
concluding.
Example:
• No one makes better pancakes than I do.

12. Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
2. Directive- a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to
make the addressee perform an action. Some examples of a directive
are asking, ordering, requesting, inviting, advising, and begging.
Example:
• Please be careful with my heart.

13. Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
3. Commissive- a type of illocutionary act which commits the speaker to
doing something in the future. Examples of commissive are promising,
planning, vowing, and betting.
Example:
• From now on, I will participate in our group activity.

14. Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
4. Expressive- a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses
his/her feelings or emotional reactions. Some examples of an expressive
are thanking, apologizing, welcoming, deploring.
Example:
• I am so sorry for not helping out in our group projects and letting you do
all the work.

15. Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
5. Declaration- a type of illocutionary act which brings a change in the
external situation. Some examples of declaration are blessing, firing,
baptizing, bidding, passing a sentence, and excommunicating.
Example:
• You are fired!
By saying that someone is fired, an employer causes or brings about the
person’s unemployment, thus changing his external situation.