2. Speech act theorySpeech act theory
Speech act theorySpeech act theory was proposed by J. L.was proposed by J. L.
Austin and has been developed by J. R. Searle.Austin and has been developed by J. R. Searle.
They believe that language is not only used toThey believe that language is not only used to
inform or to describe things, it is often used toinform or to describe things, it is often used to
“do things”, to perform acts. Ex. (1) You’re fired.“do things”, to perform acts. Ex. (1) You’re fired.
Actions performed via utterances are generallyActions performed via utterances are generally
calledcalled speech actsspeech acts, the uttering of the relevant, the uttering of the relevant
words is the action itself; without the utterancewords is the action itself; without the utterance
the action is not done. These are calledthe action is not done. These are called
performative sentences and the verbs used areperformative sentences and the verbs used are
calledcalled performative verbsperformative verbs (Vp):(Vp): I (Vp) youI (Vp) you
that…that…
3. Sufficient conditions forSufficient conditions for
“performative verbs”“performative verbs”
A. the singular form of the firstA. the singular form of the first
personperson
B. present tenseB. present tense
C. declarative sentencesC. declarative sentences
D. the active voiceD. the active voice
4. Illocutionary actsIllocutionary acts
a. locutionary acta. locutionary act
Austin suggestsAustin suggests
three kinds of acts b. illocutionary actthree kinds of acts b. illocutionary act
c. perlocutinary actc. perlocutinary act
5. The speech act theoryThe speech act theory
a. Locutionary act:a. Locutionary act: the act of saying, thethe act of saying, the
literal meaning f the utteranceliteral meaning f the utterance
b. illocutionary act:b. illocutionary act: the extra meaning ofthe extra meaning of
the utterance produced on the basis of itsthe utterance produced on the basis of its
literal meaningliteral meaning
c. perlocutionary act:c. perlocutionary act: the effect of thethe effect of the
utterance on the hearer, depending onutterance on the hearer, depending on
specific circumstances.specific circumstances.
6. (1) It’s stuffy in here.(1) It’s stuffy in here.
The locutionary actThe locutionary act is the saying of it with itsis the saying of it with its
literal meaning “There isn’t enough fresh air inliteral meaning “There isn’t enough fresh air in
here”.here”. The illocutionary actThe illocutionary act can be a request ofcan be a request of
the hearer to open the window.the hearer to open the window. TheThe
perlocutinary actperlocutinary act can be the hearer’s openingcan be the hearer’s opening
the window or his refusal to do so. In fact, wethe window or his refusal to do so. In fact, we
might utter (1) to make a statement, a request,might utter (1) to make a statement, a request,
an explanation, or for some otheran explanation, or for some other
communicative purposes. This is also generallycommunicative purposes. This is also generally
known as theknown as the illocutionary forceillocutionary force （言外之（言外之
力）力） of the utterance.of the utterance.
7. Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions （适切条件）（适切条件） ::
Circumstances under which it would be appropriate to interpretCircumstances under which it would be appropriate to interpret
something as a particular type of speech act.something as a particular type of speech act.
1. General conditions1. General conditions
2. Content conditions2. Content conditions
Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions 3. Preparatory conditions3. Preparatory conditions
4. Sincerity condition4. Sincerity condition
5. Essential condition5. Essential condition
8. (2) a. Husband: That’s the phone.(2) a. Husband: That’s the phone.
b. Wife: I’m in the bathroom.b. Wife: I’m in the bathroom.
c. Husband: Okay.c. Husband: Okay.
Its illocutionary acts are: (i) a refusal toIts illocutionary acts are: (i) a refusal to
comply with the requestcomply with the request
(ii) a request to her husband(ii) a request to her husband
to answer the phone instead.to answer the phone instead.
10. Indirect speech actsIndirect speech acts
A different approach to distinguishing types of speechA different approach to distinguishing types of speech
acts can be made on the basis of structure. A simpleacts can be made on the basis of structure. A simple
structural distinction between three general types ofstructural distinction between three general types of
speech acts is provided, in English, by the three basicspeech acts is provided, in English, by the three basic
sentences types. As shown in (1), there is an easilysentences types. As shown in (1), there is an easily
recognized relationship between the three structuralrecognized relationship between the three structural
forms (declarative, interrogative, imperative) and theforms (declarative, interrogative, imperative) and the
three general communicative functions (statement,three general communicative functions (statement,
question, command/request).question, command/request).
(1) a. declarative: You wear a seat belt. (statement)(1) a. declarative: You wear a seat belt. (statement)
b. interrogative: Do you wear a seat belt? (question)b. interrogative: Do you wear a seat belt? (question)
c. imperative: Wear a seat belt! (command/request)c. imperative: Wear a seat belt! (command/request)
11. (2) a. It’s cold outside.(2) a. It’s cold outside.
b. I hereby tell you about the weather.b. I hereby tell you about the weather.
c. I hereby request of you that you close the door.c. I hereby request of you that you close the door.
Whenever there is a direct relationship betweenWhenever there is a direct relationship between
a structure and a function, we have aa structure and a function, we have a directdirect
speech act.speech act. For example, a declarative used toFor example, a declarative used to
make a statement is a direct speech act, but amake a statement is a direct speech act, but a
declarative used to make a request is an indirectdeclarative used to make a request is an indirect
speech act. As illustrated in (2), the utterance inspeech act. As illustrated in (2), the utterance in
(2a) is a declarative. When it is used to make a(2a) is a declarative. When it is used to make a
statement, as paraphrased in (2b), it isstatement, as paraphrased in (2b), it is
functioning as a direct speech act. When it isfunctioning as a direct speech act. When it is
used to make a command/request, asused to make a command/request, as
paraphrased in (2c), it is functioning as anparaphrased in (2c), it is functioning as an
indirect speech act.indirect speech act.
12. AssignmentsAssignments
I. Define the following terms briefly:I. Define the following terms briefly:
Speech act theorySpeech act theory
II. Someone stands between you and the TV setII. Someone stands between you and the TV set
you were watching, so you decide to say one ofyou were watching, so you decide to say one of
the following. Identify which would be direct andthe following. Identify which would be direct and
which would be indirect speech acts.which would be indirect speech acts.
(1) Move!(1) Move!
(2) You’re in the way.(2) You’re in the way.
(3) Could you sit down?(3) Could you sit down?
(4) I can’t see anything.(4) I can’t see anything.
(5) Please get out of the way.(5) Please get out of the way.
13. (3) a. Could you pass me the salt, please?(3) a. Could you pass me the salt, please?
b. Would you open this for me?b. Would you open this for me?
One of the most common types of indirectOne of the most common types of indirect
speech act in English, as shown in (3) hasspeech act in English, as shown in (3) has
the form of an interrogative, but is notthe form of an interrogative, but is not
typically used to ask questions, that is , wetypically used to ask questions, that is , we
do not expect an answer, but we expectdo not expect an answer, but we expect
action.action.
