Speech act theory proposes that language is used not just to inform but also to perform actions. John Austin distinguished three acts in a speech act: the locutionary act of uttering words, the illocutionary act of conveying intended meaning, and the perlocutionary act of producing effects on listeners. John Searle later classified illocutionary acts into five categories: directives, commissives, representatives, declaratives, and expressives. Together, speech act theory explores how language is used to do things through utterances.

1. Speech Act Theory
Discourse Analysis
Level-7

2. Introduction
This concept was proposed by John Langshaw Austin in 1962
one of the founders of pragmatics and later developed by John R.
Searle in 1969, both philosophers of language, they believe that
language is not only used to inform or to describe things, it is often
used “to do things”, to perform acts. In other words actions
performed via utterances are generally called speech acts.
Speech Acts are group of utterances with a single interactional
function.

3. Austin’s Statement
Effect / per locution Desire/ Illocution
Specific words
locution
Austin distinguished three acts in one single speech act or event we perform.
1) locution = physical utterance by the speaker
2) illocution = the intended meaning of the utterance by the speaker
(performative)
3) perlocution = the action that results from the locution
Example, Alice told Tom: "Would you please close the door“

4. Illocutionary act
 Illocutionary acts are the real actions which are
performed by the utterance. We form an utterance with
some kind of function in mind. This communicative
force of an utterance is known as illocutionary force.
 (Intention/desire of the speaker)
Example;
I am not feeling well.
I want to rest now (Intention)

5. Locutionary act
 Locutionary act is the basic act of utterance, or producing
a meaningful linguistic expressions.
 We can say performing an act of saying something or
physical utterances of words.
Example;
I am not feeling well. ( Linguistic meaning)

6. Perlocutionary act
 Perlocutionary act is the effect/ result produced on the
listener when they listen a locutionary act or this is the
hearers response.
 Response may be negative or positive.
Example;
I am not feeling well. ( Linguistic meaning) Locutionary
I want to rest now (Intention) Illocutionary
Yes Sir, you may take the class next week. (result) Perlocutionary

7. This theory was further classified by John Searle. He states
that the taxonomy used by Austin is defective, especially there
is a lack of clear criteria for distinguishing one kind of
illocutionary force from another.
Searle divides illocutionary acts into five basic types.
 1. Directive
 2. Commissive
 3. Representative/Assertive
 4. Declarative
 5. Expressive

8. 1. Directive
In the conversation between 1st and 2nd person here the
speaker tries to make the hearer do something, with
words as: ask, order, command, request, beg, plead,
pray, entreat, invite, permit, advise, demand etc.
Example;
 Give me your pen.
 Leave the town immediately.

9. 2. Commissive
Here the speaker commits himself or herself to the future
course of action, with verbs such as: guarantee, promise,
swear, refuse, threating etc.
 Examples;
 I will repay the money.
 I swear to tell the truth.

10. 3. Representative/Assertive
Here the speaker asserts a proposition to be true, using
such verbs as: affirm, believe, conclude, deny, report,
state. Etc.
Examples
 The earth is round.
 I think, he is saying the truth.

11. 4. Declarative
Here the speaker alters the external status or condition of
an object, situation or context solely by making the
utterance.
Examples;
 Class dismissed.
 You are fired.
 We find defendant not guilty.

12. 5. Expressive
Here the speaker expresses an attitude to or about a
state of affairs, using such verbs as: thanks,
congratulate, apologize, praise etc.
Examples;
 I am sorry for being late.
 What a great day!
 Congratulation!

13. Example
 A bartender utters the words, "The bar will be closed in five minutes”.
 The locutionary act of saying that the bar will be closed in five
minutes, where what is said is reported by indirect quotation.
 The illocutionary act in saying this, the bartender is informing the
patrons of the bar's imminent closing and perhaps also the act of
urging them to order a last drink.
 The bartender intends to be performing the perlocutionary acts of
causing the patrons to believe that the bar is about to close and of
getting them to order one last drink.