Speech Act is an important part of Pragmatics

1. SPEECH ACTS

2. OVERVIEW
What is Speech Acts?
Analysis of Speech Acts
Type of Speech Acts

3. Speech Act is an action performed in saying
something
A speech act is an act that a speaker performs when making
an utterance.
(Searle, John. 1969.Speech acts: An essay in the philosophy of language.
Cambridge, England: Cambridge University., p.22)

4. ANALYSIS OF SPEECH
ACT
by J.L. Austin by Paul Grice

5. According to J.L. Austin (1962), Speech acts can
be analyzed on three levels:
ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT by J.L.
Austin

6. what is said/act of saying.
It’s hot in here It’s so cold in this room

7. What the speaker intends to communicate to the
addressee/hearer.
It’s hot in here
1)
 Could be : an indirect request
for someone to open the
window.
 an indirect refusal to close
the window

8. It’s so cold in this room
2)
 Could be : an indirect request
for someone to close the
window or to turn off the air
condition.
 a complaint implying that
someone should know better
than to keep the air condition
on.

9. The effect of what is said
It’s hot in here
1)
Could result in
someone opening
the window.

10. Could result in someone
close the window or
someone turn off the air
condition
It’s so cold in this room
2)

11. ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT
by PAUL GRICE
Maxim is a set of norms which language users adhere to in order to
uphold the effectiveness and efficiency of communication.
(Hatim and Mason, 1990: 242).
According to Herbert Paul Grice (1975), in order to efficiency
communication it should be based on a Principle of Cooperation.
This principle was fleshed out in a series of maxims.
There are four maxims, namely, maxim of quantity,
maxim of quality, maxim of relevance, and maxim of
manner.

12. Types of Maxim
Maxim of Quantity
Maxim of Relevance
Maxim of Manner
Maxim of Quality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJEaMtNN_dM

13. Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quality
The maxim of quality: Try to make a true and sincere contribution”
Daniel Vanderveken and Susumu Kubo, 1984, ESSAYS IN SPEECH ACT THEORY, JOHN BENJAMINS PUBLISHING COMPANY AMSTERDAM/ PHILADELPHIAp. P.21.
 “Don’t say what you believe to be false.”
 “Don’t say what you lack adequate evidence for.

14. Mother: Did you study all day long?
Son: Yes, I've been studying till now!
Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quality
Example:
In the example, The son was in fact really learned all day long.
This means fulfilling the maxim of quality.
If the boy is not truthful, he violates the maxim of quality. He is
lies to avoid unpleasant consequences such as; punishment or to
be forced to study for the rest of the day.

15. Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quantity
The maxim of quantity: Make your contribution as
informative as is required (neither less nor more
informative than required) for the current purpose of the
exchange
 “Make your contribution as informative as required.”
 “Don't make your contribution more informative than is required.”

16. Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quantity
Example:
A: What can you tell me about Catherine’s ability to concentrate
on a task?
B: She can concentrate very well.
A: What can you tell me about Catherine’s ability to concentrate
on a task?
C: Catherine is a butterfly flitting from flower to flower.
• In conversation A and B, B gives information as required.
• In conversation A and C, C invites a metaphorical
interpretation.

17. Type of Maxim – Maxim of Relevance
The maxim of relevance requires us, as speakers, to make our
utterances relative to the discourse going on and the contexts
in which they are occur.
The maxim of relation: “Be relevant”

18. Example:
Type of Maxim – Maxim of Relevance
A: What on earth has happened to the roast beef?
C: The dog is looking very happy.
A: What on earth has happened to the roast beef?
B: The roast beef is looking well-done.
Conversation A and B is relevant answer.
Conversation A and C is not relevant answer.

19. Type of Maxim – Maxim of Manner
The maxim of manner: “Be perspicuous”
 “Avoid obscurity of expression.”
 “Be clear”
 “Avoid ambiguity.”
 “Be brief (avoid unnecessary prolixity).”
 “Be orderly.”

20. A: What are you baking?
B: I am baking chicken, beef and fish.
In conversation A and B, B gives answer perspicuous (the maxim
of manner) : because B gives a clear, brief, orderly to
explanation.
Type of Maxim – Maxim of Manner
Example:
A: What are you baking?
C: Be I are tea aitch deeay wyesee ay kayee.
In conversation A and C, C does not give answer perspicuous
(violation of the maxim of manner): because C does not gives a
clear, brief, orderly to explanation.

21. TYPES OF SPEECH ACTS
Assertive Utterances
Performative Utterances
Expressive Utterances
Directive Utterances
Commisive Utterances
Phatic Utterances
Verdictive Utterances

22.  Assertive utterances are concerned with facts.
 The function is to tell what the speaker know or believe.
 The purpose is to inform.
ASSERTIVE UTTERANCES

23. Example:
We declare that most
plastic are made from
soy beans.
I voted for
Obama in the
last election
ASSERTIVE UTTERANCES
Bogor is 60 km
from Jakarta

24.  Performative utterances make things happen just by being
uttered.
 It is valid if spoken by someone who has the right to make
them accepted and in circumstances which are accepted as
appropriate.
PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES
Performative utterance associated with the bid, marrying, declare a mistrial, so
on.

25. Example:
I pronounce you husband & wife I declare this meeting adjourned
PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES

26. I sentence you to death
Another example:
PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES

27. Verdictive utterance is speech acts in which the speaker makes
an assessment or judgement about the acts of the addressee.
Include: ranking, assessing, appraising, condoning.
The action viewed positively:
Commend Compliment Congratulate
I congratulate you for performing so well
Praise Honor
VERDICTIVE UTTERANCES

28. The action is beneficial to the speaker:
Thank …… for Grateful to …. for
VERDICTIVE UTTERANCES

29. The action viewed negatively:
Accuse Blame Criticize
I blame you for coming late
VERDICTIVE UTTERANCES

30.  An Expressive utterances springs from the previous actions or failure
of the speaker.
 In other words, Expressive utterances occur when speakers tell of
their own past deeds and present feelings.
 Expressive utterances are thus retrospective and speaker-involved.
Acknowledge, admit, confess, deny, apologize
I am sorry for what I have done
For example:
EXPRESSIVE UTTERANCES
I confess that killed him.

31. Directive utterances are those in which the speaker tries to get
the addressee to perform some act or refrain from performing
an act.
Three kinds of directive utterances: commands, requests, and
suggestions.
DIRECTIVE UTTERANCES

32. Three kinds of directive utterance
A command is effective only if the speaker has some degree
of control over the actions of the addressee.
You must appear in court next Monday at 10 am
Don’t waste your time on that
A request is an expression of what the speaker wants the
addressee to do or refrain from doing.
Smoking is not permitted in the lavatories
The boss demands that these letters (should) go out today.

33. Suggestions are the utterances we make to other persons to
give our opinions as to what they should or should not do.
I advise you to take my advice.
We suggest you (should) pay more attention to what you’re
doing.
Three kinds of directive utterance

34. Agree, ask, offer, refuse, swear, promises, pledges, threats, and
vows.
I promise to be your friend. I agree to your terms.
COMMISIVE UTTERANCES
 Commissive are utterances in which the speaker binds himself to
perform (or refrain from doing) some act at a later time.
 In other words, They are prospective and concerned with the
speaker’s commitment to future action (Kreidler, 1998:192).

35.  Phatic utterances is the exchange of greetings and goodbyes,
the polite chitchat about whatever is expected in the particular
society.
 A phatic expression is one that doesn't require an answer
because it is just "social talk" or responses, much like small talk.
 The purpose is to maintain social bonds.
PHATIC UTTERANCES

36. Example
How are you?
Have a nice day
How's it going?
What's up?
You're welcome.
PHATIC UTTERANCES