Speech acts

SPEECH ACTS

Prepared by:Aef

sugihartoniBudi SetyadiTMA

OVERVIEW

What is Speech Acts?

Analysis of Speech Acts

Type of Speech Acts

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WHAT IS SPEECH ACT?

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)

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ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT

by J.L. Austin

by Paul Grice

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According to J.L. Austin (1962), Speech acts can be analyzed on three levels:

Locutionary act

Illocutionary act

Perlocutionary act

ANALYSIS OF SPEECH ACT by J.L. Austin

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what is said/act of saying.

It’s hot in here It’s so cold in this room

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Locutionary Act

What the speaker intends to communicate to the addressee/hearer.

It’s hot in here1)

Could be : an indirect request for someone to open the window.

an indirect refusal to close the window

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ILLOCUTIONARY ACT

It’s so cold in this room2)

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.

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ILLOCUTIONARY ACT

The effect of what is said

It’s hot in here1)

Could result in someone opening the window.

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PERLOCUTIONARY ACT

Could result in someone close the window or someone turn off the air condition

It’s so cold in this room2)

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PERLOCUTIONARY ACT

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.

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There are four maxims, namely, maxim of quantity, maxim of quality, maxim of relevance, and maxim of manner.

Types of Maxim

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Maxim of Quantity

Maxim of Relevance

Maxim of Manner

Maxim of Quality

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Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quality

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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.

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Mother: Did you study all day long?Son: Yes, I've been studying till now!

Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quality

Example:

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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.

Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quantity

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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.”

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Type of Maxim – Maxim of Quantity

Example:

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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.

Type of Maxim – Maxim of Relevance

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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.

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The maxim of relation: “Be relevant”

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Example:

Type of Maxim – Maxim of Relevance

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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.

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Type of Maxim – Maxim of Manner

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The maxim of manner: “Be perspicuous”

“Avoid obscurity of expression.” “Be clear” “Avoid ambiguity.” “Be brief (avoid unnecessary prolixity).” “Be orderly.”

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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:

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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.

TYPES OF SPEECH ACTS

Assertive Utterrances

Performative Utterrances

Expressive Utterances

Directive Utterances

Commisive Utterrances

Phatic Utterances

Verdictive utterance

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

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ASSERTIVE UTTERANCES

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Example:

We declare that most plastic are made from soy beans.

I voted for Obama in the last election

ASSERTIVE UTTERANCES

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Bogor is 60 km from Jakarta

Performative utterances make things happen just by being uttered. It is valid if spoken by someone whose right to make them is accepted and in circumstances which are accepted as appropriate.

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PERFORMATIVE UTTERANCES

Performative utterance associated with the bid, marrying, declare a mistrial, so on.

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Example:

I pronounce you husband & wife

I declare this meeting adjourned

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I sentence you to death

Another example:


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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

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VERDICTIVE UTTERANCES

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The action is beneficial to the speaker:

Thank …… for Grateful to …. for


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The action viewed negatively:

accuse Blame criticize

I blame you for coming late


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An Expressive utterances springs from the previous actions or failure to act 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

Confessing For example:

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EXPRESSIVE UTTERANCES

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I confess that killed the girl.

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.

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DIRECTIVE UTTERANCES

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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.

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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.

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Three kinds of directive utterance

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Agree, ask, offer, refuse, swear, promises, pledges, threats, and vows.

I promise to be on time I agree to your terms.

COMMISIVE UTTERANCESCommissive 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).

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PHATIC UTTERANCES

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.

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PHATIC UTTERANCES

Example

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How are you?

Have a nice day

How's it goin'?

What's up?

You're welcome.

THE END

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Education

Speech acts