Post 3: Speech Act Theory

Task: 

Describe and illustrate locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary acts.

Answer:

J. L. Austin develop the theory of locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary acts. Speech acts are commonly taken to include such acts as promising, ordering, greeting, warning, inviting and congratulating.

1. LOCUTIONARY
A locutionary speech act occurs when the speaker performs an utterance (locution), which has a meaning in the traditional sense. This act is much related to the hearer, if the hearer fails to understand what the speaker is saying then the speaker has failed to do a locutionary act. 

Example: 

Figure 1: Locutionary act

In figure 1, The man is saying "I'm Thirsty" indicating that he is thirsty. 

2. ILLOCUTIONARY

An illocutionary speech act is the performance of the act of saying something with a specific intention. A speaker may perform illocutionary act to make a promise, offer, explanation, etc, which is as proposed by Austin as illocutionary force.

Example: 

Figure 2: Illocutionary act

In figure 2, The man request for water that is near to the woman beside him. 

3. PERLOCUTIONARY
A perlocutionary speech act happens when what the speaker says has an effect on the listener. Perlocutionary act talks about producing the effect of the meaningful, intentional utterance. 

Example: 

Figure 3: Perlocutionary act

In figure 3, The woman responded to the request of the man by handing him the glass of water.  

In conclusion, the performance of perlocutionary act is the effect of the locutionary and illocutionary act.