Speech-Acts_Dian Puspita Anggraeni and Shofiyah Laila.pptx

Presentation of Speech Acts for Sociopragmatics

1. Speech Acts Speech acts are the fundamental units of linguistic communication. They represent the actions we perform when we speak, such as making statements, asking questions, giving orders, or making promises. This presentation, based on John R. Searle's book "Expression and Meaning: Studies in the Theory of Speech Acts", will explore the key concepts and taxonomies surrounding speech acts, as well as their broader implications for linguistics and philosophy of language. Da by Dian Puspita Anggraeni and Shofiyah Laila

2. The Taxonomy of Illocutionary Acts 1 Assertives Speech acts that commit the speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition, such as stating, concluding, or describing. 2 Directives Speech acts that try to get the hearer to do something, such as commanding, requesting, or advising. 3 Commissives Speech acts that commit the speaker to a future course of action, such as promising, vowing, or offering. 4 Expressives Speech acts that express the speaker's psychological state, such as apologizing, thanking, or congratulating.

3. Indirect Speech Acts Definition Indirect speech acts occur when the speaker's illocutionary intent differs from the literal meaning of the utterance. For example, when a speaker says "Can you pass the salt?" they are not just asking about the hearer's ability, but indirectly requesting the hearer to pass the salt. Implicature Indirect speech acts rely on conversational implicature, where the hearer infers the speaker's true intent based on contextual cues and shared knowledge. This allows for more nuanced and polite communication, as well as the expression of complex ideas. Challenges Interpreting indirect speech acts can be more challenging, as the hearer must go beyond the literal meaning to understand the speaker's intended meaning. This can lead to misunderstandings, particularly in cross-cultural communication.

4. The Logical Status of Fictional Discourse Truth and Falsity Searle argues that statements made in fictional discourse, such as "Sherlock Holmes lives at 221B Baker Street," are not true or false in the same way as statements about the real world. They are not meant to be literally true, but rather function within the fictional world. Pretense Fictional discourse involves a kind of pretense, where the speaker is not making a serious assertion but rather participating in a make-believe game. The rules of this game determine the logical status of the statements made. Illocutionary Force Searle argues that the illocutionary force of fictional discourse is not assertion, but rather a form of "pretended" assertion. This means that the speaker is not actually committing to the truth of the proposition, but rather simulating the act of assertion. Implications Searle's analysis of fictional discourse has important implications for the philosophy of language, as it challenges traditional notions of truth and falsity, and suggests that language use cannot be reduced to a simple mapping between words and the world.

5. Metaphor 1 Literal Meaning In a metaphorical expression, the literal meaning of the words does not match the intended meaning. For example, "My heart is a drum" does not mean that the speaker's heart is literally a musical instrument. 2 Figurative Meaning Instead, the metaphorical meaning conveys a figurative, non-literal interpretation, such as "My heart is beating rapidly, like a drum." Metaphors allow us to express complex ideas and experiences in more vivid and evocative ways. 3 Contextual Interpretation The interpretation of a metaphorical expression depends heavily on the context in which it is used. The same metaphor can have different meanings in different situations, requiring the hearer to infer the speaker's intended meaning.

6. Literal Meaning Dictionary Definition The literal meaning of a word or phrase is its basic, dictionary-defined meaning, without any figurative or contextual interpretation. Surface-level Interpretation Literal meaning refers to the straightforward, surface-level interpretation of an utterance, based solely on the semantic content of the words used. Conventional Usage Literal meaning is the conventional, agreed-upon usage of language, as opposed to more creative, figurative, or context-dependent interpretations. Semantic Analysis Determining the literal meaning of an expression is a crucial step in the semantic analysis of language, before considering any deeper, implied meanings.

7. Referential and Attributive Referential Use In the referential use of a definite description, the speaker intends to refer to a specific individual or object. For example, "The president of the United States is visiting today" refers to the current president. Attributive Use In the attributive use, the definite description is used to pick out whoever or whatever meets the description, without necessarily referring to a specific individual. For example, "The president of the United States should be a strong leader" does not refer to a particular president. Implications The distinction between referential and attributive use is important for understanding the speaker's communicative intent and the logical status of the utterance. It has implications for the philosophy of language and the analysis of definite descriptions.

8. Speech Acts and Recent Linguistics Pragmatics Searle's theory of speech acts has been influential in the development of pragmatics, the study of language in use and the contextual factors that influence meaning. Conversation Analysis Speech act theory has also informed conversation analysis, which examines the structure and organization of naturally occurring conversations and the ways in which speakers use language to accomplish social actions. Sociolinguistics The study of speech acts has implications for sociolinguistics, as the ways in which speakers use language are often tied to social and cultural norms and expectations.

9. Conclusion In conclusion, Searle's theory of speech acts has had a profound impact on the field of linguistics and the philosophy of language. By recognizing that language is used to perform actions, and not just to describe the world, Searle's work has opened up new avenues for understanding the complexities of human communication. The concepts of illocutionary acts, indirect speech, and the logical status of fictional discourse continue to be studied and debated by scholars, contributing to our understanding of the power and nuance of language.