Types-of-Speech-Act Quarter 1 Oral Communication

Oral Communication

1. EN11/12OC-Ifj-20 TYPES OF SPEECH ACT

2. Speech Context- the environment/situation where communication happens Speech Style- manner/style of speaking Speech Act- an utterance that serves as a function of communication (apology, request, command, complaint, invitation, compliment or refusal)

3. RECALL SPEECH STYLE Intimate Casual Consultative Formal Frozen

4. Let’s Reflect! When you say something to someone, does he or she always get the intended meaning of your utterance, or does he or she sometimes misinterpret it ? What do you think is the reason(s) for the misinterpretation, if any?

5. Speech goes beyond the words you literally say. When you speak, you are actually doing something; that is, you are performing an action. This is referred to as a  speech act . Whenever you say or utter something, you are expressing an intention.

6. However, there are times when your intended meaning in or by saying something may be understood differently by your addressee and vice versa. Thus, it is important to know the types of speech act to foster effective communication when engaging in conversations. Here are some essential points to learn:

7. The  speech act theory  was first proposed by John Langshaw Austin in 1962 and was further developed by John Rogers Searle in 1969. It is based on the premise that  words cannot only convey information but that they can also carry out actions . Austin and Searle are concerned with what the speaker means by his or her utterance (intention) rather than what the utterance means in a language .

8. Austin identifies three basic types of speech act:  locution, illocution, and perlocution . Distinguishing the speech acts from one another helps one to respond appropriately and effectively to a speech act.

9. Locution(UTTERANCE) A  locutionary act  refers to the act of saying something or the actual words spoken . -a word, phrase, or expression that makes sense Example: John: It’s really cold in here. Explanation: The basic act of utterance that John made is a locutionary act.

10. Illocution(INTENTION) An   illocutionary act  refers to the act a speaker performs in saying the utterance. The speaker makes a locutionary act with some intention in mind. Searle (1975) classifies illocutionary acts into five major categories: assertives , directives, commissives , expressives , and declarations . The following states the purpose of each category of illocutionary act according to Searle:

11. Assertives The speaker commits to something being the case. Examples of this kind are stating, suggesting, asserting, describing, insisting, swearing, and concluding (that something is the case). Example: I am wearing a yellow shirt. (stating/describing)

12. Directives The speaker gets the addressee to do something. Examples are requesting, ordering, challenging, daring, commanding, pleading, and asking (someone to perform an action). Example: Could you please buy me some food? (asking/requesting/ordering)

13. Commissives The speaker commits to some future course of action. Examples include offering, promising, vowing, and planning . Example: I will eat a balanced diet from now on. (vowing)

14. Expressives The speaker expresses his thoughts about something or a certain situation. Examples are congratulating, thanking, apologizing, condoling, and welcoming. Example: I’m deeply sorry for what I said to you yesterday. (apologizing)

15. Declarations The speaker brings about immediate changes in the state of affairs solely in virtue of the utterance. Examples of this kind are appointing, nominating, baptizing, blessing, declaring (war), and firing. Example: I nominate Miss May Pascual for class president. (nominating)

16. Perlocution (RESPONSE) A perlocutionary act refers to the effects, which may be intended or not, the utterance has on the behavior , thoughts, and feelings of the listener. To simply put it, by saying something, a speaker gets an addressee to do something. (persuading or convincing) To clearly illustrate the three types of speech act, study the following example. Example: John: It’s really cold in here. Austin: Let me close the window. John: Thank you.

17. Explanation: Locution: The actual words said by the speaker or John (“It’s really cold in here.”) Illocution : The action done by the speaker in making the utterance⎼⎼(1) the act of requesting for someone to close the window, or (2) the act of informing the addressee or Austin to let the window stay closed because John likes the cold. Perlocution : The consequence or effect of what was said, or what was achieved by saying something; that is, John’s utterance resulted in Austin closing the window. The speech act is successful since Austin was able to recognize John’s intention just by merely saying a few words.

18. Keypoints : Speech goes beyond the words you literally say; thus, it is important to know the types of speech acts to foster effective communication when engaging in conversations . The speech act theory has three basic types: locution, illocution, and perlocution . Locution  is the act of saying something or the actual words spoken . Illocution , known as the intention, has five major categories according to Searle: assertive, directive, commissive , expressive, and declaration. Perlocution , known as the effect of the utterance, seeks a change in the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of the addressee.

19. Communication Breakdowns, also known as Communication Barriers, are the ones who break down and destroy a conversation.

20. 1. Perceptual and Language Differences : Perception is generally how each individual interprets the world around him. All generally want to receive messages which are significant to them. But any message which is against their values is not accepted. The linguistic differences also lead to communication breakdown. Same word may mean different to different individuals . For example: consider a word ―valu e . a) What is the value of this Laptop? b) I value our relation? c) What is the value of learning technical skills?

21. 2. Information Overload : Managers are surrounded with a pool of information . It is essential to control this information flow else the information is likely to be misinterpreted or forgotten or overlooked. As a result communication is less effective.

22. 3. Inattention: At times we just not listen, but only hear . For example a traveler may pay attention to one ―NO PARKING sign, but if such sign is put all over the city, he no longer listens to it. Thus, repetitive messages should be ignored for effective communication. Similarly if a superior is engrossed in his paper work and his subordinate explains him his problem, the superior may not get what he is saying and it leads to disappointment of subordinate .

23. 4. Time Pressures: Often in organization the targets have to be achieved within a specified time period, the failure of which has adverse consequences. In a haste to meet deadlines, the formal channels of communication are shortened, or messages are partially given, i.e., not completely transferred. Thus sufficient time should be given for effective communication.

24. 5. Distraction/Noise: Communication is also affected a lot by noise to distractions. Physical distractions are also there such as, poor lightning, uncomfortable sitting, unhygienic room also affects communication in a meeting. Similarly use of loud speakers interferes with communication

25. 6. Emotions: Emotional state at a particular point of time also affects communication. If the receiver feels that communicator is angry he interprets that the information being sent is very bad. While he takes it differently if the communicator is happy and jovial (in that case the message is interpreted to be good and interesting).

26. 7. Complexity in Organizational Structure: Greater the hierarchy in an organization (i.e. more the number of managerial levels) , more is the chances of communication getting destroyed. Only the people at the top level can see the overall picture while the people at low level just have knowledge about their own area and a little knowledge about other areas.

27. 8. Poor retention: Human memory cannot function beyond a limit. One cannot always retain what is being told specially if he is not interested or not attentive. This leads to communication breakdown.

28. Cues are prompts that people use to indicate that they expect a response or reaction.