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Speech Acts

Language in Use

Sentence Structure and the Function of Utterances

Is perceived as a tool that allows us to ''do things'

Speech events

Perform ordinary verbal actions of everyday life

Conversations, lectures, conferences, ceremonies, trials...

The linguistic meaning of a sentence may be the same in many contexts, but uttering it in them serves different purposes and conveys distinct messages.

Sometimes the grammatical analysis of sentences is excessively simplified, even misleading, so it is necessary to take into account the context and not separate it from it

A sentence is a structured string of words carrying a certain meaning

An utterance is a sentence that is said, written, or signed in a particular context by someone with a particular intention, it intends to create an effect on the addressee

Actions that are carried out through language are called speech acts.

Types

Representatives represent a state of affairs: assertions, statements, claims...

Commissives commit a speaker to a course of action: promises, pledges...

Directives are intended to get the addressee to carry out an action: commands...

Declarations bring about the state of affairs they name: blessings, hirings...

Expressives indicate the speaker’s psychological state or attitude: greetings, apologies...

Verdictives make assessments or judgments: ranking, assessing, appraising...

Speech's principal components

Every utterance is represented by a sentence with a grammatical structure and a linguistic meaning; this is the locution.

Speakers have some intention in making an utterance, and what they intend to accomplish is called an illocution.

in speech acts, it is common for the illocutionary act itself to be called the speech act.

Distinguishing Among Speech Acts

By the context and its interpretation

Utterances that make assertions or state opinions and are representatives

Utterances that change the state of things and are declarations

Language in use is a form of action

Valentina Rodríguez Paredes