Speech Act Speech Act is an act that a speaker performs when making an utterance.

To analyze speech act we need knowledge about the physical world and the social world.

Speech Acts
Declarations Performatives

I order you to open the door !

The felicity conditions
The sender believes the action should be done The receiver has the ability to do the action The receiver has the obligation to do the action
If any one of these conditions is not fulfilled, the utterance will not function as an order

The sender has the right to tell the receiver to do the action

example

example

the situation the power of the sender over the receiver is considerable

between teacher and student

I think your answer could be a bit longer I'm bloody sure you can answer longer You areyou've hadto answer with longer Right, supposed it that. Trying than now. It's undermineexplanation. longer!!! longer. Joe, make see authority!!!! my job to your answer answered to Joe, I order you have my you to make your answer You are on a charge!!!!!!! longer!!!

I've written all I can but it Don't you think having won't come that in me No, in longer. I didn't see anytold the complete What you a simple was answer Sir. No, Sir. all right. instruction way is more important? (INSTRUCTION : ANSWER THE QUESTION COMPLETELY !)

explanation

T : I think your answer could be a bit longer. S : Don't you think having complete answer in a simple way is more important? T : I'm bloody sure you can answer longer than that. S : I've written all I can but it won't come any longer. T : You are supposed to answer with longer explanation. S : I didn't see that in the instruction
(INSTRUCTION : ANSWER THE QUESTION COMPLETELY !)

Condition 1 Challenge Condition 2 Challenge Condition 3 Challenge Condition 4 Challenge Imperative Refusal Explicit Performative Refusal S.A. theory

T : It's my job to see you have answered longer. S : What you told me was all right. T : Joe, make your answer longer!!! S : No, Mom. T : Joe, I order you to make your answer longer!!! S : No, Mom. T : Right, you've had it now. Trying to undermine my authority!!!! You are on a charge!!!!!!!

Speech Acts Theory

provides us with a means of probing beneath the surface of discourse and establishing the function of what is being said examines the structure of discourse

in terms of surface relation of form

underlying relations of functions and acts.

Speech acts theory uses technical terms for these layers of intentions and interpretation