Speech acts

We often think that the purpose of a language is to pass meaning but sometimes we use language to commit an act.

•  I have a cat.  (this gives the listener information)
•  I promise to do better.  (this is an act of promising)
•  Go away!  (this is used to elicit action)

Here is a simple breakdown of the three groups of speech acts:

Locutionary

This is the actual passing of information from one person to another.

Illocutionary acts

By saying something, we do something[1].

Warnings, promises, challenges, request, greetings

“Searle (1975)[2] has set up the following classification of illocutionary speech acts:

• assertive = speech acts that commit a speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition, e.g. reciting a creed
• directives = speech acts that are to cause the hearer to take a particular action, e.g. requests, commands and advice
• commissives = speech acts that commit a speaker to some future action, e.g. promises and oaths
• expressives = speech acts that express the speaker's attitudes and emotions towards the proposition, e.g. congratulations, excuses and thanks
• declarations = speech acts that change the reality in accord with the proposition of the declaration, e.g. baptisms, pronouncing someone guilty or pronouncing someone husband and wife”[3]

Perlocutionary acts

This is the result of the speech act.  Convincing, scaring, inspiring and making you laugh are all examples of this.

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[1] John L. Austin (1962), How to Do Things with Words

[2] John Searle (1969), Speech Acts, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-09626-X.

[3] Excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_act