Speech Acts

Svatava HeinlováUJP/ZCU Plzeň

1.6. 2011

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THEORETICAL BACKGROUND• Prague May 23, 2011 lecture: J. Searle The

Intentionality of Visual Perception; Speech Acts

PRACTICAL PARTLearning/Teaching/Testing Speech Acts• UJP • http://www.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/

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ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHYSearle: philosophy of mind, ph. of intention,

ontology of social reality

ROOTS

SPEECH ACTSsocial acts which are performed in the act of speaking:

requesting, promising, commanding, baptising, marrying, apologizing, insulting, charging, forgiving, condemning,

sentencing, etc.

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Language use influenced by psychological, social &cultural-historical factors

THEORY OF SPEECH ACTSAPPLIED IN

PRAGMALINGUISTICS, PSYCHOLINGUISTICS, SOCIOLINGUISTICS, LANGUAGE ACQUISITION METHODOLOGY, TEXT ANALYSIS,

THEORY OF COMMUNICATION,incl. CROSS-CULTURAL COMM., SYNTAX, etc.

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Austin (1962) and J. R. Searle (1969): 3 kinds of acts:• Locution (what the speaker says) I wouldn’t go there.• Illocution (what the speaker means by saying it)

I advice you not to go there.• Perlocution (what has been done by saying it) The hearer is warned against going there and possibly decides

not to go there.

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• Thinking is doing

John R. Searle (1932):

Speaking is doing.• http://books.google.com/books/

about/John_Searle.html?id=d7cNqDnRuAgC

• http://www.pavel-stichauer.cz/lingv_rom/3-pragmatika-B.pdf

• http://www.kb-old.upol.cz/data/soubor_kb_805.pdf

• http://www.pulib.sk/elpub2/FF/Ferencik/10.pdf

• http://www2.tf.jcu.cz/~samohyl/sdruzeni/kotala2010.pdf

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I’ve come by car.• Genaral/Semantic meaning: Information about the way of how the

speaker has come to the place• Pragmatic meaning: various (depending on the actual meaning at the

moment of communication in the given context): A: Can I get you a glass of wine?B: Oh, I’m awfully sorry. I’ve come by car.(I can’t drink when I drive a car – rejection)

A: I must be off. My train is leaving in an hour.B: No hurry, I’ve come by car, I’ll take you to the station.(I’ve got my car here and take you … - offer)

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FUNCTIONSOFFER (A5)

I’ll help you (move) if you like. / Would you like me to help you (to) move (tomorrow)? / Why don’t I come over tonight/today/this afternoon/tomorrow morning) and help you (pack)? What if I came and helped you (to) pack/with packing? Would you like me to help you tidy up/type it /collect the children from school, etc. / to tidy up/type it /collect the children from school, etc. for you? / Let me tidy up for you. / Here, let me do the ironing. / Let me give you a hand with ironing. / Would it help if I sorted it out (for you)? / Why don’t I look after the kids? / What if I washed up?

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• A6 2011: Functions. KEY / Svatka HeinlováSample2.8. What do you say in the following situations? In your answers,

concentrate on the underlined parts of the descriptions, but do not use the exact words used there. Each response should demonstrate that you know the forms of the interactions you learned in class.

4x1• 1. In a TV company, a team of executives are discussing which

programmes to make. One person suggests that they should make a programme about surviving in the rainforest. You react positively to the idea, giving a reason.

• (That) sounds like a good idea (to me). / (Well, ) it’s worth a try/trying. / (Yes, ) that could work. / I find the idea great/ (very/really) innovative. (That) sounds great. I think it would appeal to all age groups / it will be (quite) cheap to make(, because it’s just one person with a camera).

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• 3. You promise to contact a person in a few moments but then something urgent comes up and it takes a while before you speak to the person again. You apologize for that.

• (I’m) sorry for not having time sooner/for keeping you waiting. (I’m) sorry that I didn’t have time sooner/that I (have) kept you waiting. / Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.

• 4. You and a friend of yours are going out for a meal, but cannot decide about where to go. You suggest a place and ask what your colleague thinks about your choice. Your colleague says he/she has no preference.

• It’s all the same to me. / I don’t mind. It’s up to you. / I’m easy. Whatever you like.

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2.9. Dialogue: General instructions: Complete the dialogue according to given on the right. Each response should demonstrate that you know the forms of the interactions you learned in class and must logically follow the comment before it. Read all the prompts before beginning. 4x1(Ring, ring)Donna: Hi, Rita. It’s me, Donna. There’s a new RichardGere film on. ________________________________ Makes suggestion ___________________________________________Rita: _______________________________________ Refuses suggestion ___________________________________________ but shows interestSomeone’s supposed to come and fix the boiler. But the person’s two hours late.Donna: I get my husband to do most things round the house. ______________________________________ Makes ___________________________________________. suggestion He’s really good at fixing things. He’s very practical and…Rita: ______________________________ but it must Breaks inbe the service man.

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Learning & Teaching Speech Acts

http://www.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/

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Thank you for your attention.