Here's a breakdown:
Speech Act Theory
* Focuses on: How language is used to accomplish things in the real world.
* Argues that: Utterances are not merely descriptions of reality but also actions that have consequences.
Categories of Speech Acts
Austin initially identified three categories:
1. Locutionary Act: The act of uttering a sentence with a certain meaning and grammatical structure.
* Example: Saying "The door is open."
2. Illocutionary Act: The intended effect or purpose of the utterance. This is the core of speech act theory.
* Example: In saying "The door is open," you could be making a statement, giving a command, or making a request.
3. Perlocutionary Act: The actual effect of the utterance on the hearer.
* Example: If you say "The door is open," and someone opens the door, that is the perlocutionary effect.
Searle's Classification
Searle further refined the categories into five main types:
1. Assertives: Statements about the world, expressing beliefs.
* Example: "The sun is shining."
2. Directives: Attempts to get the hearer to do something.
* Example: "Close the door."
3. Commissives: Committing the speaker to a future action.
* Example: "I promise to be there."
4. Expressives: Expressing feelings or attitudes.
* Example: "Congratulations!"
5. Declaratives: Changing the state of the world by uttering the sentence.
* Example: "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
In Summary:
The category of speech act tells us what a speaker is trying to achieve with their utterance, beyond simply conveying information. It helps us understand the intention behind the words and how those words impact the interaction between speakers.