Oral Communication in

Context
Quarter 1 – Module 7: Types of
Speech Act

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to
help you master types of speech acts and know how to respond to them effectively
and appropriately. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with your
needs.

The module consists of one lesson, namely:

• Types of Speech Act
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. describe speech act;
2. distinguish types and classification of speech act;
3. determine the appropriate response in different social setting; and
4. respond appropriately and effectively to a speech act.

What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Consider this statement: “I now pronounce you as husband and wife.”
Who among the following can say this and make marital union happen?
A. priest C. retired policeman
B. teacher D. famous celebrity
2. What do you think does the speaker mean when he/she says, “Can you carry
these for me?”
A. The speaker wants to know if I have the ability to carry his/her things.
B. The speaker is requesting me to help him/her carry his things.
C. The speaker does not make sense.
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 D. The speaker does not mean anything.
3. You and your sibling were playing in your room. Suddenly, your mother
entered the room and she angrily said, “It’s dirty here!” How would you
interpret what she said? A. She feels happy.
B. She wants you to clean the room.
C. She does not feel well that is why she got angry.
D. She just wants to get angry.
4. Based on the scenario in item number 3, what will your next action be? A.
I will continue playing with my sibling.
B. I will agree with her and say that the room is dirty.
C. I will stop playing with my sibling and will clean the room.
D. I will ignore my mother.
5. In which of the following statements is the speaker making a commitment?
A. “I checked her outputs last week.”
B. “I am sad and feeling blue!”
C. “I promise to help you with your problems.”
D. “I think following the law makes us responsible citizens.”
6. Which of the following refers to the utterance that a speaker makes in order
to achieve an intended effect?
A. Speech Act C. Speech Style
B. Speech Demo D. Speech Variation
7. The following are the known functions of speech act EXCEPT:
A. apology C. offering
B. greeting D. planning

8. “Please clean the house.” This utterance falls under _____ type of speech
act.
A. commissive C. illocutionary
B. locutionary D. permissive

9. This refers to the audience’s reaction to an utterance since it carries a

directive for the audience.
A. locutionary C. perlocutionary
B. illocutionary D. speech act

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 10. The listed ideas are utterance requirements for Locutionary Act, EXCEPT
FOR ONE.
A. has sense which is more important for communication to took place
B. has the same meaning to both the speaker and the listener
C. has the appropriate response to what has been said
D. has value to shared meaning when it is modified or adjusted

For numbers 11-15

Directions: Identify what type of illocutionary act is being referred to in the
following statements / definitions. Choose the letter of the correct answer from
the word pool. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

A. assertive D. expressive
B. commissive C. E. declaration
directive

11. This refers to the type of illocutionary act in which the speaker is trying to
make the addressee do what he wanted him to do or perform.
12. It is the type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to express his
belief on something which to him is true and valid.

13. A type of illocutionary act which tries to create a change in the external
situation.

14. A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker’s feelings or emotional

reactions are expressed.
15. It is the type of illocutionary act which states the intention of the speaker in
committing himself to do something in the future.

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 Types of Speech Act
Lesson

Communication happens effectively when the message is passed clearly; it

becomes useful and meaningful when both the sender and the receiver understand
the idea being put across. Indeed, there could be no valid reasons to ignore the need
for communicating successfully.
Moreover, to achieve effective communication, it is essential to know the different
types of speech act which are the focus of this lesson. Hence, this module will help
you distinguish the important role of speech act in achieving communicative
competence by responding appropriately to various utterances for you to
efficiently communicate with the world.

What’s In

You have learned from your previous lesson that each Speech Style (i.e. intimate,
casual, consultative, formal, and frozen) constitutes various uses depending on the
social situation you may find them appropriate and most fit to use. Make use of all
these insights for you to be able to broaden your understanding of the concepts that
will be discussed in this module. Enjoy learning!

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 What’s New

Get Me Right!
Have you ever been misunderstood? How do you feel every time
someone misunderstands you?
Recall a conversation you had with someone who did not understand what
you mean and gave you a different response. Then supply the table below
with the needed information.

Example:
Situation: Break Time at the School Canteen

Scenario Line Intention Outcome

My classmate “Wow, a cake! To indirectly say My friend just

and I were eating Does it taste that I want to be responded, “Yes,
at the canteen. good?” (Wow, given a slice of it tastes good.”
cake! Masarap the cake. (Oo, masarap sya.)
ba ‘yan?) *I was not given a
slice of the cake.

Situation:

Scenario Line Intention Outcome

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 What is It

Suppose you will be given another chance to go back to the scenario

you have recalled and shared. Is there anything you would wish to change in your
utterances so that you would not be misunderstood? What realization have you
made toward responding appropriately to utterances or statements over a certain
conversation? Write your answer on the space provided for. Write your response
on a separate sheet of paper.
Your response:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

A speech act is an utterance that a speaker makes to

achieve an intended effect.

Speech acts are performed when a person offers an

apology, greeting, request, complaint, invitation
compliment, or refusal. Speech act is an act of
communication.

As we communicate with others, we use language without minding whether to

use complete sentence or not. The number of words in a single utterance does not
matter so long as we can get our message across.
Three Types of Speech Act

According to J. L. Austin (1962), a philosopher of language and the developer of

the Speech Act Theory, there are three types of acts in every utterance, given the
right circumstances or context. These are:
By uttering the locution “Please do the dishes”
“Please do the dishes,” would lead to the
“Please do the dishes.” the speaker requests addressee washing the
the addressee to wash dishes
the dishes.

Locutionary Illocutionary Perlocutionary

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1. Locutionary act is the actual act of uttering or saying something.
This act happens with the utterances of a sound, a word or even a phrase as a natural
unit of speech.
For the utterances to be a Locutionary Act, consider the following:
• It has sense, and mostly importantly, for communication to take place.
• It has the same meaning to both the speaker and the listener.
• Utterances give rise to shared meaning when it is adjusted by the speaker for
the listener.

Examples of Locutionary Acts:

• “Doh!” (favorite expression of TV cartoon character Homer Simpson)
• “Wow?” (When someone is amazed)
• “Hello!” (greeting someone)
• “Get out!” (a strong command)

2. Illocutionary act is the social function of what is said.

In an illocutionary speech act, it is not just saying something itself but with the act
of saying something with the intention of:
• stating an opinion, conforming, or denying something;
• making a prediction, a promise, a request; • issuing an order or a decision;
or
• giving advice or permission.

This Speech Act uses the Illocutionary Force of a statement, a confirmation, a

denial, a prediction, a promise, a request, etc.
Examples of Illocutionary Acts:
• It’s more fun in the Philippines. (opinion)
• I’ll help you clean the house tomorrow. (promise)
• Get my things in the office. (order)

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3. Perlocutionary act refers to the consequent effect of what was said.
This is based on the particular context in which the speech act was mentioned.

This is seen when a particular effect is sought from either the speaker or the
listener, or both. The response may not necessarily be physical or verbal and is
elicited by:
• inspiring or insulting
• persuading/convincing; or
• deterring/scaring

The aim of Perlocutionary Speech Act is to change feelings, thoughts, or actions.

Examples of Perlocutionary Acts:
• “We can do this. We heal and win as one!” (inspiring)
• “It is crucial that we give all our collective efforts to fight
against this pandemic. We must start working together.”
(persuading)
• “Smoking destroys your health, certain as it brings diseases, it
kills – you, your loved ones, and others!” (deterring)

Searle’s Classification of Speech Act

As a response to Austin’s Speech Act Theory, John Searle (1976), a professor from
the University of California, Berkeley, classified illocutionary acts into five
distinct categories.
1. Assertive – a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses belief
about the truth of a proposition. Some examples of an assertive act are
suggesting, putting forward, swearing, boasting and concluding.

Example:
No one can love you better than I do.

2. Directive – a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to make the
addressee perform an action. Some examples of a directive act are asking,
ordering, requesting, inviting, advising, and begging.
Example:
Please maintain the cleanliness of our school.
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3. Commissive – a type of illocutionary act which commits the speaker to doing
something in the future. Examples of a commissive act are promising,
planning, vowing, and betting.
Example:
From this moment on, I will love you and honor you for the rest of my life.
4. Expressive – a type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses his/her
feelings or emotional reactions. Some examples of an expressive act are
thanking, apologizing, welcoming and deploring.
Example:
Thank heavens, you came to save me! I owe you my life.
5. Declaration– a type of illocutionary act which brings a change in the external
situation. Simply put, declarations bring into existence or cause the state of
affairs which they refer to. Some examples of declarations are blessing,
firing, baptizing, bidding, passing a sentence, and excommunicating.
Example:

You are hired!

By saying that someone is hired, an employee causes or brings about the
person’s acceptance to job; consequently, this changes his external
situation.

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 What’s More

Activity 1 Understanding Speech Act

Activity 1A. React to Me Now!
Below is a dialogue from a movie. Analyze the speech act of the characters shown
in the table below.
Title of the Movie: My Ex and
Whys
Character Line Intention Effect
Liza Soberano “Am I not To express her Gio (Enrique
as enough? Pangit frustration to Gil) realized
Calixta “Cali” ba ako? the person who that what he
Ferrer Kapalit-palit ba cheated on her. did was wrong.
ako?

Suppose you are in the same situation. What would be your reaction as Gio? Write
your response on a separate sheet of paper.

Your Response:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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Activity 1B. Famous Lines
Recall your favorite movie/teleserye and its striking lines. Determine the
character’s speech act by filling out the table.
Title of the Movie:
Character Line Intention Effect

Activity 2: Responding Appropriately and Effectively to a Speech Act

Suppose you are in the same situation with the character, how will you respond to
the utterance/ statement?
Take note that your reaction must show logical connection to the utterance you
must be responding to.

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Criteria for Scoring:

Concept - 5 points
Reasoning - 5 points
Clarity - 5 points
TOTAL 15 points

Concept -demonstrates understanding of the key concepts learned

Reasoning -supports specific reaction/s with logical reasons
Clarity - shows clarity in the presentation of response

What I Can Do
Do a Good Turn Daily!
A. Suppose you are in the situations described below. As a good citizen, how
are you going to respond to these? Supply the table with the needed information.
The first one is done for you.

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 Scenario Locutionary Illocutionary Perlocutionary

(Utterance) (Intention) (Response)

Mrs. Sanchez was “It’s heavy!” Mrs. Santos I will help her
carrying heavy books. needs help. bring her
books.

Renato lost his wallet.

The children were
crossing the busy street.
Anton could not find his
eraser for the Math test.
Mae accidentally slipped
on the floor.
Create Me A Story!
B. Narrate a short story about any of the situations presented in the previous
activity using Expressive and Declaration as classification of speech act. Include
the dialogue/ discourse of the characters to show their appropriate responses. Be
guided by the given example.

Example:

Juan is a good kid. He always tries his best in school. He studies his lessons well
and does his assignments diligently. He also submits his projects before the
deadline. After some time, his efforts paid off.

“A round of applause for Juan dela Cruz! He is hereby awarded this

certificate of recognition for his outstanding academic performance, With High
Honors!”, the teacher announced. “Congratulations, Juan!”, Ms. Ivy Lim added.

Aling Teresa exclaimed, Wow, congratulations, Juan! I am so proud of you.”

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 Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Who proposed the Speech Act Theory?
A. John Austin C. John Cena
B. John Searle D. John Lennon

2. When can we say that a speech act is a locutionary act?

A. when there is an utterance of a sound, a word, or even a speech
B. when there is something said to express an intention
C. when the utterance changes the person’s feelings, thoughts or actions
D. when the statement caused misunderstanding and confusion

3. Which of the following statements shows an illocutionary speech act?

A. “Our class will end in five minutes.” (The teacher’s actual
utterance)
B. “Our class will end in five minutes.”(The teacher wants the class to
finish the task before the bell rings)
C.“Our class will end in five minutes.”(The listeners respond by
finishing their task right away.)
D. “Our class will end in five minutes.” (The exact words of the teacher)

4. What do you call the utterances that a speaker makes to achieve an intended
effect?
A. Speech Act C. Speech Style
B. Speech Context D. Speech Variation

5. What type of speech act has an intended effect through locution and
illocution?
A. locutionary C. perlocutionary
B. illocutionary D. prolocutionary

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 6. Who is the proponent of the Speech Act Theory?
A. J.L. Austin C. J. A. Austin
B. J.F. Kervin D. J.L. Gastivo

7. What type of speech act is this? “Please don’t let the door open,” the speaker
requests that the door remain closed.
A. locutionary C. perlocutionary
B. illocutionary D. prolocutionary

8. You were eating delicious apples. Your friend came and asked you, “Is that
sweet?” while looking at your apples. How will you respond appropriately?
A. “Yes, these apples are sweet.”
B. “No, please leave me alone.”
C. “Yes, would you like some?”
D. “Absolutely!”

9. Who is the professor from the University of California, Berkeley that

classified illocutionary acts into five distinct categories?
A. John Austin C. John Lennon
B. John Searle D. John Scarlett

For numbers 10 -15

To what classification of illocutionary act do the given examples belong? Choose
your answer from the choices below.
A. assertive
B. commissive
C. directive
D. expressive
E. declaration

10. “No one can sing as Leah does!”

11. “Please clean the room before you leave.”
12. “From this day forward, I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”
13. “You are blessed.”
14. “I love you very much!”
15. “Kindly see me after class.”

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 Additional Activities

You have learned that communicative competence requires

understanding of speech act to respond appropriately for effective communication.
Hence, it is important to determine the appropriate response in different social
setting and situations.
Watch an interview from television, radio or internet. Analyze the utterances of the
person being interviewed and point out whether those utterances/statements made
were understood completely, followed comprehensively or misunderstood
deliberately by the interviewer.
Be able to explain the reason why you think certain utterances/statements made
were misunderstood.
Please take note that your output will be assessed using the criteria below.

Utterances/ Intention of Interviewer’s Possible

Statements the Understanding Reasons/Causes
Interviewee of the Message on the
(The person Conveyed Misunderstood
interviewed) part of the
Interview If
There
Was

Criteria for Scoring:

Reasoning - 5 points
Support and Development of Ideas 5 points
Clarity - 5 points
Insight on the Subject - 5 points
TOTAL - 20 points

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