SPPECH ACTS — the purpose of this note is knowledge sharing

I do not write the note on the peeformative hyphothesis here. Readers could read that and the eaxamples of each point in Pragmatics by Yule (1996).

Warnings: do not copy the paraphrases I had written. Use your own words for the paper/s you currently work on.

Here we go!

Speech Acts (Yule 1996)

Press enter or click to view image in full size

What is the component or related acts within each classifications of speech act?

● The Related Acts

There are three related acts of a speech act, namely:

1. locutionary = the utterance being said
2. illocutionary = the intended function of the utterance
3. perlocution = real-word effect of it

How do We Recognize the Intention of the Speaker? What Makes an Illocution Clear?

● IFIDS (Illocutionary Force Indicating Device)

There are three conjoined components that could point out the speaker’s intentiom of utterance namely: word order, stress, and intonation.

● Felicity Conditions

When does felicity conditions happen?

It happens when the subject, object, intention, and context match the circumstances.

Here we could comprehend the example: “I sentence you 24 months in prison for a burglar act in Lulu Jewelery.”

We can conclude:

1. the subject is the judge;
2. the object is the man sentenced 24 months in prison;
3. the intention is to punish;
4. the comtext ks crime.

Yule (1996) explains five types of felicity condition

1. general conditions = the speaker and hearer understand the language used and they are not play-actin.
2. content conditions = future act of the hearer (what probably could happen to it).
3. preparatory conditions = the ability of hearer to give specific intended response.
4. sincerity conditions = what’s in the mind and heart of the speaker. what the speaker intends or believes, which needs to be either sincere or insincere.
5. essential conditions = the changing condition of the speaker before and after saying the utterance.

Direct and Indirect Speech Acts

Press enter or click to view image in full size

Structure ≡ function = direct speexh act

Structure ≡/≡ function = indirect speech act

● Speech Events

What is it about?

Speech event is about how more gets communicated than is said.

In speexh events, ‘indirect’ request = pre-request.

An ‘indirect’ request creates collaborations among persons. The purpose if definitely, to reach a positive outcome. An indirect ‘request’ is NOT a request. The speaker intends, speaks; so that it ALLOWS the hearer to react as if the request has been made. As well, it is beneficial for the hearer: it gets more anticipation.

An indirect request is EFFECTIVE to avoid imposition (read: pembebanan) caused by a direct request. Let’s analyze 1 example:

Yasmin : “Do you have a minute?” (examining and realizing that the girl he sees is seemingly sad and in pain)

Conclusion: The question being uttered by Yasmin is a successor (pengganti/replacement) of the request, “May I help you?”

If you happen to have questions regarding the material above, feel free to give responses!

by Jasmine

rewritten on 08 September 2026