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3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 Speech Act Every sentence we make is designed to perform certain functions.
Such functions include, just informing people about something, warning, ordering somebody or a group of people to do something, questioning somebody about a fact, thanking somebody fora gift or an act of kindness, and so forth.
When we utter statements, we expect our listeners to recognize and understand the functions such statements are meant to perform. For instance, when we ask a question, we expect our addressee to realize that we are requesting for information. If they failed to appreciate our intention, then we can say they have misunderstood us. This is what is termed as
speech act. The theory of speech act therefore states that
whenever we utter a statement, we are attempting to accomplish something with words (see Austin, 1962 and Searle, 1969). Below, we have a table indicating some utterances and their forms and their functions. Utterance Form Function
Did you see him yesterday Interrogative Question
My son is a medical doctor Declarative Statement
Shut the door please Imperative Command Other examples of utterances that perform some speech act.
15.1.
I pronounce you husband and wife (uttered by a pastor when joining a couple together)
15.2.
I hereby sentence you to ten years in jail (uttered by a judge in a court)
15.3.
I promise to pay you by month end (uttered by a debtor to a creditor)
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