Speech Act Theory and Teaching Speaking

A speech act is an utterance that has a performative function, such as congratulating, greeting, inviting, ordering, and warning. Speech acts are basically of three types: (1) locutionary, (2) illocutionary, and (3) perlocutionary. In this entry, each type of speech act is defined and examples are given. Because illocutionary acts are difficult for English learners, they are explored more fully to include indirect speech acts. The four maxims that underpin Grice's cooperative principle are also explored along with some pedagogical implications of speech act theory for English language teaching classrooms.