SPEECH ACTS AND THEIR PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS IN COMMUNICATION
Keywords:
speech acts, pragmatics, communication, performative utterances, illocutionary acts, language teaching, discourse analysisAbstract
Speech act theory is a cornerstone of pragmatic linguistics that examines how utterances function not just to convey information, but to perform actions. Rooted in the philosophies of J.L. Austin and further developed by John Searle, speech acts are categorized into distinct functions such as assertions, questions, commands, and promises. This article explores the pragmatic dimensions of speech acts in various communicative contexts. By analyzing their role in both everyday and institutional discourse, it becomes evident that understanding speech acts is critical to decoding speaker intentions and achieving effective communication. This study aims to demonstrate how speech act analysis enhances our understanding of language as action, with implications for language teaching, intercultural communication, and artificial intelligence.
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References
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