M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

2.2.2 Searle’s Typology of Speech Acts
Searle emphasized the importance of the Illocutionary Act over the 
Locutionary and Perlocutionary Acts. He categorized utterance into the following five 
types:
a) 
Representatives : 
These utterances commit the speaker to the truth of the expressed 
proposition. They aim to describe a state of affairs in the world. These are the 
utterances through which the speaker states what s/he believes.
 
Paradigm cases - Asserting, concluding, hypothesizing stating, suggesting,
accusing, criticizing, complaining, denying, predicting and concluding.
 
Example:
1. 
An apple a day keeps doctor away 
2. 
The Indian team will defeat South Africa in the second test. 
3. 
I do not subscribe to the feminist ideology. 
b) 
Directives : 
These utterances are attempts by the speaker to get the addressee to do 
something.

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 
Paradigm cases: Requesting, questioning, begging, and commanding.
 
Example:
1. 
Get out of the class. 
2. 
Please give me a glass of water. 
3. 
What do you consider yourself? 
c) 
Commissives :
These utterances commit the speaker to some future course of action. 
Commissives are speaker centered.
 
Paradigm cases:Promising, threatening, offering, guaranteeing, warning,
vowing. 
 
Example:
1. 
I will help you in your studies. 
2. 
I will not attend the meeting. 
3. 
I promise to take you to the movies. 
d) 
Expressives : 
They express a psychological state or feeling of the speaker.
 
Paradigm cases: Thanking, apologizing, welcoming, sympathizing, praising,
blaming, congratulating, and forgiving.
 
Example:
1. 
I apologise for the delay.
2. 
Wow! That’s beautiful.