1. Semantics by John I. Saeed
Chapter 8
Function of Language: Speech as Action
Presented by:
Siti Nawangsih Rohana Barit

2. Introduction
Learning to communicate in a language involves more than acquiring the pronunciation and grammar.
We need to learn how to ask question, make suggestion, greet and thank other speakers.
In other words we need to learn the uses to which utterances are conventionally put in the new language community and how these uses are signaled.

3. Introduction
The terminology of such function of language is called speech acts (J.L. Austin,1975).
In discussing speech acts we are examining the union of linguistic and social behavior
There are two important characteristics of speech acts: interactivity and context-dependence

4. Interactivity
Communicating functions involves in coordinated activity with other language users.
e.g:
- asking a question
- greeting someone

5. Context-dependence
1. Speech acts which supported by institutional facts.
It relies on social convention to support them
Every society has procedures and ceremonies where some participants words carry special function.
A judge -> I sentence you to hang by the neck
until dead.
A priest-> Now I pronounce you husband and wife.
A president-> I declare a state of national emergency.

6. Context-dependence 2. The local context of speech act.
An utterance may signal one speech act in one
situation and another elsewhere.
e.g.
If the asker already knows the answer then the
question can be a request.
Can you tell me the time?

7. Context-dependence
When there is a conventional match between grammatical form and speech act function we can identify a sentence type
Sentence Type
Speech Acts
Example
Declarative
Assertion
Amir will go to the mosque.
Interrogative
Question
Will Amir go to the mosque?
Imperative
Orders
Amir, go to the mosque
Optative
Wishes
If only Amir would go to the mosque.

8. THANK YOU…