Podcast on Speech Act Theory and Its Classifications

Kapitoly

Co vlastně říkáme?

Neviditelná pravidla jazyka

Slibuji, že...

Words That Do Things

The Three Layers of Action

Why Context is King

Types of Speech Acts

Final Thoughts

Přepis

Mia: Představte si studentku jménem Anna. Učí se s kamarádem v knihovně a řekne: „Páni, tady je ale zima.“ Co tím ve skutečnosti říká? Není to jen konstatování faktu. Je to skrytá žádost: „Mohl bys prosím zavřít to okno?“

Ryan: Přesně tak, Mio! A tenhle fascinující rozdíl mezi doslovným významem a skutečným záměrem je jádrem teorie řečových aktů. Posloucháte Studyfi Podcast.

Mia: Takže když mluvíme, v podstatě jednáme. Existují pro to nějaká pravidla, abychom si rozuměli?

Ryan: Ano, a používáme je neustále, aniž bychom o tom přemýšleli. Říká se jim konvence větných typů. Když proneseš oznamovací větu jako „Země je kulatá“, zavazuješ se k tomu, že tomu věříš.

Mia: Dobře, takže nemůžu jen tak prohlašovat, že obloha je zelená, pokud si to nemyslím. Co třeba rozkazy?

Ryan: Když použiješ rozkazovací způsob, třeba „Uklid si pokoj“, zavazuješ se k tomu, že si přeješ, aby se to stalo. A u otázky, třeba „Kolik je hodin?“, dáváš najevo, že chceš znát odpověď. Je to základní společenská smlouva jazyka.

Mia: Zní to, jako by náš jazyk měl tajný manuál, o kterém nikdo neví.

Ryan: Přesně tak! A součástí toho manuálu jsou i další akty. Třeba komisivní. Ty tě zavazují k nějaké budoucí akci.

Mia: Aha, takže když řeknu kamarádce: „Zítra ti určitě pošlu své poznámky,“ tak to je ono?

Ryan: To je přesně ono! Tím slibem na sebe bereš závazek. A právě pochopení těchto různých aktů nám pomáhá lépe komunikovat.

Mia: And that brings us perfectly to our last topic for today. We've talked about how language is structured, but what about what we *do* with it?

Ryan: Exactly. We don't just talk... we perform actions with our words. This is called a speech act.

Mia: So, when I say "Thank you," I'm not just saying words. I'm actually performing the act of thanking someone.

Ryan: You got it. It’s the difference between describing the world and changing it. Or trying to, anyway.

Mia: I hear there are different layers to this. It sounds complicated.

Ryan: It's not, I promise. Think of it in three parts. Let's use the example, "I am hungry."

Mia: Okay, simple enough. I say that a lot around lunchtime.

Ryan: Same here. So, the first layer is the **locutionary act**. That’s just the literal meaning of the words you said. I am stating a fact: I am hungry.

Mia: Right. The basic dictionary definition.

Ryan: The second is the **illocutionary act**. This is your intended meaning. You're not just stating a fact... you're probably making a request, right? You're hinting, "Please give me some food."

Mia: Ah, the hidden intention! That's where the real communication happens.

Ryan: Precisely. And that leads to the third layer: the **perlocutionary act**. This is the effect your words have on the listener. Hopefully, they get you a snack!

Mia: So... the words, the intention, and the result. Locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary. Got it.

Ryan: Now, here's why that matters. The meaning of an utterance isn't just in the words. It's in the situation. It's all about context.

Mia: Can you give me an example?

Ryan: Sure. Imagine two people are in a room with an open window, and one says, "Wow, it's really cold in here."

Mia: Okay... so the locutionary act is just a comment on the temperature.

Ryan: Right. But what's the illocutionary act? What are they really *doing*?

Mia: They're probably asking the other person to close the window, without actually saying "close the window."

Ryan: Exactly! The context—the open window, the other person being nearby—makes the intention clear. This is how we understand each other without being super direct all the time.

Mia: So, are there different categories for these actions we perform with words?

Ryan: There are! The philosopher J.L. Austin came up with a very influential list. Let's touch on a few key types.

Mia: Let's do it.

Ryan: First, we have **Representatives**. These commit the speaker to the truth of something. You're describing a state of affairs, like saying, "The exam is on Friday."

Mia: Okay, just stating facts or beliefs. What's next?

Ryan: Next are **Directives**. This is when you try to get someone to do something. Think of commands or requests, like "Move your bicycle!" or even a question like, "Could you help me?"

Mia: I use those on my brother all the time.

Ryan: We also have **Expressives**. These show your psychological state or feelings. Things like "I'm so sorry," "Congratulations!" or "Get well soon!"

Mia: So that's where emotions come in. And what about the last one?

Ryan: This one is cool. They're called **Declarations**. These are speech acts that change the world just by being said. But there's a catch.

Mia: A catch?

Ryan: You need to have the social authority to do it. For example, when a judge says, "We find the defendant not guilty!" or an officiant says, "I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Mia: Wow! Their words literally change reality. That's powerful stuff.

Ryan: It really is. It shows that language is so much more than just a tool for information.

Mia: So to recap... speech acts are the actions we perform with our words. They have three layers—the literal meaning, the intention, and the effect. And context is absolutely critical for understanding the real message.

Ryan: And don't forget the different types, from simple statements to world-changing declarations. It's a fundamental part of how we interact as social beings.

Mia: What a great way to wrap up our discussion today. Ryan, thanks so much for breaking all this down for us.

Ryan: My pleasure, Mia. It was great being here.

Mia: And a huge thank you to all our listeners for tuning in to the Studyfi Podcast. We'll see you next time!