Activity No. 2

LEARNING SPEECH ACT THEORY

Activity no. 2 Learning Speech Act Theory

Objective:

To be able to identify speech acts, its category and the different types of illocutionary act.
To be able to differentiate the types of illocutionary acts
To be able to prepare for the impromptu speaking that relates to the speech act theory using the speeches of Barack Obama

Material:

*Film clip

*Speeches of former president Barack Obama; North Carolina Primary Night Raleigh, Election Night Victory Speech and Democratic National Convention Speech

Speech Act Theory:

Activity A- Identifying the different types of Illocutionary act

1.Divide the class into 3 groups.

2.Each group will choose one, out of the three select speeches of Barack Obama

3.Each group will be provided 5 maxims based on their selected speech(see below)

4. The group will then identify what type of llocutionary act is revealed as to:

1.) Representative;

2.) Directive;

3.) Commissive

4.) Expressive

5.)Declarative

Presentation by group

Speeches of Barack Obama

North Carolina Primary Night Raleigh N.C., May 6, 2008

1. It’s possible to overcome the politics of division and distraction.

2. A president and a party that can lead us toward a brighter future.

3. No matter how much money you start with or where you come from or who your parents are, opportunity is yours if your willing to reach for it and work for it.

4. People will embrace the need for change.

5. While we may have different stories, we hold common hopes.

Election Night Victory Speech Grant Park Illinois, November 4,2008

1. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep

2. There will be setbacks and false starts.

3. We rise or fall as one nation.

4. Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared.

5. At times when women’s voiced were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.

Democratic National Convention Speech Illinois, July 27, 2004

1. All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

2. We are measuring up to legacy of our forbearers and the promise of future generations.

3. Win the war, secure the peace and earn the respect of the world.

4. We are all connected as one people.

5. Out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.

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Activity B - Identify the Speech Act Category

Maxims in one of Barack Obama's speeches (North Carolina Primary Night N.C, May 6,2008) are presented below.The student should be able to identify the speech act category it belongs to, based on the following definitions.

3 Facets of Speech Acts

Locutionary Act - the act of saying somethins that makes sense in a language, the literal meaning of the utterance

Illocutionary Act - the extra meaning of the utterance produced on the basis of its literal meaning.

Perlocutionary Act - the effect of the utterance on the hearer, depending on specific circumstanced.

Example: Desire to no longer be defined by our own differences.

Answer: illocutionary

Now it’s your turn to do the activity.

1. the road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep.
2. there will be setbacks and false starts.
3. We rise, we fall as one nation.
4. Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared.
5. At times when women’s voiced were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot.
6. all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
7. we are measuring up to legacy of our forbearers and the promise of future generations.
8. win the war, secure the peace and earn the respect of the world.
9. We are all connected as one people.
10. Out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.

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Activity C - Rhetorical Analysis

Based on your answer from activity B, present to the class your argument why you think it is under locutionary, illocutionary or perlocutionary.

Activity D- Impromptu Speaking Objective: Students will be able to develop communication strategies, improve speaking skills, discuss and express their opinions about the following statements: 1. The challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime. 2. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. 3. There will be setbacks and false starts. 4. Block by block , brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand 5. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility.