ASSIGNMENT
Speech acts ( Locationary , Illocationary , Perlocationary force) 5 examples
especially in our social / cultural context
Direct and Indirect Speech acts : 5 examples of each
BSENG/S23, 7TH SEMESTER
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE (FLL)
SUBMITTED TO
SIR KHALID MAHMOOD
SUBMITTED BY
AHMAD ISMAIL
3571-FLL/BSENG/S23
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 05/04/2026
Locutionary, illocutionary, perlocutionary acts
The locutionary act is simply the literal words and their basic meaning.
The illocutionary act is what the speaker intends to do with those words – the illocutionary
force.
The perlocutionary act is the actual effect those words have on the listener’s feelings,
thoughts, or actions.
Using this framework, we can see how, in our own Pakistani/South-Asian context, one
everyday utterance can work on all three levels at the same time.
At home in summer
Utterance: “It’s very hot in here.”
Locutionary act: The speaker simply states that the temperature in the room is high.
Illocutionary act: The speaker is in fact indirectly requesting someone to turn on the
fan or the air conditioner.
Perlocutionary act: A family member actually gets up and switches on the fan or AC,
so the speaker’s wish is carried out.
In a university classroom
Utterance: “The door is open.”
Locutionary act: The sentence describes the state of the door – it is open.
Illocutionary act: The real intention is to request that someone close the door, perhaps
because of outside noise or heat.
Perlocutionary act: One of the students stands up and closes the door, acting on the
implied request.
At a family dinner
Utterance: “Roti khatam ho gayi hai.”
Locutionary act: The speaker gives information that the bread/roti is finished.
Illocutionary act: The speaker is actually asking someone, often a younger sibling or
another family member, to bring more roti from the kitchen.
Perlocutionary act: The sibling goes to the kitchen and brings fresh roti, so the need is
fulfilled.
In a WhatsApp group
Utterance: “Kal 9 baje meeting hai, late mat aana.”
Locutionary act: The utterance states that there is a meeting at nine o’clock tomorrow
and adds “don’t be late.”
Illocutionary act: This functions as a reminder and a warning to be on time and to take
the meeting seriously.
Perlocutionary act: Group members adjust their schedules, leave home earlier, and
actually arrive punctually for the meeting.
In a shop in Karachi
Utterance: “Aap ki dukaan bohat mashhoor hai.”
Locutionary act: The speaker compliments the shop by saying it is very famous.
Illocutionary act: Beyond simple praise, the speaker is trying to build rapport and a
friendly atmosphere, possibly to negotiate a better price.
Perlocutionary act: The shopkeeper becomes friendlier, talks politely, and may even
offer a small discount.
All of these examples mirror the bus example in the text, where the driver’s sentence “This bus
won’t move until you boys move in out of the doorway” is not only a statement but also
functions as an order, which then causes the boys to move.
Direct and indirect speech acts
According to speech act theory, when we look at sentence form and function, we can
distinguish between direct and indirect speech acts.
A direct speech act is where there is a straightforward relationship between grammatical form
and communicative function: for example, a declarative is used as a statement, an interrogative
as a question, and an imperative as a command or request.
An indirect speech act is where the sentence form suggests one function, but the speaker is
actually performing another function, often for reasons of politeness or social distance.
Direct speech acts
“Band karo mobile, class shuru ho gayi hai.”
Form: Imperative.
Function: This is a direct command telling the listener to put the phone away because
the class has started.
“Kya tum aj presentation de sakte ho?”
Form: Interrogative.
Function: Direct question about ability/availability.
“Aaj barish ho rahi hai.”
Form: Declarative.
Function: A direct statement giving information about the weather – it is raining today.
“Please darwaza band karo.”
Form: Imperative with “please.”
Function: A direct request for the listener to close the door.
“Tum kal late aaye thay.”
Form: Declarative.
Function: A direct statement which also functions as a complaint about the listener’s
lateness yesterday.
In all these cases, the grammatical structure and the function match, which makes them clear
examples of direct speech acts, as defined in your notes.
Indirect speech acts
“Class mein thandi si lag rahi hai.”
Literal form: Declarative about feeling cold.
Indirect force: Functions as a polite request to close the window or to turn the fan down,
without directly commanding anyone.
“Kya yahan paas mein koi ATM hai?”
Literal: Question about existence/location of an ATM.
Indirect force: Request for directions/help.
“Agar aap faarigh hon to zara yeh form check kar den?”
Literal: Conditional plus question, “If you are free, could you check this form?”
Indirect force: A polite request to check or correct the form, using conditional and
respectful language to soften the request.
“Mujhe assignment samajh nahi aa rahi.”
Literal: Statement of not understanding.
Indirect force: A request for explanation, guidance, or help from the teacher or a
classmate, without openly asking “Please explain it to me.”
Guest at someone’s house: “Kitna khubsurat ghar hai aapka.”
Literal: Compliment about the house.
Indirect force (in some contexts): Opening small talk to extend visit, or indirect
appreciation so host offers more tea/refreshments.
These indirect examples are parallel to the textbook’s illustration where a question like “Can I
have a Whopper with egg and bacon…?” is grammatically an interrogative about ability, but
its illocutionary force is that of a sales request.
In other words, the structure suggests a question, but the function is to order food, making it
an indirect speech act that is also more polite and conventional in service encounters.