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
Locutionary: literal words/meaning.
Illocutionary: what the speaker intends (illocutionary force).
Perlocutionary: effect on the listener.
1. At home in summer
Utterance: “It’s very hot in here.”
Locutionary: Statement about the temperature.
Illocutionary: Request to switch on the fan/AC.
Perlocutionary: Someone turns on the fan/AC.
1. In a university classroom
Utterance: “The door is open.”
Locutionary: Describing the door’s state.
Illocutionary: Request to close the door (noise, heat, etc.).
Perlocutionary: A student gets up and shuts the door.
1. At a family dinner
Utterance: “Roti khatam ho gayi hai.”
Locutionary: Information that bread is finished.
Illocutionary: Request to someone (often a younger sibling) to bring more roti from the
kitchen.
Perlocutionary: The sibling goes and brings fresh roti.
1. In a WhatsApp group
Utterance: “Kal 9 baje meeting hai, late mat aana.”
Locutionary: Statement about a meeting at nine with “don’t be late.”
Illocutionary: Warning/reminder to be punctual.
Perlocutionary: Members plan to leave home earlier and arrive on time.
1. In a shop in Karachi
Utterance: “Aap ki dukaan bohat mashhoor hai.”
Locutionary: Compliment about the shop’s popularity.
Illocutionary: Attempt to build rapport, perhaps to get a better price.
Perlocutionary: Shopkeeper becomes friendly and may offer a small discount.
2. Direct and indirect speech acts
A direct speech act has a straightforward match between sentence form and function
(declarative → statement, interrogative → question, imperative → command/request). An
indirect speech act has a different function from its literal form, often used for politeness.
Direct speech acts
1. “Band karo mobile, class shuru ho gayi hai.”
Form: Imperative.
Function: Direct command to stop using the phone.
1. “Kya tum aj presentation de sakte ho?”
Form: Interrogative.
Function: Direct question about ability/availability.
1. “Aaj barish ho rahi hai.”
Form: Declarative.
Function: Direct statement of fact.
1. “Please darwaza band karo.”
Form: Imperative with “please.”
Function: Direct request.
1. “Tum kal late aaye thay.”
Form: Declarative.
Function: Direct complaint/statement.
Indirect speech acts
“Class mein thandi si lag rahi hai.”
Literal form: Declarative about feeling cold.
Indirect force: Request to close the window or turn off fan.
“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 statement + question.
Indirect force: Polite request to check the form.
“Mujhe assignment samajh nahi aa rahi.”
Literal: Statement of not understanding.
Indirect force: Request for explanation/help from teacher or friend.
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.