LESSON NOTES ON SPEECH CONTEXT, SPEECH STYLES, AND SPEECH ACTS

Learning competency: (MELC-8) Recognizes that communicative competence requires an understanding of speech context, speech
style, speech act and communicative strategy. At the end of the session, the students will be able to:

1. Define speech context.

2. Determine the various types of speech context.
3. Classify the types of speech style.
4. Analyze situations in which different speech contexts and speech styles are applied.

A. WHAT IS SPEECH CONTEXT?

Refers to the setting in which communication takes place as well as the manner in which the message is conveyed Understanding the
speech context of a conversation facilitates easy comprehension of the message and enables us to provide appropriate and clear
feedback. Language usage is required based on a. AUDIENCE - Person speaking with; b. CONTEXT - place of the communication act,
and c. PURPOSE - reason of communication.

TYPES OF SPEECH CONTEXT

I. INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

This means communication with oneself. Intrapersonal Communication may be seen in situations involving

talking or writing to oneself, even thinking to oneself. Clearly, in Intrapersonal Communication, the speaker and

the listener are one and the same: YOU.

You send the message to yourself and you yourself receive that message.

11. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Beyond INTRAPERSONAL Communication are several Types of Speech Context which we are more familiar with, such as
INTERPERSONAL Communication which involves more than one person. It is not just the number of participants that determine each
particular type of communication but could be differentiated according to its purpose.

TYPES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

a. DYADIC COMMUNICATION - involves only two participants forming the DYAD. One Speaker and one
Listener come together to exchange thoughts, ideas, opinions, and information. The roles of Speaker and
Listener are not fixed, they are interchangeable. Conversation is informal dyadic communication, while
interview and dialogue are formal dyadic communication. Conversations are the most common, most
frequent, and the most popular of all dyadic communication.
b. SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION - requires from 3 to 15 people to study an issue, discuss a problem, and
come up with a solution or a plan. The group has an agenda, a leader, and an outcome to accomplish. Small
groups may be divided into two according to purpose: Study Groups and Task-oriented Groups. Study groups are
meant to look into problems but not necessarily come up with solutions. It is the Task Oriented Groups that
study an issue.
c. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - different from Dyadic or Small Group Communication in that one Speaker
addresses many Listeners, collectively known as Audience. There is no interchanging of the Speaker and
Listener roles. Many public information events are formal. The speech is well prepared, the Speaker is dressed
appropriately, and the Listeners are set to listen to the message.
d. MASS COMMUNICATION - any of the above human verbal interactions carried out with the aid of mass media
technology. Mass media used to mean only radio and television, which reached more people with the use of their
technical systems. Mass Communication now includes Social Media, which allows the use of technology for
everyone.
e. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - the exchange of concepts, traditions, values, and practices
between and among people of different nationalities and ways of life. For example, a roundtable
discussion to exchange views about how we relate with our families can show the differences and
similarities in Korean and Philippine cultures.
f. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION - refers to the interaction of members along the links in an
organizational structure. There are two variations of Organizational Communication. Formal
Organizational Communication uses the proper channels graphically illustrated by an organizational
chart. Memos, announcements, and reports are passed along to the members of the organization
following the chain of command. The Informal version bypasses the links, skips forward or backwards,
or even goes sideways just to achieve the same goal: for example, to pass on a memo, announcement or a report.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:
Speech context is determined based on the number of participants in the process of communication.
Speech style is demonstrated in the way we talk to another person. The words are carefully chosen and so is the manner those words are spoken.
All communication, whatever the speech context, must have a purpose. Each speech context having a different set of participants coming together for
a specific purpose, calls for a communicative strategy. These strategies are also dependent on the type of speech style that is used in a particular
speech context.
ACTIVITY 1: Identify which speech context is being described on the following.
1. A type of communication where there's an exchange of concepts, traditions, values, and practices between and among people of
different nationalities and ways of life.
2. A kind of interpersonal communication where conversation is the most common, most frequent, and the most popular type.
3. Communication with oneself.
4. This requires 3 to 15 people to study an issue or discuss a problem.
5. A type of communication where the speech is well prepared, the speaker is dressed appropriately, and the listeners
are set to listen to the message.

Type of Speech Context Description (3 points) Example (2 points)

1. Dyadic
Communication

2. Small Group
Communication

3. Public
Communication

4. Mass
Communication

5. Intercultural
Communication

B. WHAT IS SPEECH STYLE?

Speech Styles refers to the distinctive way of communicating. It consists of a particular pattern of linguistic, vocal, and nonverbal behaviors. Speech
style refers primarily to the manner one communicates than the meaning of communication.

TYPES OF SPEECH STYLES

1. INTIMATE - is used for very close relationships. Example: couple

Note: Language used in this style may not be shared in public.
2. CASUAL - is an informal communication between groups and peers who have something to share and have
shared background information but do not have close relations. Example classmates
Note: Jargon, slang, and vernacular language are used
3. CONSULTATIVE - is used in semi-formal and standard communication.
Example: teacher and student
Note: Professional or mutually acceptable language is a must in this style.
4. FORMAL - is a one-way straightforward speech. Example: State of the Nation Address
Note: What the speaker says is something that has been prepared beforehand.
5. FROZEN-is the most formal communicative style that is usually used during solemn ceremonies and events.
Example: pledges
Note: It does not require any feedback from the audience.

ACTIVITY 3: Identify which type of speech style is manifested in the statement.

1.Jin usually replies to his friends in group chats using slang terms like LOL, OTW, and BRB.

2. A group of friends eagerly talking about the recent episode of a series they are following.

3.The Youth Pastor is emphasizing the biblical verse that he will share to the congregation.

4.Mrs.Jeon is teaching her child the value of loving oneself.

5.Professor Kim is preparing his manuscript for the welcome remarks of the 27thNational Youth Federation Assembly.

ACTIVITY 4: Briefly explain the different types of Speech Style and give an example each type.

Type of Speech Style Description (3 points) Example (2 points)

1. Intimate or
Personal

2. Casual

3. Consultative or
Professional

4. Formal

5. Frozen or Static
C. WHAT IS SPEECH ACT?

Speech acts are expressions of ideas or ways of expressing them. The manner in which a speech act is delivered and the attitude
being expressed are both correlated.

According to J. L. Austin (1962), a philosopher of language and the developer of the Speech Act Theory, there are three types of acts in
every utterance, given the right circumstances or context: Locutionary Act, Illocutionary Act and Perlocutionary Act

SPEECH ACT THEORY

LOCUTIONARY ACT - utterance of a meaningful sentence, or what is said literally.

ILLOCUTIONARY ACT - act or the social function of what is said, which refers to the intention of the speaker in relation to the situation.

PERLOCUTIONARY ACT - the effect of what is said to the person it is uttered to, or the characteristic aims of a speech act.

Examples:

Locutionary act is the actual act of uttering. (MEANINGFUL UTTERANCE) - "Please do the dishes.

Illocutionary act is the social function of what is said. (INTENTION)- By uttering the locution "Please do the dishes," the speaker
Perlocutionary act is the resulting act of what is said. This effect is based on the particular context in which the speech act was
mentioned (EFFECT) - The. utterance "Please do the dishes" would lead to the addressee washing the dishes or a response such as
"Yes,I will wash the dishes."

GUIDELINES IN CRAFTING UTTERANCE

First-person: Ensure the sentence is in the first person.
Present tense: Maintain the present tense.
Indicative mood: Keep the indicative mood to state a fact.
Active voice: Retain the active voice.
Describes its speaker as performing a speech act (or the listener)

LOCUTIONARY ACT ILLOCUTIONARY CATEGORY OF PERLOCUTIONARY ACT

ACT SPEECH ACT
"I am reading that the global Stating a fact Representative (Listeners acknowledge the statement) "Yes, it's a concerning trend."
temperature is rising."
(Nods of agreement)

"I NOTICE that the heat index Stating a fact Representative (Colleagues understand this verity of the situation.)"We should
is reaching dangerous levels. consider implementing
(Concernced expressions distance learning."
from colleagues)

CATEGORIES OF SPEECH ACT

As a response to Austin's Speech Act Theory, John Searle (1976), a professor from the University of California, Berkeley, classified illocutionary acts
into five distinct categories.

Category Action Example

Representatives Tell how things are Concluding

Directives Encourage action Requesting

Commissives Commit speaker to action Promising

Expressives Express psychological state Thanking

Declarations Change the state of affairs Christening

Representative Directive Expressive Commissive Declarative

(Assertion) (Declaration)
Assertion Suggestion Apology Promise Decree

Claim Request Complaint Threat

Report Command Thanks Offer

ACTIVITY 6: Read each sentence carefully and identify which category of speech act is used.

1. Will you marry me?

2. Really? That's impossible.

3. I was born a Filipino, I will live a Filipino,I will die a Filipino.

4. Texting while driving kills-you, your loved ones, other people!

5. Class dismissed
ACTIVITY 5: Complete the table by filling in the appropriate answer on each category

ILLOCUTIONARY CATEGORY OF PERLOCUTIONARY ACT

LOCUTIONARY ACT
ACT SPEECH ACT
EXAMPLE: Expressing Expressive (Colleagues feel appreciated for their help.) Verbal response:
"I am grateful to my colleagues for gratitude "You're welcomel it was a pleasure to collaborate with you."
their invaluable contributions to our
research on the wonders of the
Earth."

(Smiles and nods of appreciation from

colleagues)
1. "I apologize for the
unsuccessful outcome of
the experiment
investigating the formation
of the Grand Canyon."

(Understanding nods from fellow

researchers)
2. "We pledge to allocate
resources for further
research into renewable
energy sources."

(Handshake)
3. "I vow to continue
advocating for evidence-
based policies to address
climate change."

(Serious expression)
4. "Ihereby declare this area a
protected wildlife
sanctuary."

(People cheer and applaud)

5. "I proclaim this research
facility open for
groundbreaking
discoveries."

(Cameras flashing and applause)

 ILLOCUTIONARY CATEGORY OF PERLOCUTIONARY ACT
LOCUTIONARY ACT
ACT SPEECH ACT
EXAMPLE: Expressing gratitude Expressive (Colleagues feel appreciated for their help.)Verbal response:
"I am grateful to my colleagues for their "You're welcomel it was a pleasure to collaborate with you."
invaluable contributions to our
research on the wonders of the Earth."

(Smiles and nods of appreciation fr om colleagues)

1. "I apologize for the unsuccessful

outcome of the experiment
investigating the formation of the
Grand Canyon."
(Understanding nods from fellow re
searchers)

2. "We pledge to allocate resources for

further research into
renewable energy sources."
(Handshake)
3. "I vow to continue advocating for
evidence-based policies to address
climate change." (Serious expression)

4. "Ihereby declare this area a

protected wildlife sanctuary."(People
cheer and
applaud)
5. "I proclaim this research facility open
for groundbreaking
discoveries."(Cameras flashing and
applause)