The object of this research is the theory of speech acts as a key component of pragmatic linguistics. The article investigates the evolution and structure of speech act theory, tracing its development from the foundational ideas of J.L. Austin — particularly the distinction between locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts — to J.R. Searle’s refinements involving propositional content and felicity conditions. Central notions explored include illocutionary force, communicative intention, and the classification of speech acts based on their function and effect. The study further reviews the contributions of modern scholars such as D. Wunderlich, G.G. Pocheptsov, G. Leech, and others, who expanded the traditional categories by introducing additional types (e.g., erothetives, retractive acts, vocatives) and integrating sociopragmatic variables. By analyzing selected examples from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the article demonstrates how speech acts function within literary discourse and reflect broader communicative strategies. The practical relevance of speech act theory is emphasized through its application to both real-world and fictional interactions.

Speech act, illocution, performativity

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