conversation takes place in real time, is spontaneous and unplanned   takes place in real time, is spontaneous and unplanned is usually face to face/ voice to voice (over the phone or other devices), which means it is interactive:

Conversation is accompanied by: facial gestures; body language.

Conversation also involves   pitch (the auditory sensation of whether a sound is high or low); rhythm; tempo (speed of delivery).

Speech events The use of language in a social context, in which speakers normally follow a set of agreed rules and conventions. Conversation exists within a social context and that context determines the purpose of a speech event and the shape it takes, e.g.  telling a joke recounting a story, buying stamps, taking leave of someone.

Speech Acts Speech Events may also include Speech Acts. J.L Austin observed that ‘many utterances do not communicate information, but are equivalent to actions, e.g. I apologise…’ I promise….’ ‘I will….’ (at a wedding’ ‘I name this ship….’

Performatives Austin called such utterances performatives, which he saw as distinct from statements that convey information (constatives). Performatives cannot be true or false.

Searle’s Five Categories of Speech Acts Representatives: the speaker is committed in varying degrees to the truth of a proposition: e.g. ‘affirm’, ‘believe,’ ‘conclude’, ‘report’;  Directives: the speaker tries to do something e.g. ‘ask’, ‘challenge’, ‘command’, ‘request’. Commissives: the speaker is committed in varying degrees, to a certain course of action, e.g. ‘bet’, ‘guarantee,’ ‘pledge’, ‘promise’ ‘swear’. Expressives: the speaker espresses an attitude about a state of affairs, e.g., ‘apologise’, ‘deplore’, ‘thank’, ‘welcome’- Declarations: the speaker alters the status quo by making the utterance, e.g., I resign, you’re offside’, ‘I name this child’, ‘you’re nicked’, ‘you’re busted, punk.’

Indirect Speech Acts For many reasons, perhaps because we are abiding by the politeness principle, for example, and we don’t wish to impose – we may ask for something to be done indirectly. ‘Can you pass the salt’ is not really a question, but a directive; and answer of ‘yes’, without an attempt to pass it would be totally inappropriate and would violate the maximum of relevance.

Direct or indirect speech Acts?   Shut the door! I’d be grateful, if you’d shut the door. Could you shut the door? It’d help to have the door shut. It’s getting cold in here. Shall we keep out the draught? Now, Jane, what have you forgotten to do? Brrr!

The three stages of a (successful) speech act the locutionary act or the locution: the act of communication by the production of an utterance; the illocutionary act or illocution: in other words, that is the message that is transmitted, which may not always correspond to the literal meaning of the words; the perlocutionary act: that is the particular effect of the utterance, which does not necessarily correspond to the locutionary act.

Teacher: Johnny, there’s some chalk on the floor. Johnny: Yes, there is, sir. Teacher: Well, pick it up, then!