#3 - Speech acts

 

There is a clear difference between statements that describe and statements that command. This idea was developed by the british linguist J.L. Austin. He defines this distinction as two separate parts of speech:

• Constatives: They are sentences that describe something as True or False.

• Performatives: They are sentences that denote an action, rather that conveying a message they act upon the world.

They depend on Felicity Conditions: Context and Reception.
These are the rules under which the performatives can be enacted.

They are fairly logical, the performative should be:

• Authoritative
• Understood
• Clear
• Able to understand

If it doesn´t meet these conditions, then it doesn´t have the power to denote action. But just because a performative meets its conditions and it´s clearly stated, it doesn´t mean that it is implicitly followed.

Speech Acts: When words are actions.

These actions include (but are not limited to):

1. Ordering
2. Promising
3. Apologising
4. Warning
5. Sentencing
6. Christening
7. Marrying