PORTFOLIO ENTRY 3 SPEECH ACTS
The British linguist John Langshaw Austin (1911- 1960) had developed a theory which explains the differences between a statement that describes and another that commands. He had defined this distinction as two separated parts of a speech:
a) "Constatives", and
b) "Performatives".
Constatives are sentences that describe something as True or False, and Performatives are sentences that denote actions.
Sometimes words themselves are actions . This is what is called "SPEECH ACTS".
These words include, but are not limited to:
- Ordering,
- Promising,
- Apologising,
- Warning,
- Sentencing,
- Christening, and
- Marrying
Performative sentence depend on Context and Reception. These are known as "FELICITY CONDITIONS".
Felicity Conditions are the rules under which the Performatives can be enacted. They should:
- Have authority,
- Be undestood,
- Clear, and
- Able to be executed.
If the Performative does not meet these conditions, it does not have the power to denote actions. But just because a Performative meets these conditions and is clearly stated, does not mean that it is implicitly followed.
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