Speech Act Theory Flashcards
Performativity (Austin)
Performative verbs: they perform an action
In performing that action they (attempt to) change social reality
Performativity help - when to spot one…
If you insert the word hereby between the subject and the verb,
What is it called when performatives are not done incorrectly?
Where performatives are not done correctly, we can speak of misfires
Performatives can be done formally, but also when else? Give examples…
We all produce performatives:
Apologies, compliment, congratulate, dare, bet, promise, thank, etc.
What are the three different types of perfomatives?
- Ritual Performatives – e.g. I baptise you, I name this ship
- Self-referential performatives – e.g. I apologise, I plead not guilty
- Collaborative performatives – e.g. I bet you, I challenge you
What did John Searle argue?
John Searle developed Austin’s theory of speech acts
He argued that performativity is an important concept, but it misses the point a little
Who came up with the performative theory?
Austin
What is the three levels of performative?
Locution – ‘what is said’, the form of the words uttered; the act of saying something is known as the locutionary act.
- Illucutionary Force – ‘what is done in uttering the words’ – the function of the words, the specific purpose that the speakers have in mind. E.g requesting, inviting, advising, promising etc.
- Perlocutionary Effect – ‘what is done by uttering the words’, it is the effect on the hearer, the hearer’s reaction.
What is felicity conditions?
Searle argues for 2 types of felicity conditions:
Propositional context - the proposition that must be expressed in the speech act
Sincerity Condition - The psychological state of the speaker towards the content being spoken.
Who argues for felicity conditions?
Searle
In relation to the speech act theory, what are you doing when you say: ‘I’ll see you there at 6.” ?
You’re not just speaking, you’re doing the act of promising.
Theorists that belong to direct speech acts and what concepts relate to them?
Searle
Austin
Locution, Illocutionary Force, Perlocutionary Force etc
How do you make a direct speech act?
By being direct in the sentence types.
How do you make an indirect speech act?
By being indirect in the sentence types (and often more complex).
Indirect vs. Direct speech acts (SEARLES THEORY)
In a direct speech acts – Searle argues the speaker wants to communicate the literal meaning that the words conventionally express – there is a direct relationship between the form and the function.
- In an indirect speech acts, however, Searle argues that we want to communicate different meanings from the apparent surface meaning – the form and function are NOT directly related.
