9.1 Austin's performative utterances and illocutionary acts
2 min read•july 19, 2024
Austin's revolutionized how we understand language. It showed that speaking isn't just about describing things, but also about performing actions. This theory distinguishes between that describe reality and that actually do something when spoken.
The theory breaks down speech acts into three components: locutionary (the actual words), illocutionary (the intended meaning), and perlocutionary (the effect on the listener). This helps us understand how language works in real-world communication and how context shapes meaning.
Austin's Speech Act Theory
Constative vs performative utterances
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- Constative utterances describe or report states of affairs that can be evaluated as true or false ("The Earth revolves around the Sun")
- Performative utterances perform actions when spoken and cannot be evaluated as true or false ("I hereby declare this meeting adjourned")
- Saying the words in a performative utterance constitutes performing the action (pronouncing a couple married, naming a ship)
Illocutionary force in speech acts
- is the intended meaning or purpose behind an utterance that determines the type of speech act being performed (stating, questioning, commanding)
- Illocutionary force conveys the speaker's intention and guides the interpretation of the utterance ("Can you pass the salt?" has the illocutionary force of a request)
- Different illocutionary forces can be expressed through the same locutionary act ("I'll be there" can be a promise or a threat depending on the context)
Components of Speech Acts
Austin's three speech act types
- Locutionary act: the act of uttering a meaningful sentence consisting of phonetic (producing sounds), phatic (producing words and grammatical structures), and rhetic (producing meaningful utterances) acts
- Illocutionary act: the act performed in saying something that conveys the speaker's intention or purpose (stating, questioning, commanding, )
- Perlocutionary act: the consequential effects or results of an utterance on the listener, including their thoughts, feelings, and actions (persuading, convincing, scaring, inspiring)
Utterances and actions in communication
- Utterances are a form of action according to speech acts theory, as speaking is not just describing or reporting but also doing (pronouncing a couple married changes their social reality)
- Indirect speech acts occur when the literal meaning differs from the intended illocutionary force and relies on context and shared knowledge for proper interpretation ("It's cold in here" can be a request to close the window)
- are the conditions that must be met for a speech act to be successful and appropriate, including preparatory (the speaker has the authority to perform the act), sincerity (the speaker intends to follow through), and essential (the utterance counts as performing the act) conditions
Key Terms to Review (20)
Apologizing: Apologizing is the act of expressing remorse or regret for an action that has caused harm or offense to another person. It serves to acknowledge wrongdoing and seeks to repair social bonds, often involving performative language that conveys sincerity. This act connects to the concepts of performative utterances and illocutionary acts, as an apology is a type of speech act that goes beyond mere words to embody a commitment to improve the relationship with the offended party.
Asserting: Asserting is the act of making a statement that conveys a belief or opinion with the intention that it will be accepted as true. This action is crucial in communication as it helps to express certainty, affirm information, and establish commitments. In the realm of performative utterances and illocutionary acts, asserting involves not just stating facts but also performing an act that can affect the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Constative utterances: Constative utterances are statements that describe a state of affairs and can be evaluated as true or false. These utterances focus on conveying information and can be assessed based on their accuracy in representing reality, which distinguishes them from performative utterances that enact actions through speech. Understanding constative utterances is crucial for grasping the difference between describing something and actually doing something through language.
Contextual Meaning: Contextual meaning refers to the interpretation of a word, phrase, or sentence that is influenced by the surrounding context in which it is used. It emphasizes how meaning can shift based on situational factors, speaker intentions, and the relationship between participants in a conversation.
Declarative: A declarative is a type of sentence or utterance that makes a statement or expresses an assertion, providing information about a subject. It is one of the basic sentence forms, commonly used to convey facts or opinions, and is essential in understanding how language functions in communication. Declaratives play a significant role in performative utterances and illocutionary acts by helping to establish the speaker's intent and the meaning behind the statement.
Felicity conditions: Felicity conditions refer to the specific circumstances or criteria that must be met for a speech act to be considered appropriate, effective, and meaningful in communication. These conditions help determine whether utterances are successful in achieving their intended illocutionary force, connecting closely with performative utterances and the nature of institutional facts, where certain contexts validate the speech act.
Illocutionary Acts: Illocutionary acts are communicative actions performed by a speaker when they make an utterance, where the intention behind the utterance is critical to its meaning. These acts go beyond merely stating something; they involve the speaker's purpose and the effect they wish to achieve in the listener, such as making a promise, giving an order, or making a request. Understanding these acts helps in analyzing how language functions in social contexts, emphasizing that meaning is often shaped by intention rather than just words.
Illocutionary force: Illocutionary force refers to the intended meaning or function behind a speaker's utterance, going beyond the literal meaning of the words. It captures what the speaker aims to achieve with their statement, such as making a request, issuing a command, or expressing a belief. This concept is essential for understanding how communication operates in real-life contexts, where the meaning conveyed can differ significantly from the explicit wording.
Imperative: An imperative is a type of sentence that gives a command, request, or instruction. It is a grammatical mood used to direct someone to perform an action, often employing a straightforward and forceful tone. Imperatives can be expressed in direct forms, like 'Close the door,' or in indirect ways, like 'Could you close the door?' illustrating the flexibility of language in conveying authority or suggestion.
Implicature: Implicature refers to the meaning that is suggested or implied in communication, rather than explicitly stated. It plays a crucial role in understanding how language functions in context, revealing how speakers convey additional information beyond the literal interpretation of their words.
Interrogative: An interrogative is a type of sentence that poses a question, often seeking information, clarification, or confirmation. Interrogatives can take various forms, such as yes/no questions or wh-questions, and are essential in communication for eliciting responses. Their structure is influenced by the speaker's intent, context, and the grammatical features of the language being used.
J.L. Austin: J.L. Austin was a British philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of language, particularly in analyzing how language is used in context. He introduced the concept of performative utterances, which are statements that perform an action rather than merely describing a state of affairs. This idea links to how we understand meaning, including distinguishing between different meanings and uses of words, as well as exploring the intentions behind our speech.
Locutionary Acts: Locutionary acts refer to the basic act of producing sounds, words, or phrases that convey a specific meaning. They are the literal utterances made by a speaker, focusing on the content and structure of the statement without considering the speaker's intention or the effect on the listener. Understanding locutionary acts is crucial for distinguishing between what is said versus what is meant in communication.
Performative function: The performative function refers to the ability of certain utterances to perform an action simply by being spoken. This concept is central to understanding how language can not only convey information but also enact changes in the world, particularly through speech acts that have specific illocutionary force, such as making promises, issuing commands, or offering apologies.
Performative sentences: Performative sentences are utterances that do not merely convey information but also perform an action simply by being spoken. These sentences allow the speaker to execute a specific act, such as making a promise, giving an order, or conducting a ceremony, through the very act of speaking. They rely heavily on context and the speaker's intention to succeed in their intended effect.
Performative utterances: Performative utterances are statements that do not just convey information but actually perform an action when spoken. They can create an effect in the world simply by being articulated, such as making promises, issuing commands, or declaring something to be the case. These utterances highlight the connection between language and action, showing how words can do things rather than merely describe them.
Perlocutionary acts: Perlocutionary acts refer to the effects or consequences that an utterance has on a listener or an audience as a result of the speech act performed. These acts go beyond the literal meaning of words, focusing instead on how they influence feelings, thoughts, or actions in the hearer. They play a significant role in understanding communication, as they highlight how utterances can lead to specific responses or behaviors in listeners.
Promising: Promising is an act of making a commitment or assurance that a certain action will be taken or a condition will be fulfilled in the future. This speech act goes beyond mere statements or declarations, as it involves a speaker's intention and obligation to fulfill the promise, which can affect the listener's expectations and actions.
Requesting: Requesting is the act of asking someone to do something or to provide something, often characterized by a speaker's intention to influence the actions or responses of another person. It plays a crucial role in communication as it helps facilitate social interactions and exchanges, allowing individuals to express their needs and desires through language.
Speech Act Theory: Speech act theory is the study of how people use language to perform various actions rather than merely convey information. It connects to the broader understanding of meaning and context in communication, highlighting that utterances can not only represent states of affairs but also execute actions like promising, commanding, or questioning.