9.4 Felicity conditions and institutional facts
3 min read•july 19, 2024
Speech acts are more than just words—they're actions that can change reality. ensure these acts work as intended. They cover the content, context, sincerity, and purpose of what we say.
Institutional facts give speech acts their power. These are shared beliefs that shape our social world. They're why a judge's verdict matters or why saying "I do" can create a marriage. Understanding both helps us navigate the complex world of human communication.
Felicity Conditions
Concept of felicity conditions
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- Necessary conditions that must be met for a speech act to be considered successful or appropriate
- When satisfied, the speech act is considered valid and effective (a promise made with genuine intention)
- If not met, the speech act is considered infelicitous or unsuccessful (an insincere apology)
- Essential for effective communication and understanding between the speaker and the hearer
- Help ensure that the intended meaning and force of the speech act are conveyed properly (a request made with appropriate authority)
Types of felicity conditions
- Propositional content condition requires that the content of the speech act is appropriate and relevant to the context
- In a promise, the propositional content should refer to a future action of the speaker (promising to attend a meeting)
- Preparatory condition requires that certain background circumstances are met for the speech act to be valid
- In an apology, the speaker should believe that they have done something wrong (acknowledging a mistake)
- Sincerity condition requires that the speaker has the appropriate psychological state or attitude corresponding to the speech act
- In a request, the speaker should genuinely want the hearer to perform the requested action (asking for help with a task)
- Essential condition requires that the speech act is performed with the intention of bringing about a certain effect or change
- In a declaration, the speaker intends to bring about a change in the institutional or social reality (a judge pronouncing a verdict)
Context in felicity conditions
- Closely tied to the social and institutional context in which speech acts occur
- , conventions, and expectations play a significant role in determining whether a speech act is considered felicitous
- A marriage declaration is only valid if performed by someone with the appropriate institutional authority (a licensed officiant)
- Institutional facts and rules can also influence the felicity conditions of speech acts
- A judge's verdict is considered felicitous only within the context of a legal system and court proceedings (a courtroom setting)
- The relationship between felicity conditions and social/institutional context highlights the importance of shared understanding and acceptance of these conditions for successful communication
Institutional Facts
Role of institutional facts
- Facts that exist within human institutions, such as social, legal, or political systems
- Created and maintained through collective intentionality and acceptance (the concept of citizenship)
- Examples include money (currency), marriage (legal union), and government positions (elected officials)
- Play a crucial role in shaping the meaning and force of speech acts
- Provide the background context and rules that determine the felicity conditions of certain speech acts
- The institutional fact of marriage gives meaning and force to the speech act of a wedding vow (exchanging rings and vows)
- The existence and recognition of institutional facts are necessary for the successful performance of many speech acts
- Without the institutional fact of a legal system, a judge's verdict would not have the same meaning or force (a ruling in a court case)
- Demonstrate the interdependence between language and social reality
- Language is used to create, maintain, and change institutional facts (passing laws and regulations)
- Institutional facts, in turn, shape the way language is used and interpreted in specific contexts (using legal terminology in contracts)
Key Terms to Review (15)
Apologies: Apologies are speech acts that express regret or remorse for an action or event that has caused harm or offense to another person. They often serve to repair social relationships and can vary in their sincerity and effectiveness based on the context and the speaker's intent. The nature of apologies connects closely to their classification as speech acts, as well as the conditions under which they are considered appropriate or effective in different social situations.
Constitutive rules: Constitutive rules are the foundational norms that create and define new forms of social practices or institutions. They go beyond mere guidelines for behavior by establishing the framework in which certain actions can take place, thus forming the basis for institutional facts and determining what counts as a valid action within a given context.
Context of Situation: The context of situation refers to the specific circumstances or environment in which communication occurs, including the participants, their roles, the setting, and the social norms that shape interactions. Understanding this context is crucial for interpreting meaning accurately, as it influences how messages are conveyed and received. It plays a vital role in determining the appropriateness of utterances and the conditions under which speech acts are considered valid or felicitous.
Contextualism: Contextualism is a philosophical approach in semantics and pragmatics that emphasizes the role of context in understanding meaning. It suggests that the meaning of expressions can vary based on the circumstances surrounding their use, such as speaker intentions, cultural background, and the specific situation. This perspective is essential for interpreting polysemy, reference, propositional attitudes, and the nuanced implications of conversation.
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.
Infelicity: Infelicity refers to a situation in which a speech act fails to achieve its intended effect or does not align with the context or expectations of the participants involved. This can occur when the felicity conditions for a particular utterance are not met, meaning that the social, contextual, or institutional rules that govern the effectiveness of the speech act are violated or absent.
Institutional Roles: Institutional roles refer to the specific functions or positions that individuals hold within a structured social context, defined by the rules and norms of that institution. These roles shape how individuals interact with each other and the institution itself, influencing behavior, communication, and expectations within various settings such as legal systems, education, and governance.
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.
Legal Facts: Legal facts are events or circumstances that have legal significance and can affect the rights and obligations of individuals within a legal system. These facts often serve as the basis for legal reasoning, judgments, or the application of laws, and they are closely tied to the concepts of felicity conditions and institutional facts, which highlight how social constructs influence the validity of legal statements and actions.
Misfires: Misfires refer to instances in which a speech act fails to achieve its intended effect due to the absence of certain felicity conditions. These failures can occur when the necessary social, contextual, or institutional facts are not in place for the act to be considered valid or successful. Understanding misfires helps in grasping how language functions in various social contexts and the importance of adherence to established norms and conventions.
Ontological status: Ontological status refers to the nature and existence of entities within a particular framework or context, often dealing with what it means for something to exist and the categories into which different entities are placed. It is crucial for understanding how certain things, such as institutional facts, gain their meaning and reality through social conventions and agreements, which highlights the relationship between language, context, and the entities it describes.
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.
Social facts: Social facts are phenomena that arise from social relationships and structures, existing outside of individual choices or actions. They can influence behavior and societal norms, serving as the underlying forces that shape interactions within a community or society. These facts are often recognized through their collective nature and the patterns they create, impacting everything from language to legal systems.
Social norms: Social norms are the unwritten rules and expectations that govern behavior within a group or society. They shape how individuals interact with one another, influencing everything from communication styles to acceptable conduct in various situations. Understanding social norms is crucial because they help maintain social order and coherence, guiding people's actions and responses in different contexts.
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.