Performative utterances

Definition

Performative utterances are statements that do not merely convey information but actually perform an action simply by being spoken. These utterances carry out an act, such as making a promise, issuing a command, or giving an apology, thereby changing the state of the world in some way. The effectiveness of these utterances relies on the context in which they are made and the intentions behind them.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Performative utterances are different from descriptive statements because their meaning is tied directly to the action they perform rather than to their truth value.
2. For a performative utterance to be successful, it must meet certain conditions known as felicity conditions, including being spoken in the right context and by someone with the authority to perform the action.
3. Examples of performative utterances include phrases like 'I apologize,' 'I promise,' and 'I name this ship…', which all enact the action they describe.
4. The distinction between performative and constative utterances was notably discussed by philosopher J.L. Austin, who introduced the concept of speech acts.
5. Performative utterances can have varying interpretations based on social and cultural contexts, which can affect how they are received and understood.

Review Questions

• How do performative utterances differ from descriptive statements in terms of their function and meaning?
  • Performative utterances differ from descriptive statements because they do not just convey information but actively perform an action through their declaration. For instance, saying 'I apologize' is not just stating that an apology is happening; it is actually enacting the apology itself. In contrast, descriptive statements can be evaluated for truth or falsity, while performatives rely on context and intention to create meaning.
• What are the key conditions that need to be met for a performative utterance to be considered successful?
  • For a performative utterance to be successful, it must satisfy specific felicity conditions. These include being made in a suitable context where the speaker has the appropriate authority or capacity to perform the act. Additionally, there should be mutual understanding between the speaker and listener regarding the nature of the act being performed. If these conditions are not met, the utterance may fail to accomplish its intended action.
• Evaluate the role of contextualization in understanding performative utterances and provide examples of how context can change their interpretation.
  • Contextualization plays a crucial role in understanding performative utterances since their effectiveness often hinges on situational factors. For example, saying 'I do' during a wedding ceremony has a clear performative function in that specific context, signifying consent to marriage. However, if someone were to say 'I do' outside of that context—like jokingly at a party—the intended performative action could be misunderstood or deemed meaningless. Thus, context shapes not only how these utterances are interpreted but also whether they achieve their intended purpose.

Related terms

Speech Acts: Speech acts are communicative actions that speakers perform when they say something, categorized into types such as assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations.

Illocutionary Force: Illocutionary force refers to the intended meaning or function of a speech act, which can vary based on context and the speaker's intent.

Contextualization: Contextualization involves understanding the situational factors that influence how utterances are interpreted, including social norms, relationships between speakers, and cultural background.