Commissives

Definition

Commissives are a category of speech acts that commit the speaker to a certain course of action, indicating an intention or promise to perform an action in the future. This type of speech act plays a critical role in communication, as it establishes obligations and commitments between speakers and listeners, reflecting the speaker's willingness to undertake specific actions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Commissives include promises, offers, and vows, where the speaker takes on an obligation to act in accordance with their statement.
2. The effectiveness of commissives relies on the sincerity and authority of the speaker, as well as the context in which the commitment is made.
3. In speech act theory, commissives are contrasted with other types of speech acts such as declaratives (which change the state of affairs) and expressives (which convey feelings).
4. The understanding of commissives is essential for grasping how social interactions and relationships are shaped by commitments and obligations.
5. The violation of a commissive can lead to social consequences, such as loss of trust or credibility, emphasizing the importance of accountability in communication.

Review Questions

• How do commissives function in everyday communication, and what is their significance?
  • Commissives function as commitments that bind the speaker to future actions, making them vital in establishing trust and accountability in communication. They allow speakers to create obligations through promises or offers, thus shaping interpersonal relationships. The significance lies in their role in facilitating cooperation and understanding between parties, as they define what one can expect from the other in terms of actions.
• Analyze the differences between commissives and other types of speech acts like directives or expressives.
  • Commissives differ from directives, which aim to get the listener to perform an action, and expressives, which convey the speaker's emotions or attitudes. While commissives involve commitment to future actions by the speaker, directives are about influencing the behavior of others. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for analyzing how language functions within social interactions and how speakers navigate their obligations and intentions.
• Evaluate how understanding commissives enhances our comprehension of social interactions and obligations in various contexts.
  • Understanding commissives enhances our comprehension of social interactions by highlighting how language creates and enforces obligations among individuals. In various contexts, such as personal relationships or professional settings, recognizing the importance of promises and commitments helps us understand accountability dynamics. By evaluating commissives within these frameworks, we can better analyze interpersonal trust, negotiation processes, and the overall impact of communication on social structures.

Related terms

speech act: A communicative act that conveys meaning not just through words but through the intention behind those words, including promises, requests, and commands.

performative utterance: A type of speech act where the act of speaking itself performs an action, such as making a promise or issuing a command.

illocutionary force: The intended meaning or purpose behind a speech act, which indicates what the speaker aims to accomplish through their utterance.