3. • Locutionary actsLocutionary acts
• Illocutionary actsIllocutionary acts
• Perlocutionary actsPerlocutionary acts
Speech acts:Speech acts:
Actions performed via utterancesActions performed via utterances
4. • Performed via producing a meaning linguisticPerformed via producing a meaning linguistic
expressionexpression
Locutionary actsLocutionary acts
5. • Performed via the communicative force of anPerformed via the communicative force of an
utteranceutterance
Illocutionary actsIllocutionary acts
6. • Performed via the effect of the utterance on thePerformed via the effect of the utterance on the
hearer.hearer.
Perlocutionary actsPerlocutionary acts
7. • The same utterance can potentially have quiteThe same utterance can potentially have quite
different illocutionary actsdifferent illocutionary acts
• How can speakers assume that the intendedHow can speakers assume that the intended
illocutionary act will be recognized by theillocutionary act will be recognized by the
hearer?hearer?
ProblemProblem
8. • Illocutionary Force Indicating Device (IFID)Illocutionary Force Indicating Device (IFID)
• Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions
SolutionSolution
9. • Performative verbsPerformative verbs
– Used in a simple positive present tense sentenceUsed in a simple positive present tense sentence
– 1st person singular subject1st person singular subject
• I promise…I promise…
• I sentence you…I sentence you…
• I apologize…I apologize…
Illocutionary Force IndicatingIllocutionary Force Indicating
Device (IFID)Device (IFID)
10. Test of performative verbsTest of performative verbs
• II herebyhereby V …V …
– I _______ name the ship ‘Elizabeth’.I _______ name the ship ‘Elizabeth’.
– I _______ warn you not to sleep in class.I _______ warn you not to sleep in class.
– I _______ believe that there’s no Santa Claus.I _______ believe that there’s no Santa Claus.
11. • The appropriate circumstances for theThe appropriate circumstances for the
performance of a speech act to be recognized.performance of a speech act to be recognized.
Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions
12. • General conditionsGeneral conditions
– The utterance is understood.The utterance is understood.
• Content conditionsContent conditions
– The content of the utterance is about a future event and the speakerThe content of the utterance is about a future event and the speaker
is committed to the act.is committed to the act.
• Preparatory conditionsPreparatory conditions
– The event does not happen by itself.The event does not happen by itself.
– The event will have a beneficial effect.The event will have a beneficial effect.
• Sincerity conditionsSincerity conditions
– The speaker does have a genuine intention to carry out the future act.The speaker does have a genuine intention to carry out the future act.
• Essential conditionsEssential conditions
– The utterance changes the speaker’s state from non-obligation toThe utterance changes the speaker’s state from non-obligation to
obligationobligation
Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions
“I promise to see you tomorrow’.“I promise to see you tomorrow’.
13. • To assume that every utterance (U) underlies aTo assume that every utterance (U) underlies a
clause that contains a performative verb, whichclause that contains a performative verb, which
make the illocutionary forces explicit.make the illocutionary forces explicit.
• I (hereby) VI (hereby) Vperformativeperformative you (that) Uyou (that) U
– Open the door.Open the door.
• Implicit/primary performativesImplicit/primary performatives
– I hereby order you that you open the door.I hereby order you that you open the door.
• Explicit performativesExplicit performatives
The performative hypothesisThe performative hypothesis
15. • The speech acts that change the state of theThe speech acts that change the state of the
world via utterances.world via utterances.
– I now pronounce you husband and wifeI now pronounce you husband and wife
– We find the defendant guilty.We find the defendant guilty.
DeclarationsDeclarations
16. • The speech acts that states what the speakerThe speech acts that states what the speaker
believes to be the case or not.believes to be the case or not.
• Statements of fact, assertions, conclusions, andStatements of fact, assertions, conclusions, and
descriptionsdescriptions
– The world is flat.The world is flat.
– It is a sunny day.It is a sunny day.
RepresentativesRepresentatives
17. • The speech acts that state what the speakerThe speech acts that state what the speaker
feels.feels.
• Psychological stats (pleasure, pain, likes, joy,Psychological stats (pleasure, pain, likes, joy,
sorrow…)sorrow…)
– I am sorry.I am sorry.
– Congratulations.Congratulations.
ExpressivesExpressives
18. • The speech acts used by the speaker to getThe speech acts used by the speaker to get
someone else to do something.someone else to do something.
• Commands, orders, requests, suggestions.Commands, orders, requests, suggestions.
– Go away!Go away!
DirectivesDirectives
19. • The speech acts that speakers use to commitThe speech acts that speakers use to commit
themselves to some future actionsthemselves to some future actions
• Promises, threats, refusals, pledges.Promises, threats, refusals, pledges.
– I can’t do that.I can’t do that.
CommissivesCommissives
