lingwistyka

SAT: SPEECH ACT THEORY

(see also: the Intro to Lgcs + textlgcs folders)

In SAT utterances have two kinds of meaning:

(a)    propositional meaning (locutionary meaning)

(b)    illocutionary meaning (illocutionary force)

cf.: 'Tm thirsty" (both propositional and an Indirect Speech Act: ISA)

CONSTATIVE: an utterance which asserts (T/F)

PERFORMATIVE: an utterance which performs an act, such as: "Watch out" (a warning)

"Ipromise not to be late" (a promise)

(explicit performative--which contains a perfoxmative verb)

"There is a vicious dog behind you" (a warning)

(implicit performative - implied warning)

FELICITY CONDITIONS:

The conditions that must be fulfilled for a speech act to be satisfactorily performed or realised. For example, the sentence *!Ipromise the sun will set today" cannot be considered as a true promise because we have no control over the futurę event.

FELICITY CONDITIONS involve: ABILITY, WILL, INTENTION, EXTERNAL CONDITIONS etc.

SEARŁB'8 CLASSIFICATION OF SPEECH ACTS:

(x “ a speech act)

COMMISSIVE: x commits the speaker to doing something in the futurę a threat: "Ifyou don't..., Iwill..." a promise: "Illtakeyou..."

DECLARATIVE: x changes the State of affairs:

"Now Ipronounce you man and uńfe"

"Inominate/name/dedare ..."

DIRECTIVE: x has the function of getting the listener to do something "Please, sit down." "Why don't you sit down. *

EXPRESSIVE: x in which the speaker expresses feelings and attitudes:

"The meal was delicious."

REPRESENTATIVE: x which describes the state of affairs in the world:

"This is a German car."