pragmatics

SPEECH ACTS & SPEECH ACTS & EVENTSEVENTS

SPEECH ACTS SPEECH ACTS

• Locutionary actsLocutionary acts

• Illocutionary actsIllocutionary acts

• Perlocutionary actsPerlocutionary acts

Speech acts: Speech acts: Actions performed via utterancesActions performed via utterances

• Performed via producing a meaning Performed via producing a meaning linguistic expressionlinguistic expression

Locutionary actsLocutionary acts

• Performed via the communicative force of Performed via the communicative force of an utterancean utterance

Illocutionary actsIllocutionary acts

• Performed via the effect of the utterance Performed via the effect of the utterance on the hearer. on the hearer.

Perlocutionary actsPerlocutionary acts

• The same utterance can potentially have The same utterance can potentially have quite different illocutionary acts quite different illocutionary acts

• How can speakers assume that the How can speakers assume that the intended illocutionary act will be intended illocutionary act will be recognized by the hearer?recognized by the hearer?

Problem Problem

• Illocutionary Force Indicating Device (IFID)Illocutionary Force Indicating Device (IFID)

• Felicity conditions Felicity conditions

Solution Solution

• Performative verbsPerformative verbs– Used in a simple positive present tense Used in a simple positive present tense

sentencesentence– 1st person singular subject1st person singular subject

• I promise…I promise…• I sentence you…I sentence you…• I apologize…I apologize…

Illocutionary Force Indicating Illocutionary Force Indicating Device (IFID)Device (IFID)

Test of performative verbsTest of performative verbs

• I I 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.

• The appropriate circumstances for the The appropriate circumstances for the performance of a speech act to be performance of a speech act to be recognized. recognized.

Felicity conditionsFelicity conditions

• 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 speaker The 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 to The utterance changes the speaker’s state from non-obligation to

obligationobligation

Felicity conditions Felicity conditions “I promise to see you tomorrow’.“I promise to see you tomorrow’.

• To assume that every utterance (U) To assume that every utterance (U) underlies a clause that contains a underlies a clause that contains a performative verb, which make the performative verb, which make the illocutionary forces explicit. illocutionary forces explicit.

• I (hereby) VI (hereby) Vperformativeperformative you (that) U you (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

• DeclarationsDeclarations

• RepresentativesRepresentatives

• ExpressivesExpressives

• DirectivesDirectives

• Commissives Commissives

Speech act classificationSpeech act classification

• The speech acts that change the state of The speech acts that change the state of the world via utterances. the 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.

Declarations Declarations

• The speech acts that states what the The speech acts that states what the speaker believes to be the case or not. speaker believes to be the case or not.

• Statements of fact, assertions, Statements of fact, assertions, conclusions, and descriptionsconclusions, and descriptions– The world is flat. The world is flat. – It is a sunny day. It is a sunny day.

Representatives Representatives

• The speech acts that state what the The speech acts that state what the speaker feels. speaker feels.

• Psychological stats (pleasure, pain, likes, Psychological stats (pleasure, pain, likes, joy, sorrow…)joy, sorrow…)– I am sorry. I am sorry. – Congratulations. Congratulations.

Expressives Expressives

• The speech acts used by the speaker to The speech acts used by the speaker to get someone else to do something. get someone else to do something.

• Commands, orders, requests, suggestions. Commands, orders, requests, suggestions. – Go away!Go away!

Directives Directives

• The speech acts that speakers use to commit The 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.

Commissives Commissives