Speech acts: constatives and performatives - Colleen Glenney Boggs

Summary

British linguist John L  Austin develped a theory of speech acts in which words are divided into two cathegories: Constatives (words that describe if something is true or false)and Performatives(words that denote an action).In orders words, a constative IS and a Performative DOES.Words not only bring about actions sometimes words themselves are actions that is what is known as Speech Acts.These actions included but are not limited to: ordering - promising - apologising- warning- sentencing - christening- marrying.

Performatives depend on context and reception these are known  as "Felicity Conditions" are the rules under which the performatve can be enacted.The performatives should have porper authority. It should be understood, clear and it should be able to be executed if the performative doesn't meet these conditions the it doesn´t have the power to denote action but just because a performative meets its conditions and is clearly stated doesn´t mean that is implicity followed. All in all words have power not only to describe but also make commands.

TIHNK SECTION.

 
1. Which is not one of the parts of speech defined by Austin?

• Constatives
• Formatives 
• Performatives
• None of the above

2. If the headline reads, "Heatwave!", but the sky is cloudy and it feels cold outside, what best describes the headline?

• It is a performative
• The printers accidentally printed yesterday's headline
• It is a false constative
• It is a grammar error

3. What is a speech act?

• When people talk about what they are doing.
• When words are actions.
• A presentation that incites action
• The constitutional amendment that allows for freedom of speech.

4. Which felicity conditions best describe a succesful performative?

• Authoritative
• Understood
• Clear
• Able to be executed
• All of the above 

5. Just because a performative meets the felicity conditions and is clearly stated, it doesn't mean it's implicitly followed.

• True
• False.

6. Describe a time when you disregarded a performative that resulted in another performative (for example, you ignored the no running sign and were banished from the pool for the rest of the day).

Once when I was using my cellphone in the bank as usual and the guard warned me by telling me that it was not allowed to use cellphones inside the bank.