Entry #4 Speech acts
J.L Austin introduces the topic "Speech Acts". He states the difference between constative sentences and performative sentences. Performative sentences are not only passively describing a given reality, but they are changing (the social) reality they are describing. Besides they denote an action. Whereas performative sentences are meant to inspire actions, constative sentences are those which describe something as true or false. Words not only bring about actions, sometimes words themselves are actions. When this situation happens, performatives can lead to speech acts. Words like ordering, promising, apologizing, warning, sentencing, marrying, christening, are clear examples of speech acts. For formatives to achieve this, they depend on context and reception, known as felicity conditions. The performative should have the proper authority, should be understood, should be clear and should be able to be executed. If the performative doesn't meet these conditions, it wo...