PORTFOLIO 4: SPEECH ACTS

speech acts: constatives and performatives

This video contains clear information about the Speech Acts. The different speech acts that are found in English, and these are divided into Constatives and Performatives. Constatives are sentences that describe something true or false, whereas performatives are sentences that denote an action. In other words, constative is and performatives does. If we look at the traffic signals, they are examples of performatives speech acts because they inspire people to do an action, whereas a piece of advice which says "park closes at 6 PM" it's considered a true speech act.

Some conditions which performative speech acts must possess are:

• They should be authoritative
• They should be understood
• They should be clear
• They should be able to be executed

If performative speech acts does not have these conditions, it will not denote an action. They are called "felicity conditions"as well.

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).

When I went to Mc Donalds with a friend last year, there was a performative sign which said "Wet floor", and my friend told me that i should not pass if there was a warning advice.