Super Glossary

Speech Act Theory

Entertainment / Literature / Speech Act Theory: An idea set forth by J. L. Austin's How to Do Things with Words, which argues that language is often a mode of action rather than a means of communication or conveying information. Language-use that conveys information is called constative, and constative sentences by their very nature are either true or false in the sense that they are accurate or inaccurate. Language-use that serves as a mode of action is called performative. Performative language causes something to happen merely by making assertion. Examples include the 'I do' statement in a wedding ceremony. Here, the act of making the assertion is the same as the action itself. Other examples include the following ones: betting (I bet ten dollars that he drops the ball.'), composing a will (To my beloved daughter, I leave my house and my second-best bed.'), umpiring (Strike three! You are out!'), passing sentence (This court finds you guilty of negligent homicide.'), christening (You are christened John.'), knighting (I dub thee Sir Lancelot.'), blessing (In nomine patri, filii, et spiritu sancti, benedicite'), firing (You're fired.'), bidding (I bid ten dollars.'), baptizing (I baptize you in the name of the father and the son and the holy ghost.') In these examples above, the act of making the assertion is the same as performing the act. Thus, these are examples of performative language.
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