Speech Act theory.

 Speech Act theory.

Speech act is an utterance that has performative function.

It is introduced by JL Austin, Oxford philosopher in his work

 “How to Do things with words" (1962) and further developed by John Rogus Searle. (American Philosopher)

 It is a subfield of Pragmatics concerned with the ways in which words can be used not only to present information but also to carry out actions.

Getting glass of water is an action. Asking some one else to get you one is also an act. When we speak the words to do it the words have fixed meaning but affected by the situations.

Key terms

Theory of Locutionary, illocutionary and Prolocutionary acts.

 Locutionary Act: Saying something. This may not constitute a speech act.

Ex. Ramu is a clever boy.

Illocutionary Act: Performance of act, act while saying something.

Prolocutionary: Speech act that effect on feelings, things or actions.

Constatives and Performatives - by J.L-Austin

Constatives: Sentences that assert something about a face and are adjudged to be true/false.

Performatives: Sentences that accomplish something such as questioning promising, Praising. Persuasing.

 Authors & Books (texts).

J. L. Austin: "How to Do things with words" (1962)

John Searle : Speech Acts: An essay in the philosophy of Language

            “Intentionality”(1983)

H.P. Grice: “Logic and conversation in Syntax and Semantics”(1975)

Mary Louise Pratt : "Toward's speech-Act theory of Literary Discourse (1977).

She coined the term "contact zone" (postcolonial term)) in her book "Imperial Eyes: Travel writing and Transculturation.”(1992)

Contact zone: It is a space where disperate cultures inset, clash & grapple each other (b/w imperial and oriental)

It suggests the historical moment when settler and Indigenous cultures meet first.