MEANINGFUL ACTS

PROFESSOR ABDELLAH ELHALOUI

1. Apology
2. Constatives vs performatives
3. Implicit and explicit performatives
4. Illocutionary acts
J.L. Austin (1962)
 “RITUALS”

 By now you are aware that I did not make our March rent payment of
$650. I have scrambled for weeks to meet my expenses, but will not be
able to get the payment to you until March 20. I apologize for my late
payment and hope you can work with me during this difficult time. I
appreciate all you have done for me and want you to know I could not
ask for a finer landlord. Thank you for your understanding. Please look
for the check to arrive in the mail soon.
promise request complimen thank
greet congratulat comfort assure
“RITUALS”

 By now you are aware that I did not make our March rent payment of
$650. I have scrambled for weeks to meet my expenses, but will not be
able to get the payment to you until March 20. I apologize for my late
payment and hope you can work with me during this difficult time. I
appreciate all you have done for me and want you to know I could not
ask for a finer landlord. Thank you for your understanding. Please look
for the check to arrive in the mail soon.
 TWO TYPES OF UTTERANCES
John apologized to the
I apologize for my
J.L. Austin (1962)
landlord about the late late payment
payment!

constatives (true or false) Performatives (doing by saying)

They finished constructing the ship. I name this ship the "Queen Elizabeth"
She bought him a beautiful watch. I give and bequeath my watch to my brother
It will rain tomorrow I bet you sixpence it will rain tomorrow
 TWO TYPES OF UTTERANCES
Criteria: J.L. Austin (1962)
1. “Hereby”
2. Use of a performative verb
3. First person
4. Simple present, indicative
5. Active voice

constatives (true or false) Performatives (doing by saying)

They finished constructing the ship. I name this ship the "Queen Elizabeth"
A watch was bequeathed by Margaret. I give and bequeath my watch to my brother
It will rain tomorrow I bet you sixpence it will rain tomorrow
 EXERCISE
1- I sentence you to ten years of hard labor (said by a judge). performative
2- I sentenced him to ten years of hard labor (also said by a judge). constative
3- I bet you six pence it will rain tomorrow. performative
4- Why are they so indifferent to their friends? constative
5- Wow, you got a nice car here! constative
6- I greet you in the name of the people. performative
7- I declare war on Zanzibar. performative
8- They declare war on the enemy. constative

9- I now eat fish and chips. constative

10- I warn you that trespasses will be prosecuted. performative

PERFORMATIVES ARE SOCIAL ACTS ?

Apology is intended to remedy an offence.

She desires the products she picks up.
Apology implies that S takes
She is financially qualified to pick it up. responsibility for the offence

She respects laws. Apology implies S recognizes and

respects his community’s moral standards.
INCONSISTENCY
I know you enjoyed dinner but I
apologize for inviting you to it.
ACT OF WARNING
I hereby warn you that
food is burning!

1. Food is burning!
2. Watch out!
3. Fire! Fire!
 IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE

A- where is my sweater?
B- It’s in the wardrobe.
A- I am ASKING you: Where is my sweater?
B- And I am ANSWERING you: It’s in the wardrobe.

Austin’s theory: All utterances are performative. Each utterance implies a

performative act.
 WHAT IS THE IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE IMPLIED HERE?

 A: I know you hate restaurant food, but have you ever tried Granny’s? They have
very good food. Let’s have dinner there tonight!
 B: Mm...... I’m not sure I want to go to a restaurant today.
 WHAT IS THE IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE IMPLIED HERE?

 Marshall: Do you know what Jason's home phone number is?

 Pam: I can't think of it off the top of my head. You might want to look it up in the phone
book.
 WHAT IS THE IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE IMPLIED HERE?

 Sydney: Would you like to have some ice-cream? I've got a variety of flavors for you to
choose from. I've got strawberry, peach, chocolate, chocolate chip, chocolate brownie, coffee,
vanilla, rocky road, butter pecan, and praline.
 Martha: Wow! What choices you have! I wish I could, but I just can't. I'm on a diet to lose
weight.
 Sydney: Come on, it's just a bite. It doesn't really hurt to have just a bite.
 Martha: I'd better not. Please don't tempt me. Please!
 WHAT IS THE IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE IMPLIED HERE?

 Tyler : Oh, how you doing, Ben?

 Ben: hey Tyler what's going on?
 Tyler :Yeah, I I know what you're probably thinking that I'm just the worst at being on time
and I'm no good to you (LAUGHTER) for you know for these study sessions, but I really hope
you understand like I just my car was just it's been having some problems, and you know, I
hope you understand
 EVIDENCE FOR IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE ACTS: REFLEXIVES

A reflexive pronoun must be bound

1- Mary loves herself. to a clause-mate subject
2- *Mary asked John if he liked herself.
3- *Mary loves Suzy and himself.

4- I am TELLING you this house was constructed by John and myself.

5- *This house was constructed by John and herself.

 EVIDENCE FOR IMPLICIT PERFORMATIVE ACTS: SENTENTIAL ADVERBS

A- Frankly, I prefer the white meat.

B- What’s the time, because I’ve got to go out at eight.

A’- [I tell you] frankly that I prefer the white meat.

B’- What’s the time? [I ask you this question] because I’ve got to go out at eight.
WHICH PERFORMATIVE ACT DOES THE SENTENTIAL ADVERB MODIFY?

 1- In brief, your essay is not convincing.

 2- John’s at Sue’s house, because his car’s outside.
 3- Confidentially, semantics is a bore.
TERMINOLOGY

 (Implicit or explicit) performative acts = illocutionary acts

 EXERCISE: SENTENCES AND ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS

 a- Does John, who could never learn elementary calculus, really intend to do a
PhD in mathematics?
 b- Wittgenstein was an Oxford philosopher, wasn’t he?
 c- Why don’t you become an astronaut?
 d- We regret that the company is forced by economic circumstances to hereby
request you to tender your resignation at your earliest convenience.
 EXERCISE: DIFFERENT TYPES OF ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS

1- acts by which S 2- acts by which S gets H to 3- acts by which S 4- acts by which S

influences the beliefs of H do things commits himself to do expresses true or fake
things feelings
say, affirm, allege ask, implore, insist promise, swear, vow apologize, thank

forecast, predict ask, interrogate, query guarantee, condole, congratulate

recount, report bid, command, enjoin surrender greet, bid

appraise, categorize forbid, proscribe, restrict invite accept, reject

acknowledge, admit allow, bless, exempt offer, propose

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