PERFORMATIVES

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PERFORMATIVES

• Done by
• Nada Al ghali(37B)

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What aregtgtperformatives??

• it is one of the interesting functions of
  language, or
• type of speech act
• Definition of performatives
• It is an utterance that peforms an act or creates
  a state of affairs by the fact of its being
  uttered under appropriate or conventional
  circumstances
• A performative utterance. Is also called speech
  act.

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When can I say that a certain speech act is
PERFORMATIVE???

• 1.When they are uttered in the appropriate
  context
• 2.By someone authorized-empowered
• 3.Takes effect only in the context of an
  established institution

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• For example, when Peter says "I promise to do the
  dishes" in an appropriate context then he thereby
  does not just say something, and in particular he
  does not just describe what he is doing rather,
  in making the utterance he performs the promise
  since promising is an illocutionary act, the
  utterance is thus a performative utterance

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More examples

• gt'I do (sc. take this woman to be my lawful
  wedded wife)' -- as uttered in the course of the
  marriage ceremony.
• gt'I name this ship the "Queen Elizabeth"'
• gtI give and bequeath my watch to my brother' --
  as
• occurring in a will
• gt'I bet you sixpence it will rain tomorrow'

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Distinction between informative or
directive and performative utterances

• John Jane got married(informative)
• Get married(directive)
• I declare you man and wife(performative)
• Said in a wedding ceremony by the appropriate
  person

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To conclude

• A performative utterance performs the action to
  which it refers when uttered in the appropriate
  context by someone authorized and in the context
  of an established institution.