Performative utterances are a type of speech act where the act of saying something brings about the very thing that is described. Rather than simply describing a state of affairs, performative utterances actually perform or enact the action they refer to.
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Performative utterances do not describe a pre-existing state, but rather bring that state into existence through the act of saying it.
Common examples of performative utterances include making a promise, issuing a command, getting married, or declaring war.
The success of a performative utterance depends on the appropriate context and authority of the speaker, not just the literal meaning of the words.
Performative utterances are central to the concept of performativity, which examines how language and other symbolic actions construct social reality.
Ritual is a key context where performative utterances are found, as the act of performing the ritual itself brings about the desired effect.
Review Questions
Explain how performative utterances differ from other types of speech acts.
Unlike constative utterances that simply describe a state of affairs, performative utterances actually bring about the very thing they refer to. When a person makes a promise, declares war, or gets married, the act of saying those words is what performs and enacts those actions. Performative utterances derive their meaning not just from the literal meaning of the words, but from their illocutionary force - the intended purpose and effect of the speech act itself.
Discuss the role of context and authority in the success of performative utterances.
For a performative utterance to be successful, it must be uttered in the appropriate context by a speaker with the requisite authority or standing. A judge can pronounce someone guilty, but a random person on the street cannot. The success of a performative utterance depends on factors beyond just the literal words used - it requires the speaker to have the legitimacy and power to enact the action through speech. The context provides the necessary framework for the performative utterance to bring about the reality it describes.
Analyze how performative utterances are central to the concept of performativity and the construction of social reality.
The theory of performativity examines how language and other symbolic actions do not merely describe the world, but actively construct social reality. Performative utterances are a key component of this, as they demonstrate how speech acts can bring new realities into existence. By uttering words that enact the very state of affairs they refer to, performative utterances show how language has the power to shape and transform the social world. This challenges the notion of language as a neutral medium, and instead positions it as a crucial force in the ongoing production and reproduction of social norms, identities, and structures.
The theory that language is not just a means of describing the world, but a form of action that can change the world. Performative utterances are a specific type of speech act.
Illocutionary Force: The intended meaning or purpose behind a speech act, beyond just the literal meaning of the words used. Performative utterances derive their meaning from their illocutionary force.
Ceremonial acts or practices that are imbued with symbolic meaning. Performative utterances are often found in ritual contexts, where the act of speaking enacts the ritual itself.