Introduction to Speech Acts

Abstract:
There is more in the function of language than (truth-conditional) semantics.

Table of Contents

The background
The idea of speech acts has its roots in the Philosophy of Language.

What are speech acts and what do they do?
According to Austin, there are three types of acts that can be performed by every utterance, given the right circumstances.

Searle's Classification of Speech Acts
» J.R.SearleA Taxonomy of Illocutionary ActsLanguage, Mind and Knowledge, Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science344-3691975SEARLE75 suggests the following classification of speech acts.