Topic 9: perlocution and illocution Introduction to Semantics

How to do things with words Speech act We make an utterances to perform actions. Can we really do things with words?

Examples of perlocutionary effects Professor to students: ‘You’ll find the book on semantics very interesting’ The students are very happy because the book sounds interesting. The students are not amused because they observe the sarcasm in the sentence.

Illocutionary act A speech act viewed in terms of social conventions. Accusing, admitting, apologizing, challenging, complaining, leavetaking, congratulating, declining, greeting, giving permission, promising, proposing, recommending, protesting….

Examples of illocutionary acts I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me. Thanking Would you like a cup of coffee? ‘Good evening” (John met Tom at 7:00 PM) ‘Good night’ (John is leaving the party)

In what conditions are illocutions used? Felicity conditions The condition which facilitates the performance of the action. Promising The speaker must intend to carry out the promise. The thing promised must be something that the hearer wants to happen.

apologizing The speaker must be responsible for the thing apologized for. The hearer must not want the thing apologized for to happen.

sincerity conditions A subtype of felicity conditions A condition which assumes that the act is performed with sincerity. Example: You just won the 1M lottery. Your friend says “Congratulations on your good luck!”

Direct and indirect illocutions The illocution that is directly interpreted literally. Indirect illocution The further illocution that goes beyond the utterance may have

Examples Can you pass the salt? It is cold in the room. Direct illocution Do you have the ability to pass the salt? Indirect illocution A request to pass the salt. It is cold in the room. Direct illocution? Indirect illocution?

Classes of illocutionary acts Directive acts An illocutionary act which involves the speaker to get the hearer to behave in some required way. Ordering, suggesting Commisive acts An illocutionary act which involves the speakers committing himself to behave in some required way. Promising; apologizing

Directive or commissive acts? Volunteering Advising Forbidding Accepting

Meaning again Sentence meaning Utterance meaning What a sentence means The context and situation of the sentence is irrelevant. Utterance meaning What a speaker means when he makes an utterance in a particular situation.

Propositional content The propositional content of a directive illocution Expression of a declarative sentence describing the action that the speaker requires of the hearer. The propositional content of a commissive illocution Expression of a declarative sentence describing the action which the speaker undertakes to perform.

The propositional content of a directive illocution ‘I would like you to make a cup of coffee.’ You will make a cup of coffee for me. ‘Don’t panic!’ You will not panic.

The propositional content of a commissive illocution (in a class) you volunteer to offer a solution to a very difficult math problem. I will solve the math problem. (talking with your friend) You promise to buy your friend a cup of coffee if she sings a song in public. I will buy you a cup of coffee if you sing a song in public.