Chapter 8 (I) Speech Act__ Theoty

Features of performatives
How can one separate performatives from constatives? (p. 187) --Typical perofrmatives use: first person singular subject, simple present tense, indicative mood, active voice, and performative verbs.
Locutionary act (言内行为)
When we speak we move our vocal organs and produce a number of sounds, organized in a certain way and with a certain meaning. Look at the example in our textbook: One speaker may say, “Morning!” (p. 188) What did he say? – He said, “Morning!” What did he do? – He offered a greeting. He produced a sound
How can students understand it?
I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth.
能给一条船命名的人必须是被授予这一权利的人,并非任何一 个人对着一艘船扔香槟酒瓶,口中说“I name this ship …”便 能给这条船命名; 要有一个命名仪式，说话人把香槟酒瓶朝船尾掷去； 必须存在一条尚未命名的船,“命名”这一行为才可能成功地得 以实施;
What are speech acts?
Speech acts are verbal actions happening in the world. Uttering a speech act, one can do something with his words. He can perform an activity that brings about a change in the existing state of affairs.
1. Performatives and constatives
(施为句和表述句)
Performatives (施为句）: The uttering of a sentence is, or is one part of, the doing of an action. I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth. I give and bequeath my watch to my brother. I bet you sixpence it will rain tomorrow. I promise to finish it in time. I apologize. I declare the meeting open. I warn you that the bull will charge. (p.186-187)
Chapter 8 (I) Speech Act Theory & A theory of the Illocutionary Act
Teaching aims: To enable the students to have a better understanding about pragmatics and its two important theories. Focal points: Speech Act Theory & The Theory of Conversational Implicature The cooperative principle and its four maxims
Constatives （表述句）: Sentences can be used to describe things. It is a description of what the speaker is doing at the time of speaking ( utterances which roughly serves to state a fact, report that something is the case, or describe what something is): I pour some liquid into the tube. I go to the park every Sunday. I teach English.
(p. 187) The above mentioned conditions only apply to some cases. There are other cases in which one does not need a conventional procedure to produce a performative. For example: I promise. / I give my word for it.
Look at more examples:
1. Wife: I need something to write. Husband: There is a pen on the table. / A pen is on the table. In saying there is a pen on the table, the husband is to provide some new information needed by the wife. In saying there is a pen on the table, the husband emphasizes the shared information. In saying there is a pen on the table, the husband offers help to the wife. In saying a pen is on the table, the husband shows his impatience and may irritate his wife.
2. A theory of the illocutionary act
(行事行为理论)
There are three senses in which saying something may be understood as doing something. Locutionary act（发话行为）/（言内行为） Illocutionary act （行事行为）/（言外行为） Perlocutionary act （取效行为）/（言后行为）
How do you interpret an utterance?
(p. 185) Speaker meaning Utterance meaning Context meaning The interpretation depends more on who the speaker of the utterance is, who the hearer is, when and where it is used. It depends more on the context. The discipline which concentrate on this kind of study of meaning is called pragmatics.
Pditions
(施为句 / 满足条件）
(p. 187) A. (i) There must be a relevant conventional procedure, and (ii) the relevant participants and circumstances must be appropriate. B. The procedure must be executed correctly and completely. C. Very often, the relevant people must have the requisite thoughts, feelings and intentions and must follow it up with actions as specified.
I. Speech Act Theory 言语行为理论） （言语行为理论）(p. 186-188)
Speech act theory is the first major theory in pragmatics , initially proposed in the 50s and widely discussed in the 60s and 70s. John L. Austin , one of the ordinary language philosophers at Oxford , began a series of lectures at Harvard University in 1955. His posthumous work How to Do Things with Words had an enormous impact on linguistic philosophy, and thereby on linguistics, especially in its pragmatic variant.
Look at one example in our textbook first:
(p. 185) A: You are a fool. B: What do you mean? Questions : Do you know the meaning of the words in A’s utterance? Do you know the intention of A and B in uttering the sentences?
3. A: Are you going to the seminar? B: It’s on linguistics. What does speaker B mean? Will he go to the seminar?
4.
A: 这件衣服很漂亮，可我今天带的钱不够。 B: 那就下次再买吧。 Speaker （A）meaning ： 我带的钱不够，今天买不了。 我带的钱不够，你借钱给我买。 Speaker （B）meaning： 你带的钱不够，就下次再买。 我不想借钱给你。
2. A: Do you want some coffee? B: Coffee would keep me awake. Contextual assumptions: B does not want to stay awake. B does not want any coffee. B wants to stay awake. B wants anything that will keep him awake. B wants some coffee.
I give and bequeath my watch to my brother.
说话人必须有一块表，他才能把它遗赠给他人； 说话人要请来律师； 说话人要立下遗嘱；
I bet you sixpence it will rain tomorrow.
参与交际的双方在打赌； 说话人作出了许诺后便不能食言； 天气果真变了，下雨了；
Other examples:
When somebody says “Pass me the salt.” -- make a request “The meeting will start at 7.” -- give some information “Can I sit here?” -- ask a question “Do not smoke in the hall.” -- give a warning “He is guilty.” -- announce a verdict