Speech Acts and Their Functions

Speech Acts

• Speech acts are actions performed via language, conveying more than just information; they have communicative force.
• J.L. Austin is a key figure in speech act theory.
• Different speech acts have distinct functions; the same utterance can perform multiple speech acts simultaneously.
• Speech act classification often reflects function (stating, questioning, promising, warning, requesting, apologizing, etc.).
• Context influences speech acts: setting, speaker relationship, and overall situation.
• Successful speech acts depend on shared knowledge, beliefs, and assumptions.
• Felicity conditions, when met, ensure successful speech acts.

Theater Acts

• Theater acts are discrete sections within a play.
• Plays may have varying numbers of acts; three-act plays are common in history.
• Acts often mark changes in location, time, or plot developments. Transitions between acts signal significant narrative shifts.
• Act beginnings and endings frequently highlight character interaction and critical revelations.
• Act breaks allow audience reflection on preceding action.
• Act lengths and structure vary based on play demands and effect.
• Acts influence pacing: long acts build suspense, short acts heighten immediacy.
• Modern plays might eschew traditional act structures, favoring continuous scenes.
• "Act" use extends beyond single play division, encompassing wider dramatic structure discussions.

Relationships Between Speech and Theater Acts

• Play dialogue conveys characters' intentions, motivations, and relationships.
• Play speech acts (commands, promises, apologies) are core dramatic action expressed through dialogue.
• Power dynamics and character relationships are often revealed through speech acts.
• Speech acts in a play can differ in interpretation compared to ordinary conversation; the theatrical context alters meaning/impact.
• Speech act understanding in a play goes beyond literal meaning to encompass implied meanings (foreshadowing, irony, sarcasm).
• The context and character relations affect a speech act's impact on characters.