performatiivseid

Performatiivsed (from the English word "performative") are a type of speech act that not only expresses a proposition but also performs an action. The concept was introduced by philosopher J.L. Austin in his 1962 work "How to Do Things with Words." Performatiivsed are distinct from constative sentences, which merely state a fact or opinion.

Examples of performatiivsed include making promises, giving commands, and declaring war. These acts are not just about conveying information; they have real-world consequences. For instance, saying "I promise to pay you back" is not just a statement but an action that binds the speaker to a future obligation.

Performatiivsed can be further categorized into five main types: locutionary, illocutionary, perlocutionary, propositional, and illocutionary force. Locutionary acts are about the words themselves, while illocutionary acts focus on the effect of the words. Perlocutionary acts consider the effect on the listener, propositional acts deal with the truth value of the statement, and illocutionary force refers to the type of action performed by the speech act.

Understanding performatiivsed is crucial in fields such as linguistics, philosophy, and law, as they help explain how language can be used to create, modify, or terminate obligations, agreements, and other legal and social constructs.