In Defense of a Performative View of Pragmatics: Meaning and Action

Abstract

I propose to discuss the notion of performative introduced by the Speech Act Theory as fundamental for expressing a pragmatic concept of language, since it essentially emphasizes the interpretation of language as action. I shall contrast this view with contextualism, endeavoring to show that it allows going beyond it in the analysis of the use of language as speech acts within specific contexts, under particular conditions and producing particular effects and consequences. The concept of performative grasps precisely both the circumstances of performing such acts and their effects and consequences.