Not to detract from R.P.'s lucid exposition, here is some info on Austin's locutionary-illocutionary-perlocutionary typology. It is more sophisticated than I thought previously. http://www.sou.edu/English/Hedges/Sodashop/RCenter/Theory/People/austin.htm http://www.garretwilson.com/books/reviews/howtodothingswithwords.html Supposably "Illocutionary Act not part of a cause & effect chain," i.e. its force does not depend on the response of the audience. When I ask a question it is still a question even if it does not get answered, when I make a request it is still a request even if it is not granted etc. For Eric, I've long since given up on trying to top my parents, they both have more education and qualifications than I do. My only remaining chance is to outlive them, though that too might not be easy. O.K. --- Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > Eric wrote: > > > Mike: If I tell a joke with the intention of > making my listener laugh > > -- and she > does -- how is that less performative > than > > "Congratulations"? > > > Judging from what Robert wrote, the "jokes" would > all have to go > > something like, > > "Laugh, dammit!" Though perhaps dialect could also > be used, as in, > > "Zees iss a choke und you vill now all laugh." > > I don't think even that would do it. (I already > wrote Mike about this > but I see > that unlike last time, my note went only to him.) > The short answer is that if > telling a joke were a performative it wouldn't > matter whether anyone > laughed or > not anymore than it would make any difference > whether someone wept upon > hearing > (for real) 'I now pronounce you man and wife,' or > applauded at a ship > christening. The deed is done as soon as the words > are said. No need to wait > around for the effect. The utterance contains its > own effect, like God. > (I like > that conceit so much I'm shamelessly using it > twice.) > > Robert Paul > Department of Special Effects > Mutton College > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, > vacation on/off, > digest on/off), visit > www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sponsored Link Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment! www.LowerMyBills.com/lre ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html