Speech Act Theory

Speech Act Theory is a framework in pragmatics developed by J. L. Austin and refined by John Searle, analyzing language as action. The core insight is that utterances are not merely vehicles for propositions but acts with pragmatic effects: 'I pronounce you married' creates a marriage; 'Please close the door' issues a request; 'I promise to help' incurs an obligation. By examining the conditions under which acts succeed and the types of effects they produce, Speech Act Theory illuminates how language functions in social interaction.