the theory of speech acts

The theory of speech acts, developed by philosopher J.L. Austin, explains that when we speak, we do more than just convey information; we often perform actions through our words. For example, saying "I promise" or "I now pronounce you husband and wife" doesn't just describe; it actively creates an obligation or change in status. Speech acts are categorized into three types: locutionary (the actual utterance), illocutionary (the intended action, like promising or commanding), and perlocutionary (the effect on the listener). This theory highlights how language functions as a tool to perform various social actions.