Definition and Examples of Performative Verbs

Definition and Examples of Performative Verbs In English grammar  and speech-act theory, a performative verb is a  verb  that explicitly conveys the kind of speech act being performed- such as  promise, invite, apologize, predict, vow, request, warn, insist,  and  forbid. Also known as speech-act verb or  performative utterance.   The concept of performative verbs  was introduced by Oxford philosopher J. L. Austin in  How to Do Things With Words  (1962) and further developed by American philosopher J.R. Searle, among others. Austin estimated that a good dictionary contains upwards of 10,000 performative or speech-act verbs. Examples and Observations Performative verbs name actions that are performed, wholly or partly, by saying something (state, promise); non-performative verbs name other types of actions, types of action which are independent of speech (walk, sleep).-Kirsten Malmkjaer, Speech-Act Theory. The  Linguistics Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2004As your lawyer, your brother, and your friend, I highly recommend that you get a better lawyer.-David Patrick Kelly as Jerry Horne in Twin Peaks, 1990The faculty at Ohios Bowling Green State University vetoed a professors planned course on political correctness. Kathleen Dixon, director of womens studies at the university, explained: We forbid any course that says we restrict free speech.-George Will, Newsweek. December  25, 2000I declare, he said, with the mamma I got its a wonder I turned out to be such a nice boy!-Flannery OConnor, Greenleaf. The Kenyon Review, 1957As your president, I would demand a science-fiction library, featuring an ABC of the genre. Asimov, Best er, Clarke.-Martin Prince in Lisas Substitute. The Simpsons, 1991 ApologizingBy saying we apologize we perform an expressive act simultaneously with the naming of that expressive act. It is for this reason that apologize is called a performative verb, defined as a verb denoting linguistic action that can both describe a speech act and express it. This explains why we can say that we are sorry, but not that we are sorry on someone elses behalf because be sorry only expresses, but does not describe the act of making an apology.-R. Dirven and M. Verspoor, Cognitive Exploration of Language and Linguistics. John Benjamins, 2004Hedged PerformativesGenerally, the performative verb...is in the simple present active and the subject is I, but the verb may be in the simple present passive and the subject need not be I: Smoking is forbidden; The committee thanks you for your services. A test for whether a verb is being used performatively is the possible insertion of hereby: I hereby apologize; The committee hereby thanks you. In hedged performatives, the verb is present but the speech act is performed indirectly: In saying I must apologize for my behavior, the speaker is expressing an obligation to make an apology, but implies that the acknowledgment of that obligation is the same as an apology. In contrast, I apologized is a report, and Must I apologize? is a request for advice.-S. Greenbaum, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press,  1992

Communication Research Paper Writing Tips

Communication Research Paper Writing Tips Tips on Writing a Communication Research Paper The name of this particular type of assignments makes it clear that a communication research paper depicts the process of interaction between people. It is based on sociological baselines in addition to other fields like ethics, anthropology, society, fine arts, etc. As a rule, it is assigned to students who have a communication study course and learn different types of interactions including rhetorical, interpersonal, theoretical, and some others. Once you have been assigned to write a paper on any of the above-mentioned topics, you should keep in mind that one theme cannot exist without a close relation with another. This is our first and foremost tip when writing a communication research paper. Now, lets have a closer look at the structure of the paper as well as general writing advice. Communication Research Paper Structure Any academic assignment is supposed to have a clear structure featuring every block logically connected with each other. The same thing is with a communication research paper. Keep an eye on every stage of the writing process to ensure the following: A Solid Introduction the first step is to write a long introduction where you highlight all the facts, problems. methodology and solutions. Not only your introduction is supposed to be informative, but also interesting for the reader. The introduction must include a strong thesis statement as well; Do the Research the term research paper considers doing some research work and analysis. The more validity your paper gets, the more trust your readers will have. State all the information in a persuasive but not intrusive way. Present yourself as an expert in a chosen field. The only way to achieve such approach is to get involved in a thorough investigation of the topic; Write the Body each body paragraph is the core of your major work. It should contain 100% of your findings in addition to argumentations and solutions to the problems raised in the introduction section. Drive your readers to a conclusion and encourage them for a discussion; Write a Conclusion a conclusion may be divided into two paragraphs when it comes to a communication research paper. They include discussion and summary. The first part should highlight the weak and strong aspects of the topic in addition to development opportunities and solutions. The second paragraph summarizes the information and introduces results. As you can see, a research paper on communication has a typical structure although it requires maximum involvement and investigation. Some General Writing Advice Most students start facing difficulties at first steps of writing a communication paper. You may boast the best analytic skills but still fail to get started. This is where our general writing advice may come in handy: Think of a provoking and inspiring topic that would be of great interest for your readers. Once you are able to grab their attention and make them read the text till the end, the academic success is guaranteed. Plan ahead and write an outline. The idea is to work out an effective writing strategy in advance. Look through as many communication articles, studies, surveys and other information sources as you can. Us experts opinions and include some of your own thoughts as a real-life example. Overview your paper before providing it to your teacher. Ask your friends or relatives to read it and share their opinion. A communication research paper is not about studying published articles and researches. It is about the ability to analyze and compare sources to provide your own summary of the problem. The idea is to help students contribute in the discipline by offering their own solutions. Write from the first person unless the requirements are different. Reference list is obligatory for this type of assignment. Mistakes to Avoid We hope our tips and recommendations will put an ease on the writing process making it as clear as possible. However, you should still avoid some of the common mistakes many students do when writing a communication research paper: Avoid presenting a simple compilation of material that has been already published by scientists and experts; Avoid all types of mistakes including grammar, stylistic and spelling; Avoid plagiarism and make your paper unique; Do not use superlatives, do not be too intensive; Include every part of the paper structure; Stick to the subject. If you still face difficulties when completing this type of assignment, you can opt for professional writing services and forget about all your education troubles for good!