TITLE:
On the Distinction of Constative and Performative Sentences
AUTHORS:
Liming Zhang, Jie Han, Jiayi Li
KEYWORDS:
Constative Sentences, Performative, Sentences, Speech Act Theory
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Linguistics,
Vol.10 No.6,
December
15,
2020
ABSTRACT: J. Austin was the first philosopher and linguist who elaborated the performative function of language, which developed into speech act theory, one of the most important theories of early pragmatics. His elaboration of the performative function begins with the distinction of constative and performative sentences. This article reviews how J. Austin’s distinction of constative and performative was formed. It also shows the significance of the distinction for the 20th century philosophy and linguistics.