Scope note

Text

An instance of speech act  comprises an intentional activity engaged in by a set of actors to create a new institutional fact - or to nullify an existing one - that holds for a given community. In this sense, a speech act is transformative symbolic act. Speech acts are carried out by intentional actors through invoking a social rule and performing a prescribed set of actions often including the locution of set formulae of phrases by certain actors, fulfilling certain roles. Correct execution of the speech act as specified by the rule results in the existence of new institutional facts or their negation. The substance of speech act is ritual action performed by a group.

An instance of speech act begins when the intended ritual proceeding as specified by the rule invoked is initiated. The instance of speech act ends when the required set of actions specified for the act in question are executed or it is abandoned.

Language

en