The Language of Argument

2 2

C H A P T E R 2 ■ T h e W e b o f L a n g u a g e

Speech Acts

When asked about the function of language, it is natural to reply that we

use language to describe objects and communicate ideas. These are, how-

ever, only some of the purposes for which we use language. Other purposes

become obvious as soon as we look at the ways in which our language actu-

ally works. Adding up a column of figures is a linguistic activity—though

it is rarely looked at in this way—but it does not describe any objects (since

numbers are not objects) or communicate any ideas to others. When I add

the figures, I am not even communicating anything to myself; I am just try-

ing to figure something out. A look at our everyday conversations produces

a host of other examples of language being used for different purposes.

Grammarians, for example, have divided sentences into various moods,

among which are:

Indicative: Barry Bonds hit a home run.

Imperative: Get in there and hit a home run, Barry!

Interrogative: Did Barry Bonds hit a home run?

Expressive: Hurray for Barry Bonds!

1. When someone hums (but does not sing) the “Star-Spangled Banner,” does
   she perform a linguistic act? Why or why not?


2. Can a speaker mispronounce a word in a sentence without performing any
   linguistic act? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions

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