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- Title
Jane Austen's Speech Acts and Language-Based Societies.
- Authors
NOLAN-GRANT, CANDACE
- Abstract
The article discusses use of speech-act theory, meaning the study of speech as an action, in the novels of Jane Austen. The theoretical work of John L. Austin, John R. Searle and Jacques Derrida are discussed. Three forms of performative speech in Austen's novels are noted, including official performative given force by institutions, explicit social performative given force by social mores, and implicit social performative given force by context. The official performative in the novel "Sense and Sensibility" is discussed, in which two weddings, a will and a broken promise are major actors in the novel. The explicit social performative in the novel "Emma" is discussed. The implicit social performative is discussed in several of Austen's novels including "Pride and Prejudice."
- Subjects
SPEECH act theory (Communication); AUSTEN, Jane, 1775-1817; AUSTIN, J. L. (John Langshaw), 1911-1960; SEARLE, John R., 1932-; DERRIDA, Jacques, 1930-2004; SENSE &; Sensibility (Book : Austen); EMMA (Book : Austen); PRIDE &; Prejudice (Book : Austen)
- Publication
SEL: Studies in English Literature (Johns Hopkins), 2009, Vol 49, Issue 4, p863
- ISSN
0039-3657
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1353/sel.0.0075