Mastering Communication: Conversation, Discussion, and Speech Acts

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 in History and Music Sciences

Conversation

We can engage in conversation in four different ways:

Everyday Level

  1. Ordinary Conversation: This allows us to communicate about everyday experiences.
  2. Scientific Conversation: This involves a deeper level of discussion, using methods and assumptions to explore a topic. It seeks interpretations and explanations. Example: What do you think about…?
  3. Philosophical Level: This questions the scientific level and reflects on the discussed theme.
  4. Religious or Theological Conversation: This delves into our fears and explores the transcendence of questioning, reaching a theological level of discussion.

Discussion

A discussion involves opposing ideas, aiming for one to prevail. We draw conclusions from premises, leading to syllogisms.

Key Elements of a Premise:

  • Premise (idea or statement): Supported by words like because, therefore, since, as a result, due to, if, and that.

Concluding a Discussion:

Use words like so, then, therefore, after, ultimately, it follows that, this proves that, this shows, and this indicates.

Example: When a man sees a mirage in the desert, receiving nothing material, therefore he concludes the oasis does not exist.

Dialogue

Dialogue is an oral argument where an affirmation or question is posed to a subject, resulting in an answer from the same subject.

Speech Acts:

Speech acts are actions performed through spoken language.

  • Locutionary Act: What is said.
  • Illocutionary Act: The action intended by what is said.
  • Perlocutionary Act: The effect or consequence of what is said.

Classification of Speech Acts

  1. Assertive or Exhibition Acts: The speaker ensures an action is asserted or denied. Example: The gasoline tank is empty.
  2. Commissive Acts: The speaker makes a commitment or promise. Example: I will return the car tomorrow.
  3. Directive Acts: Requires a situation that obliges the listener to carry out an act. Example: I urge you to vote for me.
  4. Declarative Acts: Aims to change the state of an action or situation. Example: The judge’s decision was wrong, so I refuse to comply.
  5. Expressive Acts: The speaker expresses their temporary mood. Example: Now I’m calm.

Examples of Verbs Used in Speech Acts:

  • Assertive: be, do, describe
  • Commissive: commit, swear
  • Declarative: declare, baptize
  • Directive: order, impose, imitate
  • Expressive: congratulate, feel, acknowledge, react

Types of Speech Acts

  1. Direct Speech Acts: Explicitly express the intention of the discourse. Example: I will go out for a moment.
  2. Indirect Speech Acts: Have an implicit intention, where the speech has a double meaning. The message can be misunderstood or have two different senses. Example: Do you have nothing better to do outside?