a big, red "No Running" sign at a public pool?

游泳池旁「請勿奔跑」的告示牌嗎?

For the most part,

大部分時間

the pace on the deck reflects this statement.

泳客的步速反應了這句陳述

But while the sign accurately describes

雖然這告示牌精準地描述

the patrons' movements,

泳客的動作

isn't it true that people are walking

但那是由於告示牌要他們不要跑

because the sign tells them no running?

所以人們才用走的嗎?

So, is this sign portraying the pool's environment,

這告示牌是在形容游泳池的環境

or is it doing something else,

或是在施展一些其他

something more powerful?

更大的作用呢？

The difference between a statement that describes

形容陳述

and one that commands

和指示陳述的區別

is an idea developed by British linguist J. L. Austin.

是由英國語言學家 約翰・奧斯丁 (J. L. Austin) 所提出的

He defines this distinction

他將這差別定義為

as two separate parts of speech:

兩種不同的詞類：

constatives

敘言

and performatives.

與做言

Constatives are sentences

敘言意指

that describe something as true or false,

形容事物真假的句子

and performatives are sentences

而做言

that denote an action.

是一個表示行動的句子

In other words, a constative is,

換句話說，敘言代表「是」什麼

and a performative does.

做言代表「做」什麼

To help us distinguish these two parts of speech,

為了進一步了解這兩種詞類

let's start by examining constatives

我們先來看看

around the park outside the pool.

就在游泳池外公園的敘言

The first sign we encounter says,

第一個看到的告示牌上寫著

"The park closes at 6 p.m."

公園於下午六點關閉

After checking with a friendly park official

在和公園的工作人員證實後

that the park does, indeed, close at 6,

公園的確在六點關閉

we can confirm that this statement

我們可以判定這陳述句

is a true constative.

是一句正確的敘言

Nearby, there's a man on a bench

旁邊長凳上坐著一位男子

with a newspaper, and the headline reads,

他在讀報，而報紙的標題寫著

"Heatwave!"

「熱浪！」

However, the sky is cloudy and it feels quite chilly.

但天空卻是多雲的，氣候是涼爽的

Today's headline is a false constative

今天的標題是一個錯誤的敘言

as it has proven to be incorrect.

而且也證實了是錯的

Before the rain starts to fall,

在下雨前

let's throw away our can of soda

讓我們先把汽水罐扔掉吧

at the blue trash bin that says, "Recycle."

藍色的垃圾筒上寫著「資源回收」

It's a performative.

那便是做言

Performatives are sentences

做言就是

that are meant to inspire actions.

讓人行動的句子

Rather than conveying a message,

做言不只傳達訊息

it acts upon the world,

它還影響世界

it does something.

做言是有其作用的

In this case, the performative of "Recycle"

在這裡，「回收」的敘言

is requesting people to put their trash

就是要求人們把垃圾

into the proper receptacle.

放進正確的回收桶裡

Words not only bring about actions,

字詞不單單促發行動

sometimes words themselves are actions.

有時候，字詞本身便是行動

This is what is known as speech acts.

這就是所謂的「言語行為」

These actions include, but are not limited to,

這行動包括，但不限於：

ordering,

命令

promising,

承諾

apologizing,

致歉

warning,

警告

sentencing,

宣判

christening,

洗禮

and even marrying.

甚至是結婚

Take a look at the wedding near the gazebo.

看一下涼亭那兒的婚禮

The couple says the words, "I do."

那對新人說：「我願意。」

The speech act here are the words, "I do."

在這裡的「言語行為」就是「我願意。」

These words cause them to marry one another.

這三個字讓他們成為夫妻

"I do" has acted upon them

「我願意」對他們起了作用

and profoundly changed their world.

並深切地改變他們的世界

However, performatives depend

但是，做言得取決於

on context and reception.

語境和接收效果

These are known as felicity conditions.

這兩個就是所謂的「合適條件」

Imagine if the mayor showed up to the wedding

假設市長出現在婚禮上

and said, "By the power vested in me

說：「以法律所赋予我

as mayor of the city,

作為這城市的市長的權力，

I name this gazebo 'The Mayor's Pizza Palace.'"

我將此涼亭命名為『市長比薩宮』。」

His words would be a speech act

這些為涼亭命名的話語

by which he named the gazebo.

就是言語行為

And because he's the mayor,

因為他是市長

the gazebo would be known by its new name.

涼亭就會以新名字為人熟悉

But if someone who isn't the mayor,

但如果他不是市長

just a normal passerby,

只是一個普通路人

decides to name the gazebo after her favorite cat,

打算把涼亭命名為他貓的名字

the chances are the name would not change.

那涼亭的名字很可能不會改變

Felicity conditions are the rules

「合適條件」是讓做言可以實行的規則

under which the performative can be enacted.

「合適條件」是讓做言可以實行的規則

These are fairly logical.

這是合乎邏輯的

The performative should have proper authority,

做言須要有合適的權威

it should be understood,

必須可以被理解

it should be clear,

必須是清楚的

and it should be able to be executed.

而且可以執行的

If the performative doesn't meet these conditions,

如果做言不符合這些條件

then it doesn't have the power

那它就沒有

to denote action.

表示行動的能力了

But just because a performative meets its conditions

但僅因做言符合條件

and is clearly stated,

而且意思清晰

doesn't mean that it's implicitly followed.

並不代表其意思會被遵守

Back at the pool,

回到游泳池

a rowdy group of teenagers races to the high dive.

一群吵鬧的青少年快跑到跳水板

"No running" does not seem

「請勿奔跑」看來

to have power over them,

並沒有約束他們的能力

and they'll have to face the consequences

但他們卻要承受後果

of breaking this performative.

觸犯這做言的後果

They may even have to force out

他們可能更要想出

some performatives of their own,

一些自己的做言

such as apologizing to the life guard

比如，向救生員道歉

and promising to never run again.

答應以後不會再犯

Maybe the life guard will respond

那救生員也許會

with another performative,

以另一個做言回答

sentencing them to be banished from the pool

宣判把他們趕出去

for the rest of the day.

那一整天都不得再進去

After all, these teenagers must learn

畢竟這些青少年都該學會

to respect the power of words.

尊重語言的力量