M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

1. 
Propositional Content condition : 
This condition specifies the restrictions on the content of the complement 
sentence. Searle explains it with the help of a Speech Act of promising. It states that 
promise should be uttered only in the context of a sentence. The content of the 
utterance must predicate some future act of the speaker.
2. 
Preparatory Conditions :
Preparatory conditions include background circumstances and knowledge of 
the speaker and hearer prior to the performance of actual act (say promising). The 

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hearer should get benefit out of the speaker’s act of promising and both the speaker 
and hearer should believe it be so. If the speaker says “I promise, you won’t see 
tomorrow’s sunrise,” then such type of an utterance cannot be considered as a 
promise, but on the other hand a threat. In short, the promise should be to the 
interest of the promisee. Similarly, the promise will be considered invalid if the 
promiser is going to do the proposed act anyhow or if it is already scheduled, self 
justifying or natural happening.
3. 
Sincerity Conditions : 
Sincerity conditions state the requisite beliefs, feelings and intentions of the 
speaker. It is an expression of the psychological state of the speaker. It deals with 
the speaker’s belief, that it is possible for him to do the act. While promising, the 
speaker should be committed towards fulfilling it (promise).
4. 
Essential conditions : 
The essential conditions relate to the way the speaker is committed to a 
certain kind of belief of behavior, having performed a speech act. Promising is the 
undertaking of an obligation to perform a certain act. The promiser should consider 
his responsibility to keep his word in future.
Searle suggests that Felicity Conditions are not merely dimensions on which 
utterances can go wrong, but are actually jointly constitutive of the various 
illocutionary forces.